Perspective

The author writes from both her passion about the subject and her research into historical fact. She bridges the gap between actual historical events, and the thoughts, feelings, and convictions of the people who led them to occur. She identifies with the historical figures, and writes in a way that is in turns sympathetic and objective. Alison Weir is an expert on medieval English history through the Renaissance, and has focused much of her writing on the famous Tudor family. Her excellent understanding of the Tudor monarchies aids the clear presentation of her material.

The biography is in third person, but includes many quotations from contemporaries of the time period. She delves into the psyche of each subject and endeavors to present who they were as people, though takes care not to stray from historical fact. Weir certainly identifies with Elizabeth the most of the four subjects of...