The romantic tragedy of the Virgin Queen14 June 2012tThis is not an historical text book per se but rather the story of the relationship between the Earl of Essex and Queen Elizabeth I that rings like a romantic tragedy. It is difficult to tell the accuracy of many of the accounts in this book namely because Strachey does not source it in the traditional sense. In fact I am not sure of when modern books began to reference their material (and many of the factual novels that are released these days include references, and even footnotes on the more obscure references in the text). Mind you, having references is actually quite helpful, particularly when you wish to explore the subject further.tI was never really aware that Queen Elizabeth had any romantic relationships and it is suggested (including in this book) that she was unable to have sex because of a physical deformity. I am not entirely sure of the accuracy of this because I am doubtful that Elizabeth would have had a tell all attitude. In fact she comes across as the type of leader that would hold her cards very close to her chest and was reluctant to reveal any weaknesses in her character. We must remember that Elizabeth was a woman doing a man's job in a man's world, and no doubt there were a lot of conservatives around that would baulk at the idea of a woman on the throne.tEngland was actually quite an unusual country for Western Europe because there was generally no issue with a woman on the throne. Elizabeth wasn't the first, and definitely not the last, however from memory I do not really recall any sole female rulers prior to Queen Mary (Elizabeth's sister). The same system operated in Scotland (which was independent of England at the time). It should further be noted that a female monarch would assume her position on the throne if the woman was the next in line (it is unclear whether a younger male would succeed her, but in both Mary and Elizabeth's case, there wasn't one).tI have always admired Queen Elizabeth not simply for being a woman doing a man's job but for doing it quite well. When we look back at that period of English history we almost see an England that is coming in on its own. Elizabeth was sympathetic towards the idea of a national church, however wasn't willing to go as far as some of the radical reformers wanted (and this happened during the English civil war and the period of the republic afterwards). In a way she was satisfied with the split from the Catholic Church (which was the opposite of her predecessor) however was satisfied with not going much further than her father Henry. tWe also see under Elizabeth a flowering of English literature. Many of the great names of the English renaissance appeared during Elizabeth's reign, people such as John Donne, Kit Marlowe, Edmund Spencer, and of course William Shakespeare. That is not to say that this was the high point of English literature since there were more to come during the 17th century with poets such as John Milton, John Bunyan, and Thomas Hobbes, but we can clearly see that Elizabeth brought about the completion of England's movement from its medieval past and into the modern age.tElizabeth had her fair share of battles and struggles, particularly early on in life where she was imprisoned and almost executed by her sister, but also during her reign. Her support of the English reformation meant that she had made enemies both at home and abroad, though many of the local enemies, particularly those connected to the church, were forced to flee to the continent. However, we cannot forget Mary Queen of Scots, who spent much of her later life imprisoned in numerous castles around the country, only to be executed for fear of undermining her aunt's reign. Then there is the case of the Spanish Armada, which one suggests that England was lucky to defeat. However, the defeat was not a touch and go one but pretty much a decisive victory. After a battle that England was expected to lose, the Armada pretty much turned around (namely by encircling England) and limped back home. Many of the ships that survived the battle were lost on the circuitous route home.tI find English history to be fascinating and I find the life of Queen Elizabeth just as fascinating. It is a shame that I have not yet seen the two movies that were made about her, and I think I should make an effort the next time I am in the video store to locate them, hire them, and watch them.
L’opera fu pubblicata in prima edizione nel 1928 e narra la tumultosa passione tra Elisabetta I e il conte di Essex con dovizia di particolari che spaziano dalla storia dell’epoca, alla politica interna ed estera, alle guerre, alla vita di corte. Elisabetta ha cinquantatré anni quando conosce il ventenne Essex e tra i due scocca una scintilla particolare, sarà poi quella stessa donna quattordici anni dopo a mandare il suo “amato” sul patibolo.“Dall’alto trono riccamente addobbato, la regina seguiva quei divertimenti; accanto a lei stava il conte, con cui spesso conversava in modo dolce e benevolo. […] Erano ore di felicità e di pace, e fra i gioielli e i tendaggi dorati, l’incredibile sovrana sembrava rifulgere di una gloria quasi giovanile, sebbene avesse ormai varcato i sessant’anni. Il bellissimo cavaliere al suo fianco aveva compiuto il miracolo: in un istante, col suo sorriso aveva ridotto in polvere il lungo e odioso scorrere degli anni.”Il saggio permette al lettore di conoscere aspetti della vita della grande sovrana più o meno ignoti. Sappiamo bene quanto Elisabetta amasse gli uomini e, nonostante l’età, si lascia affascinare dal giovane Essex. Il loro è un rapporto fatto di alti e bassi, di gioie e dolori, sino al triste epilogo finale. Essex aveva progettato un gioco perverso per giungere ai suoi obbiettivi ed Elisabetta altri non era che la pedina di questo gioco. Riusce a ottenere cariche e incarichi grazie all’influenza che egli suscita su di lei e solo quando la sovrana si sente realmente minacciata corre ai ripari.Elisabetta è una donna apparentemente forte e determinata ma in realtà assai fragile e incostante. Non mancano crisi isteriche, pianti, tentennamenti. Una donna dal temperamento assai complesso capace di amare e odiare allo stesso tempo.La lettura dell’opera è abbastanza agevole. Lo stile semplice, scorrevole, diretto e la prosa fluida uniti al ritmo serrato rendono il saggio quasi un romanzo capace di catturare l’attenzione del lettore.Un testo di grande spessore, un ulteriore ritratto di una grande sovrana.
Do You like book Elizabeth And Essex (2002)?
Lytton Strachey was one of the greatest writers of the 20th Century, and this book was not only his biggest seller, it was also sadly his last, cancer striking him down far too young. But it suggests what a remarkable career he could have had...after the brilliant satire of "Eminent Victorians" and the gentle wit of "Queen Victoria," Strachey now crafted a book which mixed fact and psychological speculation in a larger-than-life romance. Everything he had written in his career was so different from his other projects, and if he had kept pushing himself to innovate, who knows where he could have gone? Thankfully, we have what we have...and this may be his most accessible book, and thus a wonderful place for someone who has never read Strachey to discover him.
—Andrew Rostan
