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The Queen's Bed: An Intimate History of Elizabeth's Court

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From the private world of a beloved English queen, a story of intimacy, royalty, espionage, rumor, and subterfuge Queen Elizabeth I acceded to the throne in 1558, restoring the Protestant faith to England. At the heart of the new queen's court lay her bedchamber, closely guarded by the favored women who helped her dress, looked after her jewels, and shared her bed. Elizabeth's private life was of public concern. Her bedfellows were witnesses to the face and body beneath the makeup and raiment, as well as to rumored dalliances with such figures as Earl Robert Dudley. Their presence was for security as well as propriety, as the kingdom was haunted by fears of assassination plots and other Catholic stratagems. Such was the significance of the queen's body: it represented the very British state itself. In The Queen's Bed, the historian Anna Whitelock offers a revealing look at the Elizabethan court and the politics of intimacy. She dramatically reconstructs, for the first time, the queen's quarters and the women who patrolled them. It is a story of sex, gossip, conspiracy, and intrigue brought to life amid the colors, textures, smells, and routines of the royal court. The women who attended the queen held the truth about her health, chastity, and fertility. They were her friends, confidantes, and spies―nobody knew her better. And until now, historians have overlooked them. The Queen's Bed is a revelatory, insightful look into their daily lives―the untold story of the queen laid bare. Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sarah Crichton Books; First Edition (February 11, 2014)


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 480 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0374239789


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 87


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.6 pounds


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.41 x 1.52 x 9.21 inches


Best Sellers Rank: #1,834,883 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #2,465 in Historical British Biographies #2,537 in Royalty Biographies #10,062 in Great Britain History (Books)


#2,465 in Historical British Biographies:


#2,537 in Royalty Biographies:


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Top Amazon Reviews

    • A very interesting read.
I thought I knew all there was to know about Elizabeth I. Could not have been more wrong. While an inside view of her "private life" is glimpsed, such as her eating habits, dressing, bathing and oh, the makeup, you also see the woman herself, not as a queen, but as a simple human. I guess you can say she was two people residing in one body, a Queen, strong, willful and stubborn making her way in a man's world. The other, a woman with all the dreams of women in her time, a husband, family, love. All this plays out in her treatment of her closest and long time ladies of the bedchamber. Elizabeth I would have been a psychiatrist's dream for sure, but you don't need a PhD to understand the heart of this amazing woman. This book not only provides an intimate portrait of this Queen, but also her political life which was chock full of danger and turmoil for most of her reign. Very informative and well written. I enjoyed it thoroughly. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2014 by marianne
    • Very Thoroughly Researched
This is a well-written biography of Elizabeth 1 as regarding her life as "the virgin queen." Whether she was or not is the subject of debate, apparently, and that premise is much debated throughout her reign and this book. Highly readable, well-researched, and interesting to anyone wanting to know more about this queen as a ruler and a woman. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2019 by Magnolia Jane
    • NO PICS, BUT..........
It is true that the very interesting pictures from the print version are omitted from the Kindle book. HOWEVER, this e-book ranks with the very best of Elizabethan, ( particularly Elizabeth herself ), writings. The author is able to seamlessly integrate the "Queen" , always on public display from the moment She emerged from Her Bedchamber with her Lady-Bedfellows, and the woman who was afraid of the dark, fearful of ageing, often ill, and endured--with the CONSTANT ministry of her ladies, the ever increasing process of producing the face and body of the Sovereign of England; ever young, beautiful, and strong. In addition to spending HOURS concocting and applying a pharmacy of toxic mixtures to all visible parts of the Royal Body, hours were also required to clothe said body in layers and layers of an enormous variety of every kind of material, ( usually embroidered, stitched, tatted, woven, etc.by her " Ladies of the Privy and Bedchambers " ). They washed, dressed, and bejeweled the Queen day and night, provided support, comfort, amusement, advice, and all other company and service that might be needed. And with few exceptions, these Ladies felt, and were, HONOURED to be chosen in this capacity. They knew her in ways impermissible to all others. This is a Wonderful book. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2016 by jamm
    • Compelling, but a little too many of the wrong details at times
An engaging exploration of the reign of Queen Elizabeth through the vantage point of her bedchamber and the people who circulated therein. Thoroughly-researched and chock full of interesting analyses of Elizabeth's PR campaign to retain power and control of her empire Book could have benefited from a few more contextualizing details about the larger political issues occurring simultaneous to the bedchamber dramas. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2014 by NYCshopper
    • I liked this book....
I actually liked this book. I had not really read much about Queen Elizabeth I, so much of this book was enlightening. Sure, she was a jealous soul, but the author brought out that she had a very soft side when she lost those that she loved the most. There were many parts in the book that I enjoyed and it's ability to take you into her inner court and how much work was put into making her look good (smile). And, she was selfish with the women that took care of her in that she came first and foremost at all times when they were busy having babies and then made to report back ASAP to be with her. I thought it was very interesting about the death of Mary Queen of Scots. This book was well written and you have a feeling after you read it that you know her. So, I give it 5 stars because I really did enjoy reading it. And to the author, Anna Whitelock, job well done! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2014 by Eleanor
    • Some new information on Queen Elizabeth
Most of what was unique and interesting about this book was the development of how Queen Elizabeth I's daily life was lived. From the lack of privacy (ever) in even her most private rooms and moments, to her daily routine and management of her image through portraits, it held well-researched and presented material in a very readable format. I enjoyed it very much, but I have had a high interest in Tudor history for a long time. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2014 by lfleazar
    • For lovers of Elizabethan history
For those who get off on the tales and tantalizing history of the great queen, this is excellent. No wonder she was so driven.
Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2024 by Rodney Morgan Brown
    • Great story and compelling history, but skip the Kindle edition
The Kindle edition of this book gets two stars because the publisher elected to omit all of the wonderful (and important to the story) photographs that are in the print edition. The book refers time and again to portraits of Elizabeth, and they're all there in glorious color right in the middle of the print version of this book. But nope, not on Kindle. Why do publishers keep doing this with their e-books? Do they think we're too dumb to notice that the pictures aren't there? ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2014 by Cavalry Scout

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