best biography of elizabeth 1

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Nonfiction Books » History Books » British History

The best books on elizabeth i, recommended by helen hackett.

University College London professor Helen Hackett selects five books on the Virgin Queen, including one by the monarch herself. "You get a sense of her independence of mind. She does her own thing"

Elizabeth I by David Starkey and Susan Doran

The Faerie Queene by edited by Thomas P Roche Jr and C Patrick O’Donnell Jr & Edmund Spenser

Translations by Elizabeth I, 1592-98 by Janel Mueller and Joshua Scodel

Rewriting the Renaissance by Margaret W Ferguson, Maureen Quilligan and Nancy Vickers

Representing Elizabeth in Stuart England by John A Watkins

1 Elizabeth I by David Starkey and Susan Doran

2 the faerie queene by edited by thomas p roche jr and c patrick o’donnell jr & edmund spenser, 3 translations by elizabeth i, 1592-98 by janel mueller and joshua scodel, 4 rewriting the renaissance by margaret w ferguson, maureen quilligan and nancy vickers, 5 representing elizabeth in stuart england by john a watkins.

T ell me about your first choice, Elizabeth I: The Exhibition Catalogue , edited by David Starkey and Susan Doran.

There were lots of really unusual things like a locket ring that belonged to Elizabeth which contains two pictures. It has a jewel on the front that opens up and you see one picture of Elizabeth in profile and another which appears to be her mother Anne Boleyn. And that’s very interesting because Elizabeth never publicly mentioned or acknowledged her mother, for obvious reasons because she had been beheaded for adultery and incest by Elizabeth’s father Henry VIII. The ring suggests that in private she did like to maintain a memory of her mother.

“Elizabeth never publicly mentioned or acknowledged her mother”

Your next book is Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queene .

I wanted to include an example of literature from Elizabeth’s reign because she inspired a fantastic richness and breadth of poetry, with lots of writers competing with each other to praise her in ever more elaborate ways. Probably the most powerful example of that is Spenser’s Faerie Queene which is a huge epic romance published in two parts in the 1590s.

It shows Elizabeth in lots of different guises. So we have her as Gloriana, Belphoebe, Britomart, Una and lots of other figures. I think that suggests, in a way, a problem underlying all this effort to praise Elizabeth, because as a female Queen ruling in her own right she was a very unusual figure. She was almost unprecedented in English history, and particularly as an unmarried Queen without a husband to support her or to give her guidance.

For Spenser and others that created a difficulty, and the only way they could deal with that was by splitting her up. So we have Gloriana who represents her majesty and her power, then we have Belphoebe who is her beauty and femininity, more like Elizabeth as a private person, and then all these other aspects of her representing her mercy or her piety or truthfulness and so on.

As a female ruler she was a contradiction in terms, because rulers were expected to have masculine qualities, so how do you represent this anomaly? Spenser said he needed to show her in ‘mirrors more than one’. What you also get as you read on through The Faerie Queene is an increasing sense that the praise is not simple. There is criticism embedded in it as Spenser and others became quite disillusioned with Elizabeth in this late stage in her reign.

“She inspired a fantastic richness and breadth of poetry, with lots of writers competing with each other to praise her in ever more elaborate ways”

Spenser was a militant Protestant, and he and others like him would have liked the Queen to have pursued a much more aggressive foreign policy in support of Protestants abroad, and a much more assertive policy at home of making the Church of England freer of Catholic practices. So there is a sort of disappointment in her. What you get is the idea that all these ideal images are being held up as a kind of perfection for her to aspire to. They are not representing how she is but how she might be, and as the poem goes on you get the idea that this is what she has failed to be.

There is a fragment of The Faerie Queene which wasn’t published in Spenser’s lifetime. The published book has six volumes and there is a fragment of the seventh book called ‘The Cantos of Mutability’ which is where he is most overtly critical of Elizabeth. It shows her in Ireland as the goddess Diana – the moon goddess. He shows her bathing naked, and a fawn catches sight of her and he laughs at her. This is like laughing at the whole cult of the Virgin Queen, because what makes him laugh is catching sight of her private parts.

It sounds like a good thing it wasn’t published before he died, but how were the other books received?

Well, we know she liked the first three books which were published in 1590, because she awarded Spenser a pension which was very unusual for her. She was known to be pretty abstemious when it came to handing out money to artists and writers. But there doesn’t seem to be any record of what she thought of the final three books.

Your next book is actually by Elizabeth herself – this is some of her translations from the 1590s. 

Yes, I wanted to give an example of some of her own writing because that is where we get closest to feeling that we know her and we get an insight into her own mind and attitude and ideas. I have been massively assisted in that because in the last ten years the University of Chicago has been publishing a series of volumes of Elizabeth’s collected works. From these you get a sense of her breadth and diversity as a writer: not just speeches and letters, but also prayers and poems, and all these translations.

I have chosen the volume from the later part of her reign in the 1590s. I suppose you could think that translations don’t much give us insight into her own mind because she is translating someone else but, actually, if you look at the choice of works that she makes, and the spin she puts on them, they tell us a lot about her as a person. There is a constant theme running through her translations of stoicism and endurance, and that is reflected in a big translation from the 1590s, ‘The Consolation of Philosophy’ by Boethius, which she translated from Latin to English. What you get from this translation is her fantastic intellect and seriousness.

She did this translation over a period of a month and she spent no more than 30 hours on it, according to her secretary. It’s massive, more than 100 pages in the modern edition, and she just seems to have dashed it off. This is what she did for her leisure when she was taking a break from ruling the country! There is a real sense of it being done in haste, the grammar is a bit wonky and it is a very knotty muscular translation which has a rugged engaging quality.

So you get a sense of her intellect and her independence of mind, because, as the editors point out in all her translations, she seems to have done very little consulting of translations by other people or commentaries which had already been written on these texts. She does her own thing.

I came away from her translations feeling a contact with the seriousness of her mind. She engaged in translations all through her life right from when she was a young girl when she gave translations away as gift books for members of her family. But there is a real shift from those early translations, when they are almost schoolroom exercises written in that beautiful italic hand that we associate with her and she is showing off her accomplishments in all areas.

“I came away from her translations feeling a contact with the seriousness of her mind”

Tell me about Rewriting the Renaissance.

This is an essay collection from the mid 1980s and it exemplifies the movement known as new historicism, which was a new development which tried to bring together history and literary criticism in a new dynamic way, to show the way that literature is situated in history and history is made up of texts and always open to interpretation.

It is a school of criticism that is also very interested in how power circulates, and in gender and sexuality, and that is exemplified in this collection. It contains a particularly important essay by Louis Montrose called ‘Shaping Fantasies’ which is about A Midsummer Night’s Dream . This essay appeared in several different versions, but this is a place you can easily get hold of it.

What was new about it was the way that Montrose brought A Midsummer Night’s Dream into contact with Elizabeth I. There is a passage in the play called Oberon’s vision where Oberon is describing how the flower became the love charm, and this happens because there is ‘a fair vestal throned by the west’, who is obviously Elizabeth, and Cupid fires his bow at her but she is immune to his arrows. So his arrow falls on this flower that becomes the love charm.

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Oberon’s vision is often read as a passage of praise of Elizabeth, but Montrose shows that if you put it in context in relation to the rest of the play and other things that are being said and written about Elizabeth at the time, then it is really critical of Elizabeth. Once you start thinking about this it is quite obvious – you have Titania the Fairy Queen who is infatuated with an ass. Well, you can’t think about the Fairy Queen without thinking about Elizabeth because of Spenser. Titania is made to be a slave to lust, a comical figure, her powers are mocked and she is brought back under the authority of a husband. That is implied to be the norm.

Your final book is Representing Elizabeth in Stuart England.

I have chosen this one because, alongside the representation of Elizabeth in her own time, another huge and fascinating topic is the way she has been represented ever since. That is set in motion in the 17th century, the century after her death. John Watkins has written this wonderful study of it.

It draws out a couple of very interesting points: one is the way in which during the Stuart period and running up into the Civil War period you have the conflict developing between the Crown and Parliament. Elizabeth gets claimed by both sides. For the royalists she is the champion of monarchy and ideas on what it is to be a real monarch. But the parliamentarian side claim her as a democrat. They assert that she supported democracy and was on the side of the people.

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She becomes this very politically contested figure, and what Watkins also shows is that as we move on into the later 17th century she becomes much more of a fictionalised figure. Towards the end of the century you have a whole genre of stories known as secret histories. These are like early historical novels which are really scandal novels claiming to tell the truth about Elizabeth’s love affairs, for example her affair with Essex. You also get she-tragedies showing Elizabeth as a passionate romantic figure. John Banks is the main author of these. He writes a play called The Island Queens which is the first play to bring Elizabeth face to face with Mary Queen of Scots. In real life they never actually met but he brings them together in a wonderful charged encounter which has been taken up by many fictional writers ever since.

Why do you think they were so popular at the time?

One reading of it could be that the monarchy was becoming rather dull. We are talking about the period of the Glorious Revolution and the beginning of the curtailment of the powers of the monarchy, moving into the constitutional monarchy which we see today. There is a real excitement to this monarch who can be a scandalous figure and, of course, there is the added dimension that she is a woman which makes her private life even more interesting. People always wanted to know what she was like privately, whether she was really a virgin.

Do you think that there is any hard evidence to show she wasn’t a virgin?

No, I don’t think so. I think it was just too important for her to remain the Virgin Queen, and if she really had ever slept with someone, given the nature of her household and endless servants being around, her secret would have got out.

