The Heart and Stomach of a King: Elizabeth I and the Politics of Sex and Power

By Carole Levin

Book Overview

In her famous speech to rouse the English troops staking out Tilbury at the mouth of the Thames during the Spanish Armada's campaign, Queen Elizabeth I is said to have proclaimed, "I may have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king." Whether or not the transcription is accurate, the persistent attribution of this provocative statement to England's most studied and celebrated queen illustrates some of the contradictions and cultural anxieties that dominated the collective consciousness of England during a reign that lasted from 1558 until 1603.

In The Heart and Stomach of a King, Carole Levin explores the myriad ways the unmarried, childless Elizabeth represented herself and the ways members of her court, foreign ambassadors, and subjects represented and responded to her as a public figure. In particular, Levin interrogates the gender constructions, role expectations, and beliefs about sexuality that influenced her public persona and the way she was perceived as a female Protestant ruler. With a new introduction that situates the book within the emerging genre of cultural biography, the second edition of The Heart and Stomach of a King offers insight into the continued fascination with Elizabeth I and her reign.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0812222407
• ISBN13: 9780812222401
• Release Date: December 2013
• Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press
• Length: 264 Pages
• Weight: 0.89 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.7" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

Great book!

This is a fascinating book and well researched and written. I felt it could have been shorter, as some of the information seemed redundant, but highly recommended if you consider yourself an Elizabethan buff!

If you like history . . .

I had to read this book for a college history class I took. It was good and interesting reading for something that was required. Even if you don't have to read this book for your Tudor/Stuart History class, take some time out and read it! You'll definitely be rewarded with a great sense of history and accomplishment.

Elizabeth Rocks--An Accessible Academic Work

This is a beautifully researched, well written, thought provoking study of how one of the most interesting and powerful women in history negotiated gender restrictions during her 45 year reign. Not just a standard biography, "Heart and Stomach" looks carefully at Elizabeth's use of gender perceptions and roles to present herself as the great queen that she was. I've used this book as a text in the classroom and I've recommended it to readers and scholars who are interested in all things Renaissance and in women's history. It's always a hit!

From an Elizabethan expert....

Carole Levin's study of Elizabeth I is unprecedented. This study not only gives readers who are unfamiliar with Elizabeth an idea of her life and desires, but it is explicates the problems behind a woman being a monarch in her own right in 16th century England. If one is interested in both English Monarchy and Women's Studies, this study will be enjoyed.

Intriguing look at E's leadership style and politics

If you are intrigued by the life and reign of Elizabeth I, you will enjoy this book, whether you agree with all the author's conclusions or not. She gives some interesting insights to the challenges Elizabeth faced as a female monarch and describes how Elizabeth both compensated for her femininity and used it to her advantage during her reign. You will also get a taste of how Elizabethan culture affected the politics of her reign. The book takes an academic approach but is very readable by a layperson. I gave it a 7 only because it slows down in places and I think the author is reaching in making some of the connections between gender and politics that she does. But overall, interesting insights to Elizabeth as leader.