Elizabeth & Leiceester: Friends or Lovers?

Rating: HHHH

By Gabrielle Pantera

We know Queen Elizabeth formed strong attachments to people and loved them deeply. Was her relationship with Robert Dudley the Earl of Leicester a kinship due to the loss of a parent? Or, was there a clandestine romantic relationship between the two? Were they secret lovers? Was Arthur Dudley their illegitimate son?

     Sarah Gristwood’s Elizabeth & Leicester: Power, Passion and Politics brings to life the intertwined lives of Elizabeth and Leicester throughout Elizabeth’s long rein as Queen of England. Using historical facts and letters written by courtiers at the time, as well as household accounts written by Leicester himself, Gristwood pieces together the time they spent in each other’s company. But there is information that still remains unanswered and may forever. Was Elizabeth really a virgin?

     Leicester was an ambitious politician, a military man, and well educated. His belief in the protestant religion made him a strong ally for Elizabeth. Both possessed a strong sense of self-preservation. Both knew when to stay out of sight of the royal fury and kept their heads, as their parents had not. His father was killed by Elizabeth’s sister, Bloody Mary. Her mother was killed by her father Henry VIII. Like her father, Elizabeth rose to a challenge. That may have been part of the appeal of Robert as well. His intelligence and his wit played a strong role in why she enjoyed having him near.

     Sarah Gristwood is a former journalist and broadcaster. She’s the author of two other historical biographies: Arbella: England’s Lost Queen and Perdita: Royal Mistress, Writer. Elizabeth & Leicester really feels as though it’s more about Leicester than Elizabeth. It’s an informative read showing how their lives intertwined. This book shares another side to Leicester and his relationship with Elizabeth, that how no matter what, Leicester was loyal to Elizabeth to the day he died.

     The information in this book was compiled from many sources. At times the book is dry, but if you enjoy history as I do it’s fascinating to learn the inner workings of the royal court at the time.

Elizabeth & Leicester Power Passion and Politics. Hardback 416 pages. Publisher: Viking Adult Publications (Nov 1, 2007). Language: English ISBN 978-0670018284. $27.95