“Of course she had flirtations but I think she never actually slept with anyone”

Even if she had bribed people not to tell they could always have been bribed by foreign spies. There were plenty of rumours, but if she had it would have been so damaging to her authority and she was too intelligent to give that up. Of course she had flirtations but I think she never actually slept with anyone.

August 11, 2010

Five Books aims to keep its book recommendations and interviews up to date. If you are the interviewee and would like to update your choice of books (or even just what you say about them) please email us at [email protected]

Helen Hackett

Helen Hackett of University College London has published books on images of Elizabeth I, on A Midsummer Night’s Dream , and on women as readers and writers of fiction in the English Renaissance. Her most recent book, Shakespeare and Elizabeth: The Meeting of Two Myths , is about the afterlives of the playwright and the Queen as cultural icons, and the many ways in which their mythologies have intertwined.

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The Life of Elizabeth I Paperback – Print, October 1, 1999

• Print length 576 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Ballantine Books
• Publication date October 1, 1999
• Dimensions 5.5 x 1.21 x 8.23 inches
• ISBN-10 0345425502
• ISBN-13 978-0345425508
• See all details

From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

From the inside flap, from the back cover.

Against a lavish backdrop of pageantry and passion, intrigue and war, Weir dispels the myths surrounding Elizabeth I and examines the contradictions of her character. Elizabeth I loved the Earl of Leicester, but did she conspire to murder his wife? She called herself the Virgin Queen, but how chaste was she through dozens of liaisons? She never married, but was her choice to remain single tied to the chilling fate of her mother, Anne Boleyn? An enthralling epic that is also an amazingly intimate portrait, The Life of Elizabeth I is a mesmerizing, stunning reading experience.

About the Author

Excerpt. © reprinted by permission. all rights reserved., product details.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ballantine Books; Reissue edition (October 1, 1999)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 576 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0345425502
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0345425508
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.12 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1.21 x 8.23 inches
• #45 in England History
• #64 in Historical British Biographies
• #82 in Royalty Biographies

About the author

Alison weir.

Alison Weir lives and works in Surrey. Her books include Britain's Royal Families, The Six Wives of Henry VIII, Children of England, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Henry VIII: King and Court, Mary, Queen of Scots and Isabella: She-Wolf of France.

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Customers find the reading experience wonderful and detailed, but totally readable. They also appreciate the biography and content, saying it transports them straight to the era. Customers say the author brings the relationships to life with many excerpts from personal letters. However, some find the writing style tedious and repetitive.

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Customers find the book a wonderful, entertaining, and informative read. They also say it's greatly enhanced by reading the previous books.

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"...I am not a scholar, just a lover of English history, and this is a marvelous book that I looked forward to reading during every free moment i could..." Read more

Customers find the book detailed but totally readable, based on extensive research. They also say the author is very good and does an excellent job of presenting them in such a way that it's easy.

"...The writing itself was well done as well...." Read more

"...It was much more than that. Impeccably researched and beautifully written, Weir's work on arguably one of the most significant English historical..." Read more

"...learning about Elizabeth I. This is not a novel but it is an easy history to read ...." Read more

"I love Alison Weir’s writing style. There’s a flow and a beauty to her writing that draws me into her books." Read more

Customers find the biography good insight into the life of Elizabeth I, with a knowledgeable rendition of history. They also say the author is a great storyteller, and that the book reveals a lot about the personality of the most beloved monarch in English history. Customers also say it's a wonderful reading experience, and does a good job portraying how Elizabeth grew up around intrigues.

"...This was a glimpse into a fascinating era of history , one that fleshed out some of the vague stuff from old history lessons..." Read more

"...Mercurial, demanding, vain, whip smart and with an enormous capacity to understand her people , proud, generous, haughty, Elizabeth was a handful...." Read more

"...standing in the scholarly literature. The book did a great job of portraying how Elizabeth grew up around the intrigues of Henry VIII's court,..." Read more

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Customers find the topic well researched, understanding, and profound respect. They say the book is extremely sensible, well written, and documented. They also say it's an excellent history of Elizabeth I and a great window into her reign.

"...(the defeat of the armada, Henry's wives...), and it was dense and informative and engaging all at the same time...." Read more

"...Mercurial, demanding, vain, whip smart and with an enormous capacity to understand her people, proud, generous, haughty, Elizabeth was a handful...." Read more

"...All in all this is a very scholarly study of the reign of Elizabeth I and you also get a little peek into her personal life and the times of her..." Read more

Customers find the book provides a great insight into the living standards of an age. They also say the author keeps their interest throughout the book with a manner of writing that brings the people to life. Readers recommend the book as a reference book, as it has a highly personal focus. They say the book successfully brings relationships to life with many excerpts from personal letters.

"...and it was dense and informative and engaging all at the same time...." Read more

"...Alison Weir successfully brings the relationships to life with many excerpts from personal letters written by the Queen and her favorites...." Read more

"...This book provides great insight into her life , and how her values were shaped...." Read more

"...But what I most enjoyed in her "The Life of Elizabeth I" was her keen insight ...." Read more

Customers find the visuals in the book interesting and well researched.

"...Then I saw the 1998 movie "Elizabeth" (not historically accurate but very stylish and engrossing) which deepened my interest...." Read more

"...Ms. Weir paints a vivid , larger than life picture of Queen Elizabeth I and the complexities of court life with all its politics and intrigue...." Read more

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"...Mercurial, demanding, vain , whip smart and with an enormous capacity to understand her people, proud, generous, haughty, Elizabeth was a handful...." Read more

"...the breadth and depth but it just became so long and hard to hold my interest ...." Read more

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Queen Elizabeth I

Elizabeth I was a long-ruling queen of England, governing with relative stability and prosperity for 44 years. The Elizabethan era is named for her.

(1533-1603)

Who Was Queen Elizabeth I?

Queen Elizabeth I claimed the throne in 1558 at the age of 25 and held it until her death 44 years later. Elizabeth I was born a princess but declared illegitimate through political machinations. Eventually, upon her half-sister Mary Tudor’s death, she took the crown.

Queen Elizabeth I’s Father and Mother

Elizabeth was the daughter of King Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn. She was only 2 years old when her mother was beheaded on the orders of her father, based on questionable charges of adultery and conspiracy.

Early Life and Education

Elizabeth I was born on September 7, 1533, in Greenwich, England. Elizabeth was raised much like any other royal child. She received tutoring and excelled at languages and music.

After her father's death in 1547, Elizabeth spent some time under the care of her stepmother Catherine Parr. Parr hired tutors on Elizabeth's behalf, including William Grindal and Roger Ascham.

Tensions with Parr over Parr's new husband, Thomas Seymour, led Elizabeth to return to the royal estate at Hatfield, away from the court. Her relationship with Seymour later came under scrutiny, and Seymour was tried for conspiring to wed Elizabeth in a bid to gain power. Found guilty, Seymour was executed.

Elizabeth I of England’s Siblings

Elizabeth had an older half-sister, Mary Tudor , who was the king’s first child with his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, and the only to survive to adulthood. Elizabeth also had a younger half-brother, Edward, who was the king’s first and only legitimate son with his third wife, Jane Seymour .

Elizabeth and Mary were declared to be illegitimate as their father sought to pave the way to the throne for Edward, his male heir. The girls were later reinstated as potential heirs. Upon Henry VIII’s death in 1547, Edward succeeded his father as King Edward VI.

Edward VI died just six years later, in 1553. Mary Tudor and their cousin, Lady Jane Grey , both were in line for the crown.

Edward had appointed Grey to be his successor. Her reign proved to be very short: Mary gained the support of the English people and unseated Grey after only nine days on the throne.

Even though Elizabeth supported Mary in her coup, she was not free from suspicion. A staunch Roman Catholic, Mary sought to restore her country back to her faith, undoing her father's break from the Pope. While Elizabeth went along with the religious change, she remained a candidate for the throne for those who wanted a return to Protestantism.

In 1554, Thomas Wyatt organized a rebellion against Mary in the hopes of making Elizabeth queen and restoring Protestantism to England. His plot was uncovered, and Mary quickly imprisoned Elizabeth. Although Elizabeth disputed any involvement in the conspiracy, her sister was not wholly convinced.

Although she was soon released, Elizabeth's life was firmly in her sister's hands. Wyatt was executed, but he maintained that Elizabeth was not aware of the rebellion. Elizabeth eventually returned to Hatfield and continued with her studies. In 1558, Elizabeth ascended to the throne upon Mary Tudor’s death.

Elizabeth I’s Reign

Elizabeth ruled for 44 years, from 1558 until her death in 1603.

Elizabeth I inherited a number of problems stirred up by her half-sister Mary. The country was at war with France, which proved to be a tremendous drain on the royal coffers.

There was also great tension between different religious factions after Mary worked to restore England to Roman Catholicism by any means necessary. Mary had earned herself the nickname Bloody Mary for ordering the execution of 300 Protestants as heretics.

Elizabeth acted swiftly to address these two pressing issues. During her first session of Parliament in 1559, she called for the passage of the Act of Supremacy, which re-established the Church of England, and the Act of Uniformity, which created a common prayer book.

Elizabeth took a moderate approach to the divisive religious conflict in her country. "There is one Jesus Christ," she once said. "The rest is a dispute over trifles."

Historians differ on the extent that Catholics suffered religious persecution and execution under Elizabeth’s reign. The Roman Catholic Church took a dim view of her actions, and in 1570, Pope Pius V excommunicated Elizabeth.

