The Elizabethans

WithallthepanoramicsweepofhisbestsellingstudyTheVictorians,A.N.WilsonrelatestheexhilaratingstoryoftheElizabethanAge.Itwasatimeofexceptionalcreativity,wealthcreationandpoliticalexpansion.ItwasalsoaperiodofEnglishhistorymoreremarkablethananyotherforthetechnicolourpersonalitiesofitsleadingparticipants.ApartfromthecomplexcharacteroftheVirginQueenherself,wefollowthestoryofFrancisDrakeandpoliticalintriguerslikeWilliamCecilandFrancisWalsingham,soimportanttoamonarchwhooftenmadeakeystrategyoutofherindecisiveness.FavouriteslikeLeicesterandEssexskatedveryclosetotheedgeasfarasElizabeth'saffectionswereconcerned,andEssexmadeabigmistakewhenheledarebellionagainstthecrown.TherewasaRenaissanceduringthisperiodintheworldofwords,whichincludedtheall-roundheroandliterarygenius,SirPhilipSidney,playwright-spyChristopherMarloweandthat'myriad-mindedman',WilliamShakespeare.LifeinElizabethanEnglandcouldbeveryharsh.Plagueswepttheland.AndthepoorreceivedlittleassistancefromtheState.Thumbscrewsandtherackcouldbethegrimpreludetotheexecutioner'sblock.Butcrucially,thiswastheagewhenmodernBritainwasborn,andestablishedindependencefrommainlandEurope.AfterSirWalterRaleighestablishedthecolonyofVirginia,Englishwasdestinedtobecomethelanguageofthegreatglobeitself,andthethefoundationswerelaidnotonlyoflaterBritishimperialpowerbutalsoofAmericandominationoftheworld.WithTheElizabethans,Wilsonrevealshimselfagainasthemasterofthedefinitive,single-volumestudy.