England’s golden age

The secret life of Elizabeth. I have always been fascinated with Elizabeth 1, the legends of her parental upbringing and her ascension to the throne outweigh the facts of her reign, which was known as England’s Golden Age. The main protagonists in Paul Doherty’s book are two Elizabethan gentlemen, Sir Thomas Bodley and Master Reginald Carr. Both visit one of Elizabeth I’s ladies in waiting a short interval after the queen’s death. The visit involves a lengthy discussion of facts and rumours about the late queen. During the course of the novel the trio discuss Anne Boleyn’s parentage, Elizabeth’s birth, and the circumstances of Anne and Henry VIII’s marriage. A large portion of the book is spent discussing the rumours that Elizabeth bore Robert Dudley a son, Arthur Dudley. The layout of the book is unusual, but convenient for both the author and the reader. At the conclusion of each chapter, the author discusses the facts revealed in the chapter, and the sources he has documented which would support the story. I enjoyed this book, and would suggest this for anyone who enjoys history and historical sleuthing. This book is only available in Large Print format.
Author: Paul Doherty
Reviewed by: Megan