With the assistance of her key advisor, William Cecil, Elizabeth ended England’s war with France. She was able to avoid clashing with the other superpower of the age, Spain, for much of her reign.

In 1585, however, Elizabeth entered the fray to support the Protestant rebellion against Spain in the Netherlands. Spain then set its sights on England, but the English navy was able to defeat the infamous Spanish Armada in 1588. According to several reports, the weather proved to be a deciding factor in England's victory.

Elizabethan England

Elizabeth’s reign was sometimes referred to as the England's Golden Age or Elizabethan England, an era of peace and prosperity when the arts had a chance to blossom with Elizabeth's support.

While she worked hard at court, Elizabeth took time for leisurely pursuits. She loved music and could play the lute. Thomas Tallis and William Byrd were among her court musicians. Elizabeth also enjoyed dancing and watching plays. Elizabeth's reign supported the creation of works by such greats as William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe .

Writers paid tribute to the queen in many literary forms. The poet Edmund Spenser based his character of Gloriana in The Faerie Queen on Elizabeth, and she was sometimes referred to by this name.

Portraiture was the reigning form of painting at the time, and artists honored Elizabeth by painting her portrait. These images reveal that Elizabeth was an early fashionista in many ways. She loved jewelry and beautiful clothing; her garments were often made with gold and silver. With the help of makeup, Elizabeth cultivated a dramatically pale look.

Rivalry Between Queen Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots

During Elizabeth’s rule, Mary, Queen of Scots lay claim to the English crown and posed one of the greatest internal threats to remove her cousin from the throne. Mary was raised Catholic and was considered by many English Catholics to be the rightful monarch of England.

The daughter of King James V of Scotland, Mary Stuart united her country with France in 1558 when she married the future King Francis II. After Francis' death, Mary returned to Scotland in 1561.

Elizabeth jailed her cousin in 1567 in connection with several assassination attempts, including the Babington Plot. Elizabeth kept Mary imprisoned for nearly 20 years before she had her cousin executed in 1587.

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Later Years

Troubled times marked the final years of Elizabeth's reign. The country suffered from failed crops, unemployment and inflation. There were riots over food shortages and rebellions in Ireland.

Elizabeth faced many challenges to her authority, including from one of her favorite noblemen, Robert Devereaux, the Earl of Essex. She had sent him to Ireland to quell a rebellion known as the Nine Years War led by Gaelic lord Hugh O'Neill. Instead, Essex returned to England and sought to start his own rebellion. He was executed for treason in 1601.

Elizabeth I’s Golden Speech

Despite her fading power, Elizabeth still showed her devotion to her people. She gave one of her most famous speeches in 1601 to Parliament.

During what is referred to as her "Golden Speech," a self-reflective Elizabeth seemed to look back on her long reign. "Of myself I must say this, I was never any greedy, scraping grasper, nor a strait, fast-holding prince, nor yet a waster. My heart was never set on worldly goods but for my subjects' good."

While the end of her reign had been difficult, Elizabeth is largely remembered as a queen who supported her people. Her lengthy time on the throne provided her subjects with stability and consistency. Her political acumen, sharp wit and clever mind helped navigate the nation through many religious, social and governmental challenges.

Did Queen Elizabeth I Have a Husband or Children?

Elizabeth never married or had children; she seemed to have no interest in sharing power with a spouse. Over time, she cultivated her image as a queen married to her job and her people, earning her the nickname the "Virgin Queen."

Succession was a pressing issue for Elizabeth. During her reign, she managed a number of suitors and potential royal matches. Through her father and her sister, however, Elizabeth had seen the troubles and challenges of royal marriages.

Elizabeth's half-sister Mary Tudor had made an unpopular choice in marrying Philip II of Spain, who shared her devotion to the Roman Catholic faith. In the hopes of reuniting their two countries once more, Phillip offered to wed Elizabeth at one time. She refused.

Other suitors for Elizabeth's hand included the Archduke Charles of Austria and the future King Henry III of France. She used her availability as a means to political ends, but she never agreed to marriage.

Elizabeth herself seemed to have some interest in a member of her court, Robert Dudley. Their relationship was the subject of much gossip and speculation; both parties came under suspicion of the mysterious death of Dudley's wife.

Queen Elizabeth I’s Death

Elizabeth died on March 24, 1603, at Richmond Palace in Surrey. It’s believed that the cosmetic concoction Elizabeth used to cultivate her infamously pale look, called the "spirits of Saturn" — made by mixing white lead and vinegar — may have impacted her health.

Successor to Queen Elizabeth I

Because Elizabeth I had no children, with her death came the end of the house of Tudor — a royal family that had ruled England since the late 1400s. The son of her former rival and cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots, succeeded her on the throne as James I.

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Anne Boleyn

Mary, Queen of Scots

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QUICK FACTS

• Name: Elizabeth
• Birth Year: 1533
• Birth date: September 7, 1533
• Birth City: Greenwich
• Birth Country: United Kingdom
• Gender: Female
• Best Known For: Elizabeth I was a long-ruling queen of England, governing with relative stability and prosperity for 44 years. The Elizabethan era is named for her.
• World Politics
• Astrological Sign: Virgo
• Interesting Facts
• Elizabeth I was called the Virgin Queen because of her refusal to marry.
• It’s believed that the cosmetic concoction Elizabeth used to cultivate her infamously pale look may have impacted her health and contributed to her death.
• Death Year: 1603
• Death date: March 24, 1603
• Death City: Richmond, Surrey
• Death Country: United Kingdom

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CITATION INFORMATION

• Article Title: Queen Elizabeth I Biography
• Author: Biography.com Editors
• Website Name: The Biography.com website
• Url: https://www.biography.com/royalty/queen-elizabeth-i
• Access Date:
• Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
• Last Updated: February 7, 2020
• Original Published Date: April 3, 2014
• I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too.
• I would rather be a beggar and single than a queen and married.
• I do not so much rejoice that God hath made me to be a Queen, as to be a Queen over so thankful a people.

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Elizabeth I

By: History.com Editors

Updated: September 12, 2018 | Original: November 9, 2009

The long reign of Elizabeth, who became known as the “Virgin Queen” for her reluctance to endanger her authority through marriage, coincided with the flowering of the English Renaissance, associated with such renowned authors as William Shakespeare. By her death in 1603, England had become a major world power in every respect, and Queen Elizabeth I passed into history as one of England’s greatest monarchs.

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A Royal Childhood

She was the daughter of King Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn. At the time of her birth, Elizabeth was third in line to the throne, behind her half-brother Edward and her older half-sister Mary. Elizabeth's childhood was marked by political turmoil and uncertainty. Her mother was executed when she was just two years old, and she was declared illegitimate by her father's new wife, Catherine Parr. Elizabeth was sent away from court and lived in various households, including that of her stepmother, Catherine Howard, who was also executed for treason. Despite these challenges, Elizabeth received a good education.

She was fluent in several languages and well-versed in history, theology, and literature. She also showed a talent for music and dancing. As a child, Elizabeth's relationship with her father was strained. He had wanted a son to succeed him, and Elizabeth's gender disappointed him. However, after the death of her half-brother Edward and her sister Mary's short reign, Elizabeth became the Queen of England at the age of 25. Through her childhood experiences, Elizabeth learned to be resilient and self-reliant.

Major Accomplishments

Defeat of the spanish armada, establishment of the church of england, strengthening of the economy, promotion of arts and culture, rise to power.

He was succeeded by her half-sister Mary I, who was determined to restore Catholicism in England and saw Elizabeth as a threat. Despite the obstacles, Elizabeth remained resilient and continued to educate herself in languages, history, and politics. She also gained popularity among the people due to her intelligence and charm. When Mary I died in 1558, Elizabeth finally became queen at the age of 25. She immediately set out to establish Protestantism as the official religion of England and worked towards restoring stability and prosperity to the country. Elizabeth's reign was not without its challenges. She faced threats from foreign powers, including the Spanish Armada, as well as rebellions at home. However, she proved to be a strong and capable leader, navigating through these challenges and solidifying her position as one of England's greatest monarchs. Despite the many obstacles she had to overcome, Queen Elizabeth I's rise to power is a testament to her determination and resilience.

Her legacy continues to inspire and fascinate people to this day. In conclusion, Queen Elizabeth I 's legacy as a powerful female ruler, cultural icon, and influential figure in world history continues to inspire and captivate people today. From her royal childhood to her rise to power and major accomplishments , there is no doubt that she will always be remembered as one of the greatest leaders in history.

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7 Best Books On Queen Elizabeth I

“I observe and remain silent.”

Queen Elizabeth I was the Queen of England and Ireland from 1558 until she died in 1603 and was the last monarch of the House of Tudor. The only surviving child of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn (who was executed when Elizabeth was only two years old), Elizabeth has gone down in history as one of England’s most famous and popular rulers. Setting out to rule by good counsel and pursuing mostly moderate and tolerant policies, her relatively stable forty-four years on the throne helped forge a sense of national identity.

From the emergence of English drama through the works of Shakespeare to the defeat of the Spanish Armada, the heyday of dashing English piracy, and the fiery side of the red-haired Virgin Queen, join us at What We Reading for the best books on Queen Elizabeth I!

Elizabeth: The Struggle For The Throne – David Starkey

One of the most recognisable British historians and a renowned expert on the Tudor dynasty, David Starkey sheds light on Elizabeth I’s early years and rise to the throne in his 2000 book, Elizabeth: The Struggle for the Throne .

