Elizabeth: The Struggle for the Throne.
The author of this book, David Starkey, makes a decent attempt to write about the early life of Elizabeth I, Queen of England. The book goes into detail about her early life and the many events that impacted her and her reign as Queen of England. While some books deal with her reign as queen, this book takes a look into the life of Elizabeth from childhood until the time she ascended the throne. Some of these events include the execution of her mother, her education, religious influences, her step-mother, her half-sister, and her father's influence. All of these people influenced the young Elizabeth .
Shortly after Elizabeth's birth, she was moved to her own independent house in Hatfield and christened as princess, the future Queen of England. Her newly claimed bastard sister, Mary, from Henry VIII's first dissolved marriage, was to live with her. Mary's tantrums, her refusal to come out of her room, and her refusal to acknowledge Elizabeth as the new heir must have had a lasting impact on Elizabeth. While the two would become close at certain times over the years, there was always some tension, especially when Mary eventually became Queen. Most of this tension was over religious matters in the latter years. The tension in the earlier years was due to Elizabeth's new position as princess and heir to the throne, which usurped Mary's power. .
Elizabeth's mother, Anne Boleyn, doted on her and spoiled her with clothing, hair ribbons, and trimmings for her cradle. All of a sudden her mother stopped coming to visit her when she was three years old. Boleyn was executed by Henry VIII for multiple adultery and incest with her brother. This sudden absence of her mother and the presents must have saddened and angered her, even though she was very young. She outgrew her old clothing within six weeks, and her mistress had to beg in order to buy some new clothing for Elizabeth.
