After Elizabeth: The Rise of James of Scotland and the Struggle for the Throne of England

by Leanda de Lisle

Book Overview

"[Leanda] De Lisle brilliantly captures the atmosphere of dangerous uncertainty and furtive intrigue that characterized the last years of Elizabeth's reign."--The Sunday Telegraph (London)

"Exciting and exacting . . . No fictional characters, of film or novel, can match the reality of the participants in this fascinating historical drama."--The Wall Street Journal

December 1602. After forty-four years...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345450469
• ISBN13: 9780345450463
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: Ballantine Group
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.2" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

period books

LOVED THE STORY LINE AUTHOR IS GREAT IN THE DETAILS OF HIS WRITING

It wasn't a done deal.

De Lisle's research debunks a common notion that a hapless yet expectant James entered London to claim what was his. It was not so simple. The author gives us the reasons why and describes the plots to derail the enthronment of the only descendant of Mary Queen of Scots. Interestingly, Elizabeth's trusted advisor Cecil had been staging this prior to Elizabeth's death in a time when it was illegal to even mention the succession. With a cooperative and more cunning than given credit for James, Cecil prevails and profits. The Elizabethan court gawks at James' entourage, appalled by their clothing and uncouth speech... almost like Jed Clampett moving to Beverly Hills. The descriptions of this, and the reaction to James' selling knightships and appointing Scots to high places are priceless. De Lisle has piqued my interest in James, he's obviously more complex than I had thought and his marriage even more interesting. His wife becomes a Catholic, not in her native Denmark, but in Scotland where as James warns, it could be hazardous to their rule. Was her separation from young Henry as simple as stated? How about her friendships with those who plot against James? With James' well documented interest in young men, Anna's cutting of Elizabeth's gown to show her leg and foot in a play is even more provocative than it is as merely an act of a fun loving queen. James writes to her lovingly and seems to speak to her with respect, but the other facts don't square with a happy marriage. As curious as I am about this, I like that the author sticks to her thesis. With the exception of text devoted to the Raleigh trial, she doesn't give in to the many tempting side stories. I hope to find something equally well done on James & Anna and their rule. Maybe De Lisle will write it. This is apparently her first book, and it is so well done, I await the next.

Very Well Written Stuart History

I was always under the impression that, upon the death of Elizabeth and the succession of James VI/I in 1603, Robert Cecil had engineered a relatively quiet and peaceful passage of the Crown. This book is fantastic, it describes how Cecil remained in court favor, how the Catholic faction viewed the new King (with hopes of tolerance not matched by James), Arbella Stuart's attempts at the Crown and the downfall of Sir Walter Raleigh in connection with the "Bye" and the "Main" plots. The passage of the Crown was not, afterall, a quiet affair. This book is, in my opinion, well written and easy to read. I suggest that anyone interested in Stuart history read this book to understand just how a Scottish monarch attained the throne of England.

A very readable book with details of what happened next after Elizabeth's reign.

Sometimes history books can be a little dry. Thankfully this one is not dry! Leanda De Lisle does a wonderful job of picking up where many movies, and other books have left off. Before reading this book I did not realize, or even have a clue of what happened at the end of Elizabeth's I reign. This books paints the picture of her successor with more intrigue than her younger days before she decided England would be her bridegroom. I personally like that she would talk about some people, and situations more in depth. I think this helps to paint a broader and more accurate historical picture. While she does write about some things more in depth, I also feel that her skills as a columnist for a variety publications helped her writting style to never stay on a paticular person or event too long. I like that she doesn't write above or below her readers, as some historical books can. For the real historian buffs her book is well documented. I think the documentation gives her credibility, and helps to ensure that the book is written from an objective point of view. This books read easily, and I did not find that it left to tedious explanations. I definately hope she writes more books, and I look forward to her shedding light onto other famous topics of history.

Close look coming of James of Scotland

This proves to be a highly informative book that tells the tranformation from Elizabeth's Tudor England to James' Stuart England. While most history books lead us to believed that James' succession was matter of facts, Leanda De Lisle tells us that in fact, there were other contenders and James's claims to the throne wasn't as secured as we were often led to believed. The book tells us the main events of the last two years of Elizabeth and the intrigues that followed as she laid dying without truly naming a heir. The thought of another civil war like the War of the Roses wasn't that far off in most Englishmen's mind during this period. However, James did have the support of Elizabeth's Privy Council and support of most of the important English nobles of the realm. In some ways, James' coming was something close to a country bumpkin family coming into an inheritance of a rich and worldly aunt. But at least initially, James did all the right things to put the English at ease. It helped that James was well educated which initially hid his many flaws as a person and King. The book proves to be educational in informing us some of James' initial actions as King of England, how some of his Scottish followers gained while some of Elizabeth's suffered. Overall, I found this book to be well written, easy to read and its a story that should be told. While in hindsight, it may seem like James' sucession was a sure thing, it was pretty dicy situation for a while for James. On the down side, I thought there should be bit more illustrations and toward the end of the book, the author appears to be centering too much on the fate of Sir Walter Raleigh for some reason. Overall, the book come highly recommended for anyone interested of this subject matter.