Through examining the formative years that forged her astute character, Starkey’s work provides context on how Elizabeth was able to navigate the choppy waters of Tudor politics and establish such a successful reign. From snug years as Henry VIII ’s heir, banishment from court to her imprisonment and potential execution at the hands of her half-sister, Queen Mary I, Starkey allows readers to understand how Elizabeth’s cunning and patience paved the way for one of the most formidable rulers England has ever seen. 

The Life Of Elizabeth I – Alison Weir

A New York Times bestseller from respected historian Alison Weir, The Life of Elizabeth I sets a lavish backdrop of pageantry and passion, intrigue and war to cut through the myths surrounding the Virgin Queen. She presents an enthrallingly epic and surprisingly intimate portrait of perhaps the most influential sovereign in British history. 

Through brilliant, extensive research, Weir’s biography of Elizabeth gets to the heart of the complexities and contradictions of her character. From whether her choice to forgo marriage was a result of seeing what happened to her mother , to how her love for the Earl of Leicester may have resulted in the order to kill his wife, The Life of Elizabeth I presents new interpretations and fresh perspectives that any reader will find fascinating! 

Elizabeth I And Her Circle – Susan Doran 

Elizabeth I is known for being an extremely private person, so those confidants who did manage the trust of the queen remain some of the enigmatic and mysterious figures from her time on the throne. In Elizabeth I and Her Circle , Susan Doran lifts the lid on the queen’s inner circle and the human relationships that determined both her personal and political life. 

Doran reveals the true extent of the complex relationships with her father, half-brother and sister as well as her Stuart relatives that would come to take the throne following her death. She also delves into her courtiers and her councillors (her ‘men of business’) to give the clearest insight into how her relationships with the likes of Leicester and Essex influenced her political management right into the final years of her reign. One of the best Elizabeth I books for truly grasping what made the queen tick, Doran takes readers into the heart of a Tudor court. 

Elizabeth I: Collected Works – Leah S. Marcus

Leah S. Marcus offers readers the most comprehensive portrait of Queen Elizabeth I from the woman herself in one single volume. Collected Works pulls together all of the clumsily-written letters from her childhood, the early speeches from a queen still finding her feet and all the musings, poems and prayers from Elizabeth’s later years. 

The first collection of its kind to be published, the book reveals brilliance on two fronts. First of an accomplished queen, a mesmeric writer and a profound intellect spearheading the English Renaissance. Second, the editors whose extensive annotations make the book essential reading for causal historians and scholars looking to understand Elizabeth I better. 

Elizabeth I CEO: Strategic Lessons From The Leader Who Built An Empire – Alan Axelrod

In one of the more innovative Elizabeth I books, historian and business management expert Alan Axelrod reveals how the Virgin Queen met the challenges that faced them, overcame daunting obstacles and led her country to greatness. 

Elizabeth I’s long reign offers lessons on fostering a leadership attitude and an image that wins intense loyalty. Enhanced by personal dynamism and an ability to manipulate, control and inspire creativity from others, Axelrod takes a different approach to deconstruct what made Elizabeth such a great leader. Opposed to other works on the Tudor monarch, Elizabeth I CEO is a book for business leaders, exploring issues that are relevant in today’s world and showcasing how a ruler in the sixteenth century was able to overcome them all. 

Elizabeth’s Women: Friends, Rivals, And Foes Who Shaped The Virgin Queen – Tracy Borman

Most Elizabeth I portrayals, adaptations and biographies focus on the Virgin Queen’s relationship with men. Historian Tracy Borman presents a fascinating new angle on the life and times of Elizabeth by presenting her as a product of women. 

Elizabeth’s Women offers a brilliantly researched account of one of England’s most enigmatic rulers, shedding light on how the Tudor court viewed femininity, the power held by fecundity and flirtation, the meanings and purpose of costumes during the Renaissance, and the contradictions and complexities of Elizabeth’s personal opinions on female inferiority. The narrative explores Elizabeth’s enchanting mother, who taught her never to mix love and politics, the women subjects who adored her, and the intimates who challenged and even threatened to destroy her.

Blood, Fire And Gold – Estelle Paranque

Applauded as a tale ‘told with verve and passion’, Blood, Fire and Gold is a stunning portrayal of two of the most powerful women in European history and their grand rivalry. Estelle Paranque brings to life Elizabeth I and Catherine de Medici, two extraordinary rulers who came to hold power against all odds. 

A story packed full of compelling details of diplomacy, intrigue and court life, Paranque chronicles the complicated thirty-year relationship between Elizabeth and Catherine, mapping their friendship, competition and conflicts that defined Europe. Drawing on new research and the personal letters exchanged between the pair, it is one of the best Elizabeth I books filled with ceaseless calculations, politics, love, war and wisdom that pays homage to these two rulers and the lasting imprint they left on European history.  

Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).

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Biography of Queen Elizabeth I, Virgin Queen of England

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Elizabeth I (Born Princess Elizabeth; September 7, 1533–March 24, 1603) was Queen of England and Ireland from 1558 to 1603, the last of the Tudor monarchs . She never married and consciously styled herself as the Virgin Queen, wedded to the nation. Her reign was marked by immense growth for England, especially in world power and cultural influence.

Fast Facts: Queen Elizabeth I

• Known For : Queen of England from 1558–1603, known for defeating the Spanish Armada and encouraging cultural growth
• Also Known As : Princess Elizabeth, the Virgin Queen
• Born:  September 7, 1533 in Greenwich, England
• Parents : King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn
• Died : March 24, 1603 in Richmond, England
• Education : Educated by William Grindal and Roger Ascham, among others
• Published Works : Letters, speeches, and poems (collected in modern times in the volume, Elizabeth I: Collected Works
• Notable Quote : "I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king and of a king of England too.”

On September 7, 1533,  Anne Boleyn , then Queen of England, gave birth to the Princess Elizabeth. She was baptized three days later and was named after her paternal grandmother,  Elizabeth of York . The princess's arrival was a bitter disappointment, as her parents had been certain that she would be a boy, the son  Henry VIII  so desperately wanted and had married Anne to have.

Elizabeth rarely saw her mother and before she was 3, Anne Boleyn was executed on trumped-up charges of adultery and treason. The marriage was declared invalid and Elizabeth was then declared illegitimate, as her half-sister,  Mary , had been, and reduced to the title of "Lady" instead of "Princess."

Despite this, Elizabeth was educated under some of the most highly regarded educators of the time, including William Grindal and Roger Ascham. By the time she had reached her teens, Elizabeth knew Latin, Greek, French, and Italian. She was also a talented musician, able to play the spinet and lute. She even composed a little.

Restored to the Line of Succession

After Henry fathered a son, an act of Parliament in 1543 restored Mary and Elizabeth to the line of succession, though it did not restore their legitimacy. When Henry died in 1547, Edward, his only son, succeeded to the throne.

Elizabeth went to live with Henry’s widow,  Catherine Parr . When Parr became pregnant in 1548, she sent Elizabeth away to set up her own household, following incidents of her husband, Thomas Seymour, apparently attempting to groom or seduce Elizabeth.

After Parr’s death in 1548, Seymour began scheming to achieve more power and secretly plotted to marry Elizabeth. After he was executed for treason, Elizabeth experienced her first brush with scandal and had to endure rigorous investigation. After the scandal passed, Elizabeth spent the rest of her brother’s reign living quietly and respectably, 

A Focal Point for Discontent

Edward VI attempted to disinherit both his sisters, favoring his cousin  Lady Jane Grey for the throne. However, he did so without the backing of Parliament and his will was patently illegal, as well as unpopular. After his death in 1533, Mary succeeded to the throne and Elizabeth joined her triumphant procession. Unfortunately, Elizabeth soon lost favor with her Catholic sister, likely due to English Protestants seeing her as an alternative to Mary.

Because Mary wed her Catholic cousin,  Philip II of Spain , Thomas Wyatt (the son of one of Anne Boleyn's friends) led a rebellion, which Mary blamed on Elizabeth. She sent Elizabeth to the Tower of London, where criminals including Elizabeth's mother had awaited execution. With no evidence found against her, and Queen Mary’s husband viewing her as an asset for a political marriage, Elizabeth avoided execution and was released. Mary suffered a false pregnancy in 1555, leaving Elizabeth all but certain to inherit.

Elizabeth I Becomes Queen

Mary died on November 17, 1558, and Elizabeth inherited the throne, the third and final of Henry VIII’s children to do so. Her procession into London and coronation were masterpieces of political statement and planning, and her accession was treated warmly by many in England who hoped for greater religious toleration.

Elizabeth quickly assembled a Privy Council and promoted a number of key advisors: One, William Cecil (later Lord Burghley), was appointed principal secretary. Their partnership would prove to be fruitful and he remained in her service for 40 years.

The Marriage Question

One question that dogged Elizabeth, particularly in the early part of her reign, was the question of succession. Numerous times, the parliament presented her with official requests that she marry. Most of the English population hoped that marriage would solve the problem of a woman ruling.

Women were not believed to be capable of leading forces into battle. Their mental powers were considered to be inferior to men. Men often gave Elizabeth unsolicited advice, particularly in regards to the will of God, which only men were believed to be able to interpret.

Elizabeth I’s Image

Despite the frustration, Elizabeth governed with her head. She knew how to use courtship as a useful political tool, and she wielded it masterfully. Throughout her life, Elizabeth had a variety of suitors. The closest she came to marriage was likely with longtime friend Robert Dudley, but that hope ended when his first wife died mysteriously and Elizabeth had to distance herself from scandal. In the end, she refused to marry and also refused to name a political successor.

