The Royal Diaries: Elizabeth I, Red Rose of the House of Tudor

Summary: Daughter of a fallen queen, young Princess Elizabeth lives a complicated and dangerous life. She fears her father's famous temper but loves him dearly, noting that she would trade all her jewels just to be noticed by him. She also loves her brother Edward, heir to the English throne, but doesn't like her older sister Mary, who torments her and conspires against her. Kat, her governess, is so worried for Elizabeth's life that she spends hours checking their room for poison whenever they move to a new palace. Court intrigues swirl around her, the French are threatening an invasion, and Kat is clamoring for her to have another bath--that makes nearly six in three months! Through Elizabeth's diary, author Kathryn Lasky brings the Tudor world to life: glittering banquets of peacock, eel, and swan; palaces so stinky that "everyone goes about with their noses buried in pomander balls to hide the stench"; archery contests, where Elizabeth excels; and Latin and logic lessons... where she needs a little work. 


About:
Author: Kathryn Lasky
Pages: 240
Published: 1999


Review:


This is a fictional diary of Elizabeth I, before she was the great "Virgin Queen." In this story, she starts eleven-years-old, probably around the age appropriate for readers of this diary.


I enjoyed it, and found it to be quite, quite accurate. I actually have little problems about it, as, one has to bear in mind the audience/age group it is meant for. I also really enjoyed all the background information in the back of this book. There are biographies about her mother/stepmothers, her father Henry VIII, ancestors, and a bit about her reign. I found this very helpful/resourceful.


My minor issues with this book come with some short, unnecessary entries, like "Rained again... something, something..." They seemed quite pointless to me. Also, Elizabeth's voice seemed a bit childish. I suppose she was eleven-thirteen throughout the years this story took place, but her childishness was more modern, a bit too modern for 1544-1547, in my opinion. Still a good, informational, and entertaining read, though, and I would recommend it to any curious young adult.


Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Brief Gaudy Hour

Summary: The enigmatic Anne Boleyn comes to life in this charming, brilliant portrayal by acclaimed British novelist Margaret Campbell Barnes. 

The infamous love of King Henry VIII and the mother of Queen Elizabeth I, Anne Boleyn undertook a rocky journey from innocent courtier to powerful Queen of England. A meticulous researcher, Margaret Campbell Barnes immerses readers in this intrigue and in the lush, glittery world of the Tudor Court. The beauty and charms of Anne Boleyn bewitched the most powerful man in the world, King Henry VIII, but her resourcefulness and cleverness were not enough to stop the malice of her enemies. Her swift rise to power quickly became her own undoing.

The author brings to light Boleyn's humanity and courage, giving an intimate look at a young woman struggling to find her own way in a world dominated by men and adversaries.

About

Author: Margaret Campbell Barnes

Pages: 383

Year Published: 1971

Review:

I found this novel to be historically accurate from what I know; I, myself, am far from a master historian. I just had a minor issue with the year of birth this book used for Anne Boleyn: 1503. Historians are thinking it to be 1501 or 1507 (my personal belief is 1507). However, I didn't count this against the book. 

Brief Gaudy Hour definitely gave Anne a further sense of 'humanity,' which I enjoyed. After all, no matter what people say about her today or even in her time period, she was only a human being. I enjoyed reading the way she was portrayed in a more sympathetic light, as I personally believe she was a good person.

My only issue with this novel was that at times the writing style was 'old' and could be boring. Parts and thoughts of characters could sometimes ramble on, which I did not enjoy, and I often would skip a couple redundant sentences here and there. However, minor flaws did not ruin the book for me; I still found it an enjoyable and suspenseful read about the tragic Queen Anne. 

I would recommend this book to any Tudor England novel readers, or perhaps fans of Anne Boleyn like myself.

Rating:

4 stars/5 stars