Elizabeth cultivated the image of herself as the Virgin Queen wedded to her kingdom, and her speeches made great use of romantic languages, such as "love," in defining her role. The campaign was entirely successful, maintaining Elizabeth as one of England’s best-loved monarchs.

Elizabeth’s reign marked a change from Mary’s Catholicism and a return to the policies of Henry VIII, whereby the English monarch was head of an English church. The Act of Supremacy in 1559 began a process of gradual reform, effectively creating the Church of England.

As part of her path of reform in the church, Elizabeth famously declared that she would tolerate all but the  most radical sects . She demanded only outward obedience, unwilling to force consciences. This wasn’t enough for more extreme Protestants, and Elizabeth faced criticism from them.

Mary, Queen of Scots and Catholic Intrigue

Elizabeth’s decision to adopt Protestantism earned her condemnation from the pope, who gave permission for her subjects to disobey and even kill her. This inflamed numerous plots against Elizabeth’s life, a situation exacerbated by Mary, Queen of Scots . Mary Stuart, Elizabeth’s Catholic cousin, was the granddaughter of Henry’s sister and was seen by many to be a Catholic heir to the throne.

In 1568, Mary fled Scotland after her marriage to Lord Darnley ended in murder and a suspicious remarriage, and she begged for Elizabeth's help to be restored to power. Elizabeth didn’t want to return Mary to full power in Scotland, but she didn’t want the Scots to execute her, either. She kept Mary in confinement for 19 years, but her presence in England proved to be detrimental to the precarious religious balance within the country, as Catholics used her as a rallying point.

Mary was the focus of plots to kill Elizabeth during the 1580s. Although Elizabeth resisted calls to accuse and execute Mary at first, ultimately, she was persuaded by evidence that Mary had been party to the plots, not just an unwilling figurehead. Still, Elizabeth fought against signing the execution warrant until the bitter end, going so far as to encourage private assassination. After the execution, Elizabeth claimed that the warrant was dispatched against her wishes; whether that was true or not is unknown.

War and the Spanish Armada

England’s Protestant religion put it at odds with neighboring Catholic Spain and, to a lesser extent, France. Spain was involved in military plots against England and Elizabeth came under pressure from home to become involved with defending other Protestants on the continent, which on occasion she did.

The execution of Mary Stuart convinced Philip in Spain that it was time to conquer England and restore Catholicism within the country. Stuart’s execution also meant that he would not have to put an ally of France on the throne. In 1588, he launched the infamous  Armada .

Elizabeth went to Tilbury Camp to encourage her troops, declaring:

“I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and a king of England too, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare invade the borders of my realm…” 

In the end, England defeated the Armada and Elizabeth was victorious. This would prove to be the climax of her reign: Only a year later, the same Armada all but destroyed the English Navy.

Ruler of the Golden Age

The years of Elizabeth’s rule are often referred to simply using her name—The Elizabethan Age. Such was her profound effect on the nation. The period is also called the Golden Age, for these years saw England rise to the status of world power thanks to voyages of exploration and economic expansion.

Toward the end of her reign, England experienced a blossoming literary culture.  Edward Spenser  and  William Shakespeare  were both supported by the queen and likely drew inspiration from their regal leader. Architecture, music, and painting also experienced a boom in popularity and innovation. The presence of her strong and balanced rule facilitated this. Elizabeth herself wrote and translated works.

Problems and Decline

The last 15 years of her reign were the hardest on Elizabeth, as her most trusted advisers died and younger courtiers struggled for power. Most infamously, a former favorite, the Earl of Essex, led a poorly-plotted rebellion against the queen in 1601. It failed miserably and he was executed.

Toward the very end of Elizabeth’s long reign, national problems began to grow. Consistently poor harvests and high inflation damaged both the economic situation and belief in the queen, as did anger at the alleged greed of court favorites.

Elizabeth held her final Parliament in 1601. In 1602 and 1603, she lost several dear friends, including her cousin Lady Knollys (granddaughter of Elizabeth's aunt  Mary Boleyn ). Elizabeth experienced ever more depression, something she had experienced her entire life.

She declined notably in health and died on March 24, 1603. She was buried in Westminster Abbey in the same tomb as her sister Mary. She had never named an heir, but her cousin James VI, the Protestant son of Mary Stuart, succeeded to the throne and was likely her preferred successor.

Elizabeth has been remembered more for her successes than her failures and as a monarch that loved her people and was much loved in return. Elizabeth was always revered and seen as almost divine. Her unmarried status often led to comparisons of Elizabeth with the Roman goddess Diana, the Virgin Mary, and even a  Vestal Virgin .

Elizabeth went out of her way to cultivate a wider public. In the early years of her reign, she often went out to the country on annual visits to aristocratic houses, showing herself to most of the public along the road in the country and townsfolk of southern England.

In poetry, she has been celebrated as an English embodiment of feminine strength associated with such mythic heroines as Judith, Esther, Diana, Astraea, Gloriana, and Minerva. In her personal writings, she showed wit and intelligence.

Throughout her reign, she proved to be a capable politician and she reigned for almost half a century. She consistently maintained her control on government, remaining cordial with parliament and ministers, but never allowing them to control her. Much of Elizabeth’s reign was a careful balancing act between both factions of her own court as well as with other nations.

Keenly aware of the increased burdens due to her gender, Elizabeth managed to construct a complex persona that awed and charmed her subjects. She portrayed herself very much as her father’s daughter, fierce if need be. Elizabeth was lavish in her presentation, part of her brilliantly orchestrated campaign to mold her image and retain power. She impresses people even today and her name has become synonymous with strong women.

• Collinson, Patrick. "Elizabeth I."  Oxford Dictionary of National Biography . Oxford University Press, 2004. 
• Dewald, Jonathan, and Wallace MacCaffrey. "Elizabeth I (England)."  Europe 1450 to 1789: Encyclopedia of the Early Modern World . Charles Scribner's Sons, 2004. 
• Kinney, Arthur F., David W. Swain, and Carol Levin. "Elizabeth I."  Tudor England: an encyclopedia . Garland, 2001. 
• Gilbert, Sandra M., and Susan Gubar. "Queen Elizabeth I."  The Norton Anthology of Literature by Women: The Traditions in English . 3. ed. Norton, 2007.
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Biography Online

Biography Queen Elizabeth I

Life of Queen Elizabeth I

Elizabeth was born in Greenwich, England on 7th September 1533. She was the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn . Anne Boleyn was Henry’s second wife. He divorced his first wife Catherine of Aragon after she had failed to produce a male heir. Unfortunately, Anne Boleyn also failed to produce a male heir and would be executed for treason when Elizabeth was only two years old.

Following the death of Henry VIII and his only son Edward, there was uncertainty about who would inherit the throne. For nine days a cousin of Edward, Lady Jane Grey was made queen before being disposed and then executed by Mary I. Mary’s reign was unpopular as she sought to revert England to Catholicism. Her popularity was further weakened by her distant marriage to Phillip of Spain. At one time Elizabeth’s life was in danger and Mary I had her half-sister arrested and kept in the Tower of London. However, Elizabeth was able to convince Mary she posed no threat to her throne and eventually, Mary came to trust the Protestant Elizabeth and named her successor to the throne.

In 1558 Mary died, leaving Elizabeth as queen. Despite Mary exhorting her to retain the Catholic faith, Elizabeth ignored her wish, and she re-established Protestantism as the faith of England. However, Elizabeth wished to avoid the religious extremes of Mary and Edward’s reign and she sought to allow people to practise their religion of choice in private. However, later in her reign, it was alleged Catholic plotters were seeking to kill the Queen. As a consequence, laws against Catholics were tightened. One figurehead for the potential Catholic rebellion was Mary Queen of Scots. As a sign of her real perceived threat, Elizabeth eventually agreed to her capture and later execution. (in 1587)

As a consequence of Mary’s execution, Catholic opposition to England grew. In particular, Phillip II of Spain was determined to return Catholicism to England. There was a real threat of a Spanish invasion and, in September 1588, the powerful Spanish Armada set sail for England; threatening to make the invasion a reality. Threatened with potential invasion, Queen Elizabeth showed her real strength as a leader. She personally visited the troops at Tilbury and gave a famous speech. Her words included:

“ I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too. ”

Her speech was enthusiastically greeted by her troops. The subsequent defeat of the heavily fortified Spanish Armada was greeted as a triumph for England and in particular Queen Elizabeth. Her personal popularity reached an all-time high. It is said she was an early skilled operator of public relations. She often met her subjects in person; by being highly visible she made the monarchy accessible and popular as never before. Towards the end of her reign, she is reported to have said.

“ This I account the glory of my crown, that I have reigned with your loves” .

She had many important skills as both Queen and statesman. She was quick-witted, intelligent and articulate. She surrounded herself with skilled advisors and defused many potential crises. However, she was also criticised for being at times both ruthless and indecisive. Several political opponents were executed for treason, although in comparison to her grandfather Henry VIII, her reign was comparatively enlightened.

Throughout her life, she remained unmarried, despite the frequent attempts of parliament to persuade her to provide an heir. However despite many relationships with members of the court Elizabeth never gave any indication she wished to marry. For this reason, she was often referred to as the “Virgin Queen”. However, her lack of direct heir meant she was the last of the Tudor monarchs. After her death, the Crown passed to James I.

Citation: Pettinger, Tejvan . “ Biography of Queen Elizabeth I ”, Oxford, UK – www.biographyonline.net . Published 17th January 2011. Last updated 13 February 2018.

Major achievements of Queen Elizabeth I

• United the country in a period of suspicion between Catholics and Protestants.
• Inspired troops to defeat the Spanish Armada
• Presided over a period of cultural and literary development in England.

The Life of Queen Elizabeth I

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• Queen Elizabeth I Timeline

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Queen Elizabeth I The Ermine Portrait Wiki Commons

QUEEN ELIZABETH I

The reign of Queen Elizabeth I is often referred to as The Golden Age of English history. Elizabeth was an immensely popular Queen, and her popularity has waned little with the passing of four hundred years. She is still one of the best loved monarchs, and one of the most admired rulers of all time. The Queen became a legend in her own lifetime, famed for her remarkable abilities and achievements. Yet, about Elizabeth the woman, we know very little. She is an enigma, and was an enigma to her own people. Queen Elizabeth was the daughter of King Henry VIII (1491-1547) and his second wife, Anne Boleyn (c.1501-1536) . She was born on 7 September 1533 at Greenwich Palace . Her birth was possibly the greatest disappointment of her father's life. He had wanted a son and heir to succeed him as he already had a daughter, Mary (1516-1558) , by his first wife, Catherine of Aragon (1485-1536) . He had not divorced Catherine, a royal princess and loyal wife of twenty years, and changed the religion of the country in the process, losing (and even executing) friends, statesmen and allies, just to have another daughter! The mighty King felt like a fool, knowing his enemies were laughing at him, and his marriage to Anne never recovered. He also began to question whether he had done the right thing in marrying Anne. Perhaps God did not bless their union after all.

King Henry VIII & Anne Boleyn

Wiki Commons

As a result of this bitter beginning, Queen Elizabeth's early life was troubled. Henry hoped Anne would have another child, this time a boy, but every time she suffered a miscarriage. History seemed to be repeating itself. Just like Catherine before her, Anne seemed destined to only give him girls or dead children. Henry consequently wanted to end their marriage. This he did brutally. Anne was falsely accused of adultery and treason, offences that carried the death penalty, and was executed on 19 May 1536. Henry's marriage to Anne was declared null and void and Elizabeth, like her half-sister, Mary, before her, was declared illegitimate and deprived of her place in the line of succession. No longer was she Elizabeth, Princess of Wales, but plain Lady Elizabeth.

The next eight years of Elizabeth's life saw a quick succession of stepmothers. There was Jane Seymour (c.1508-1537) who died giving birth to the King's longed for son, Edward (1537-1553) ; Anne of Cleves (1515-1557) who was divorced; Catherine Howard (c.1523-1542) who was beheaded; and finally Katherine Parr (1512-1548) . For generations, historians have debated whether the constant bride changing of her father was responsible for Elizabeth's apparent refusal to marry. It is certainly possible that the tragic fates of Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard impressed upon her a certain fear of marriage, but there may have been other reasons for the Queen's single state, such as a fear of childbirth, which claimed the lives of a significant number of women in this period. Even if the Queen had no personal reservations about marriage, there were political problems with almost every contender for her hand. Religion was a major divisive issue, and there was also the problem of whether Elizabeth would have to relinquish any of her royal powers to a husband in an age when the political sphere was exclusively male.

Catherine Howard

As a child, Elizabeth was given a very impressive education. It had become popular amongst the nobility to educate daughters as well as sons and Elizabeth excelled at her studies. She was taught by famous scholars such as William Grindal and Roger Ascham, and from an early age it was clear that she was remarkably gifted. She had an especial flare for languages, and by adulthood, she could reputedly speak five languages fluently.

TUDOR TROPHY MYTHS: ELIZABETH I SHAKESPEARE QUIZ

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Facts and Myths From the Life of Queen Elizabeth I

When she was born in 1533, Elizabeth was a great disappointment to her father. King Henry VIII of England had hoped for a son and heir and was distraught and angry when Anne Boleyn gave birth to a little girl. Before long, the King ordered the mother’s execution. Elizabeth was cast away. But, as every student of history knows, that was not the end. Elizabeth would go on to be crowned Queen. What’s more, she’s widely-acknowledged as one of the greatest monarchs to ever sit on the English throne, ruling for an incredible 43 years.

To her fans, Queen Elizabeth I was the finest of the Tudor monarchs. She was well-read and highly intelligent. Under her, a ‘Golden Age’ of English culture flourished, while she even managed to establish a ‘middle way’ between extreme Catholicism and extreme Protestantism, bringing to an end many years of sectarian discord. However, to her detractors, Elizabeth was not all she appears to be. For them, she has benefited from centuries of revisionism when, in reality, she allowed England to become almost ungovernable.

Not surprisingly, a number of myths and misconceptions about Elizabeth have been put forward over the years, and many of them endure to this day. So, here we separate the historical fact from the historical fiction:

16. MYTH: Elizabeth died as a young child and was replaced by a boy – and he went on to rule as a Queen

One of the most bizarre – and most enduring – myths surrounding Queen Elizabeth is that she was actually a man. Some scholars attribute this to simple chauvinism – that is, over the centuries, some people have refused to believe a woman could rule in such a wise and dignified manner. Notably, however, even learned, intelligent people have believed in such a conspiracy theory. For instance, Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula , was one of many who believed that Elizabeth died at a young age and was secretly replaced by a young boy who grew up to sit on the throne.

It is true that Elizabeth was sent away from London, to the small city of Bisley, at a young age. Her father, Henry VIII, wanted her to be safe from the plague that was sweeping through the cramped city. According to the legend, she still fell ill and died. Distraught and worried that the King would have her executed, Elizabeth’s nurse found a young, girlish-looking boy, wrapped him in blankets and pretended that he was really the Princess. It’s also alleged this is the reason why Elizabeth remained unmarried – she couldn’t be intimate with anyone, lest her secret be revealed. However, all serious historians have dismissed the theory as pure fantasy – after all, it would have been almost impossible to keep such a secret, especially since the Queen had many enemies.

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15. FACT: The young Elizabeth was a neglected and her governess even had to beg King Henry for clothes for the child

Unlike most princesses, Elizabeth didn’t enjoy a life of luxury as a young girl. Just before her third birthday, her father, King Henry VIII, ordered the execution of her mother, Anne Boleyn. Young Elizabeth, who had been doted on by both parents even though they had both hoped for a boy, was suddenly declared to be illegitimate. The child’s governess, Lady Bryan, feared for her safety, so she took her away from the royal court, away from the unpredictable and often violent King Henry. The king spared his daughter’s life, but he cut of all support for her.

According to sources from the time, Lady Bryan, Elizabeth’s governess, was forced to petition the King, asking for his help. The young girl had been so neglected that she had out-grown her clothes and was in desperate need of new ones. After her fourth birthday, however, Elizabeth’s fortunes changed. Lady Bryan was replaced by a new, younger governess called Katherine Champernowne. She oversaw her young charge’s early education and ensured that she grew up in the relative comfort of a stable family home.

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14. MYTH: Elizabeth swallowed Henry VIII’s propaganda campaign and completely disowned her own mother

Elizabeth was just three years old when her mother, Anne Boleyn was executed on the orders of King Henry VIII. The king had been disappointed that his second wife had given him a daughter instead of a son. And, according to the official statement of the time, Anne had also been disappointed that her child was a girl and that she had ‘failed’ to give her husband a male heir. After her death, the royal court issued lots of propaganda aimed at tainting the name of Anne, accusing her of treachery and even witchcraft. Since she grew up in such an environment, some have speculated that Elizabeth grew up to resent her own mother.

All the evidence suggests that this was simply not the case. Famously, while a young woman, and indeed for much of her adult life, Elizabeth wore a special ring. The ring was fitted with a little door. When this was opened, she could look at a tiny portrait of her mother. She had the picture painted by an artist who had known Anne Boleyn personally, and she managed to keep the commission a secret from Henry. There’s also a famous family portrait in which the young Elizabeth is seen wearing a necklace with the letter ‘A’ on it – proof that she was honoring her mother’s memory, right under the nose of her tyrannical father?

13. FACT: Elizabeth spent several weeks locked up in the infamous Tower of London, though was allowed to take her servants with her

In August of 1553, Mary Tudor rode proudly into London to be crowned the Queen of England. Elizabeth, her half-sister was by her side. One of Queen Mary I’s first acts was to require all her nobles, and fellow royals, to attend Catholic mass. Elizabeth, a Protestant, went along with this. In February of 1554, however, she was implicated in the Wyatt’s Rebellion, a Protestant plot to overthrow Mary and make England a Protestant stronghold once again. Elizabeth vehemently denied any involvement. Despite a lack of concrete evidence, she was found guilty of sedition and sent to the Tower of London.

Elizabeth entered the infamous prison on boat, through Traitor’s Gate. Given the circumstances, it’s probable that she believed she would either be executed or else live out the rest of her natural life in the Bell Tower. However, the Tower guards treated her well. Several of her closest servants joined Elizabeth in the prison, and she was given a small but comfortable room, with enough natural light to read, and was permitted to take daily exercise. Supporters petitioned Queen Mary to release her half-sister. And in May she did just that. Elizabeth was sentenced to live under house arrest – and the records show huge crowds lined the streets as she was transported to the home where she was to spend more than a year.

12. MYTH: Elizabeth had six fingers on one of her hands, and she inherited the deformity from her mother, Anne Boleyn

In the years following her execution, rumors that Anne Boleyn had six fingers on one hand started to spread throughout England and beyond. The first reference to this was made by Nicholas Sander in 1530. And it soon gained currency across the continent, as did similar rumors that the second wife of Henry VIII even had three breasts as well as the extra digit. Since she was Anne’s only child, the rumors even went so far as to say that Elizabeth had inherited her mother’s physical deformities but managed to hide them from the public and even from those closest to her, for instance by refusing to get married.

All serious historians refute such allegations. Notably, Sander, who was the first to mention the ‘six fingers’ thing was a Catholic and was intent on slandering the Protestant Anne Boleyn. Since physical deformities were widely assumed to be a sign of evil, this would have been an effective line of attack – as it would have been for Elizabeth. However, there’s no evidence to suggest that either Anne or Elizabeth had any extra fingers or breasts. What’s more, it’s highly unlikely Henry VIII would have taken Anne as his wife is she wasn’t conventionally attractive – after all, this was a monarch who had his marriage to his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, annulled on the grounds that he found her too ugly to consummate the union.

11. FACT: Elizabeth was a sickly child and was unwell for the remainder of her life, even though she tried to cover up her weaknesses

From an early age, Elizabeth realized that, in order to survive in a man’s world, she needed to present herself as tough and unshakable. And, for the most part, she succeeded. However, the impression she gave was a mask covering the reality. According to some recent biographers of the Tudor queen, Elizabeth suffered from bad health from childhood, most notably with a bad case of smallpox. And as she got older, her health only got worse. In the end, the queen of England was a frail old lady using every possible trick to cover up the truth.

Ironically, it was her attempts to hide her frailty that most likely caused the Queen’s health to decline so rapidly in her later years. Each morning, she would apply bright red blusher to her face and neck to hide her wrinkles and her smallpox scars. This was made from mercuric sulfide. So, every time Elizabeth licked her lips, she would have been slowly poisoning herself. As we now know, mercury poisoning affects the brain, causing slurred speech, memory loss and a lack of coordination. And, of course, the worse she looked, the more toxic make-up her ladies-in-waiting slapped on her every day!

10. MYTH: Elizabeth, like Catherine the Great, was promiscuous and took a number of her male court favorites into her bed

From middle-age onward, Elizabeth I actively encouraged the popular perception of herself as ‘the Virgin Queen’. However, not everyone was convinced the monarch was quite as chaste as she said she was. Both during her reign as well as in the years following her death, rumors circulated that, far from being a virgin, Elizabeth was a wildly promiscuous woman, with a voracious sexual appetite. Above all, it’s alleged that she took the Earl of Essex and the Earl of Leicester, as well as Robert Devereux and Sir Walter Raleigh to bed with her.

According to most scholars with deep knowledge of Tudor England, it’s highly unlikely that even the Queen would have been able to conceal an affair and keep it secret. It’s true that she did have male favorites, and while the accounts of the time do reveal that Elizabeth not only liked to surround herself with handsome young men, but she also gave them nicknames and openly flirted with them. What’s more, she was also a keen dancer and loved foreign, more risqué dances, such as jigs from Italy. However, there’s simply no evidence to suggest that the queen invited her favorites or dance partners into the royal bedchamber.

9. FACT: She may have been all-powerful, but Elizabeth I was afraid of mice and terrified of being alone in the dark

As Queen of England, Elizabeth’s power might have been absolute, but that doesn’t mean she wasn’t human. Indeed, just like everyone else, the monarch suffered from fears and phobias. The records do show that she was terrified of mice. According to accounts from certain members of her court, whenever she spotted a tiny rodent, Elizabeth would climb up on a chair or any other easily-reached piece of furniture and call for her guards. She would only come down once the offending mouse had been killed.

As well as her fear of mice, Queen Elizabeth I also suffered from a crippling fear of the dark. It’s possible that this started in childhood and was almost certainly made worse by the time she spent locked up in the Tower of London. Elizabeth was so scared of the dark that she refused to sleep alone. Each night, one of her trusted ladies-in-waiting would be ordered to sleep in the Queen’s bedchamber. According to one famous episode, when Elizabeth’s usual bed companion, a lady named Dorothy Stafford, broke her leg in a horse-riding accident, the monarch demanded that another friend, Mary Scudamore, be fetched at once. Her trusted ally the Earl of Sussex was undoubtedly well-rewarded for ensuring Scudamore reached the royal bedchamber before dark.

8. MYTH: The ‘Virgin Queen’ had at least one secret, illegitimate child, probably fathered by her cousin and one true love, the Earl of Leicester

Even now, many people refuse to accept that Elizabeth I was happy without the love of a man. Ever since she was a young lady, rumors concerning her love life – and, indeed, sex life – have abounded. And, according to some, not only did Elizabeth not die a ‘virgin Queen’, she even had a child out of wedlock. Moreover, she conspired to keep the illegitimate son or daughter a secret all her life. Above all, it’s alleged that her close friendship with her cousin Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester, had produced a child.

Upon her coronation, Elizabeth argued that having children would just be a distraction. She said: “Do not upbraid me with miserable lack of children, for every one of you, and as many as are Englishmen, are children and kinsmen to me.” But more compellingly, most historians agree that it would have been almost impossible to keep any pregnancy secret. Elizabeth lived her life in a bubble, with no real privacy. What’s more, it’s believed the King of Spain – a Catholic keen to undermine Protestant Elizabeth any way possible – had spies in the English court, including maids who would check the royal bed sheets to ensure the monarch was menstruating.

7. FACT: The legend that Elizabeth was sat under her favorite oak tree when she was informed she had become Queen is most probably true

Many legends regarding royals are believed to be, if not completely made-up, then certainly exaggerated. However, there’s plenty of evidence to suggest that Princess Elizabeth was indeed stood underneath a mighty oak tree when she learned she was Queen. The tree in question stood in the grounds of her childhood home, Hatfield House, just outside of London. It was some distance from the palace, making it a favored spot for the Princess when she wanted to enjoy some rare solitude with her beloved books.

According to the accounts of the time, Elizabeth was with her closest ladies-in-waiting and sat under the tree on the afternoon of November 17 1558. A rider from London had to ask the Hatfield Staff house where she was. When he did find her, he informed the young Elizabeth that Queen Mary I was dead. She would inherit the throne. What’s more, though the coronation wouldn’t be for another two months, Elizabeth assumed the powers of the monarch there and then. Sadly, the actual tree died and was removed many years ago, though another oak has been planted in its place, with a plaque explaining the historical significance of the location.

6. MYTH: Elizabeth was quiet, calm and rational, unlike her hot-tempered famous father

In some movie depictions of Queen Elizabeth I, the monarch is portrayed as calm and collected at all times. Even when she is shown to be displeased, she nevertheless keeps her cool, preferring a look of contempt or understated but sharp put-down to a full-on tantrum. However, by all accounts, such an image of Elizabeth is highly inaccurate. She was, it should be remembered, the daughter of King Henry VIII, a man not known for his patience and gentleness. Similarly, her mother, Anne Boleyn, was independent and often outspoken – qualities that at first attracted Henry and then repulsed him. It seems their daughter inherited her fierce temper from both her parents.

From the available evidence, it seems that Elizabeth’s fits of temper were relatively frequent, and always unpredictable. She especially hated hearing bad news. According to one account, when her private surgeon advised her that a chronic pain in her arm was the result of a “cold, rheumatic humor”, she interpreted this as a sign of aging. She was livid and banished the surgeon not only from her sight but from the royal court. As she continued to get older and suffer health problems, including a crippling leg ulcers, she became even less patient with her underlings, and her temper tantrums became more frequent and more violent.

5. FACT: Elizabeth had black teeth, and far from being embarrassed about it may even have smiled at foreign dignitaries with pride

Not one of the many portraits made of Queen Elizabeth show the monarch with black teeth. After all, the artists were always keen to show their subject in the best possible light – to do otherwise might have seen them thrown in the Tower of London. But that doesn’t mean Elizabeth had excellent oral health. Quite the opposite, in fact. There are a number of examples of visiting ambassadors and other foreign dignitaries commenting on the state of Elizabeth’s teeth. According to most accounts, while she had a full set – quite an achievement for the 16 th century – her teeth were almost completely black.

But while today such blackened teeth might be the cause of shame, for Elizabeth and other European royals, it was a source of pride. According to the accounts of the time, the Queen had a notoriously sweet tooth and was especially fond of candied violets. She ate so much sweet stuff that, inevitably, her teeth started rotting from a relatively young age. But since only the rich could afford snacks made with sugar imported from the New World, black teeth were widely-regarded as a status symbol and an indicator of not just great wealth but also cosmopolitan tastes.

4. MYTH: Elizabeth was educated, literary – and even wrote Shakespeare’s plays but let the Bard take the credit

From the mid-19 th century onward, certain literary – and some not-so-literary – critics have argued that William Shakespeare didn’t actually write most of the works attributed to the Bard. That is, it’s thought that he could have taken credit for another writer’s work. Among the names most commonly put forward as the ‘real Bard’ are Christopher ‘Kit’ Marlowe, Francis Bacon and Edward De Vere. However, the argument for Queen Elizabeth writing plays such as Hamlet and Much Ado About Nothing has also been put forward – and it’s a theory that, whatever the evidence presented to the contrary, refuses to go away.

Much of the doubt surrounding the authenticity surrounding Shakespeare’s plays may be down to simple snobbery. After all, he was from a relatively lowly family from small town Stratford-upon-Avon. In comparison, Queen Elizabeth was well-educated, well-read and, according to her tutors as well as to the many diplomats and dignitaries she corresponded with over the years, she was an excellent writer. However, there is zero evidence that the literary monarch actually wrote plays or fictions of her own, let alone allowed Shakespeare to take credit for her work. What’s more, several of Shakespeare’s plays were released in he months and years after Elizabeth’s death in 1603.

3. FACT: Elizabeth had a fascination with the occult and even invited astrologers and seers into her inner circle

Elizabeth I may have been a well-educated lady with a keen interest in science, but she also had a fascination with the occult and magic. By the standards of the 16 th century, however, this was perfectly normal. At that time, there was no contradiction between having a scientific mind and a passion for reason and at the same time placing faith in astrology. However, Elizabeth was unique among English monarchs in that she surrounded herself with mystics and self-proclaimed seers. Chief among them was John Dee. The most famous occultist of the age, Dee was personally invited to the royal court by Elizabeth. She read his key work, Monas Hieroglyphica , and wanted him to explain it to her personally.

Dee was by no means the only practitioner of magic or astrology in Elizabeth’s close circle. She would regularly welcome visiting occultists to her palace, granting them an audience and allowing them to read her star charts or try and predict her future. Notably, such was her faith in astrology that she even ruled that she was to be officially crowned Queen of England on 15 January 1559, a date specifically chosen for her by Dee. At the same time, however, Elizabeth was a devout Christian and helped place the Protestant Church at the heart of the English state.

2. FACT: Elizabeth was vain and her determination to stay beautiful became more intense as the years passed

Queen Elizabeth might have been well-educated and highly intelligent, but she also possessed great pride in her appearance. How other people thought she looked mattered a lot to the monarch. As a young woman, she didn’t need to make much of an effort to impress. According to the accounts of the time, Elizabeth was one of the most-desirable young ladies in all of Europe, and not just due to her social status and wealth. However, as the years passed and her youthful beauty began to fade, the Queen worked extra hard to hold onto her reputation as being blessed with both brains and beauty.

According to the accounts of her ladies-in-waiting, Elizabeth needed a long time to get ready each day. She would line her eyes with charcoal and her face, hands and neck were then painted with a mixture of white lead and vinegar. And, of course, like many ladies of the time, she wore a wig every day. What’s more, Elizabeth was always determined to be the most eye-catching woman in the room. She would always dress in colorful gowns made from rich materials, while she would insist that her ladies-in-waiting would only wear plain black or white gowns.

1. FACT: Elizabeth I was a genuine a polyglot, capable of speaking 10 languages like a native

Over the centuries, England has been ruled by monarchs of varying intelligence. But Elizabeth I was almost certainly one of the kingdom’s most intellectually-blessed rulers. She was well-read, especially for a woman in the 16 th century. What’s more, her reputation as being an expert in languages is well-deserved. According to the records, Elizabeth was a true polyglot and her expertise in a number of different tongues helped her rule over a divided kingdom and negotiate directly with foreign allies and potential enemies.

As a young girl, Princess Elizabeth learned Welsh from her nanny and mistress. She was then taught French, Latin, Greek and Italian by her private tutor. Such an education would have been pretty standard for a girl of her social standing at the time. On top of this, however, Elizabeth could speak Spanish, Dutch, Scottish, Irish and even Cornish, bringing her total up to 10. Notably, foreigners commended the Queen for her linguistic skills. For instance, when Giovanni Carlo Scaramelli, the Ambassador of Venice, visited England in 1603, he and the Queen conversed in Italian. He remarked “she possessed these languages so thoroughly that each appeared to be her native tongue.”

Where did we find this stuff? Here are our sources:

“Elizabeth I: Reputations and Reconfigurations.” History.ac.uk.

“Queen Elizabeth I, facts and myths.” Royal Museums Greenwich.

“Was Elizabeth I England’s cleverest monarch?” Almost History, November 2012.

“Was Queen Elizabeth I A Man?” History Answers UK.

“7 things you (probably) didn’t know about Elizabeth I).” History Extra.

“Elizabeth I’s love life: was she really a ‘Virgin Queen’?” History Extra.

“Did the Virgin Queen have a secret love child?” Daily Mail, June 2006.

“Elizabeth I: the monarch behind the mask.” History Extra.

“Queen Elizabeth’s Oak: A Tree of Legend.” Royal Museums of Greenwich.

Inside Eva Marie Saint's birthday celebrations as Hollywood icon turns 100

The oscar winner has acted across from marlon brando, cary grant and elizabeth taylor.

Eva Marie Saint is turning 100 years old - on none other than the Fourth of July! It feels typical that the Hollywood icon will celebrate the major milestone on a national holiday, but the actress hopes to keep it a family affair.

The Oscar winner will celebrate her 100th birthday with four generations of her family, gathering from across the country for the occasion.

"I'm looking forward to spending my 100th birthday in Los Angeles with my dear, dear family. Four generations of family members will be gathering together from Los Angeles, Chicago, Santa Barbara and San Francisco," she told People . 

Eva may be 100, but she insists that she certainly doesn't feel it. She explained that in her day-to-day life, she continues to "take walks out in the fresh air, like watching baseball — especially the Los Angeles Dodgers, and enjoy time with my family and friends. A good life."

Eva got her claim to fame by acting across Marlon Brando in the iconic film On the Waterfront , which won her an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in her film debut. Brando also won Best Actor, the film won Best Picture, and Elia Kazan was awarded Best Director. With eight wins out of 12 Oscar nominations, and a critical and commercial success, it's now considered one of the greatest films ever made.

But it wasn't the end of acting for the centenarian, who starred opposite Cary Grant in Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest . Known for her scintillating chemistry with Cary Grant, she said of their big kiss scene: "I was hoping I wouldn’t step on his feet."

Having also acted across from Paul Newman in Exodus , and featured in films alongside Elizabeth Taylor, Eva remains one of the final bastions of a Golden Age of Hollywood cinema. 

After a brief stint on television, she returned to film in 1986, starring opposite Tom Hanks in Nothing in Common . She would formally stop acting aged 90 after appearing in Winter's Tale with Colin Farrell in 2014.

Eva married the late director, writer and producer Jeffrey Hayden in 1951, and they stayed together until Hayden's death aged 90 in 2016. The director played a role in making Knight Rider and Magnum P.I. Together, they shared two children, Darrell and Laurette, as well as three grandchildren. 

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She said that her husband was key in the moment that she won her Oscar, because at the time she was heavily pregnant - two days away from giving birth to their son. Jeffrey helped her get up to accept the award, and she famously said: "I'm so excited I might have the baby right here."

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Why Britain Just Ended 14 Years of Conservative Rule

Last week, the center-left labour party won the british general election in a landslide..

Hosted by Natalie Kitroeff

Featuring Mark Landler

Produced by Rob Szypko ,  Nina Feldman and Will Reid

Edited by Brendan Klinkenberg

With Paige Cowett

Original music by Dan Powell ,  Diane Wong and Marion Lozano

Engineered by Alyssa Moxley

Listen and follow The Daily Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube

For more than a decade, Britain has been governed by the Conservative Party, which pushed its politics to the right, embracing smaller government and Brexit. Last week, that era officially came to an end.

Mark Landler, the London bureau chief for The Times, explains why British voters rejected the Conservatives and what their defeat means in a world where populism is on the rise.

On today’s episode

Mark Landler , the London bureau chief for The New York Times.

Background reading

Five takeaways from the British general election.

The Conservatives have run Britain for 14 years. How have things changed in that time?

There are a lot of ways to listen to The Daily. Here’s how.

We aim to make transcripts available the next workday after an episode’s publication. You can find them at the top of the page.

The Daily is made by Rachel Quester, Lynsea Garrison, Clare Toeniskoetter, Paige Cowett, Michael Simon Johnson, Brad Fisher, Chris Wood, Jessica Cheung, Stella Tan, Alexandra Leigh Young, Lisa Chow, Eric Krupke, Marc Georges, Luke Vander Ploeg, M.J. Davis Lin, Dan Powell, Sydney Harper, Michael Benoist, Liz O. Baylen, Asthaa Chaturvedi, Rachelle Bonja, Diana Nguyen, Marion Lozano, Corey Schreppel, Rob Szypko, Elisheba Ittoop, Mooj Zadie, Patricia Willens, Rowan Niemisto, Jody Becker, Rikki Novetsky, Nina Feldman, Will Reid, Carlos Prieto, Ben Calhoun, Susan Lee, Lexie Diao, Mary Wilson, Alex Stern, Sophia Lanman, Shannon Lin, Diane Wong, Devon Taylor, Alyssa Moxley, Olivia Natt, Daniel Ramirez and Brendan Klinkenberg.

Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly. Special thanks to Sam Dolnick, Paula Szuchman, Lisa Tobin, Larissa Anderson, Julia Simon, Sofia Milan, Mahima Chablani, Elizabeth Davis-Moorer, Jeffrey Miranda, Maddy Masiello, Isabella Anderson, Nina Lassam and Nick Pitman.

Natalie Kitroeff is the Mexico City bureau chief for The Times, leading coverage of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. More about Natalie Kitroeff

Mark Landler is the London bureau chief of The Times, covering the United Kingdom, as well as American foreign policy in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. He has been a journalist for more than three decades. More about Mark Landler

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