Queen Elizabeth, by Edward Spencer Beesly

What it is

This is a book by Edward Spencer Beesly called Queen Elizabeth, part of the Twelve English Statesmen series. The first edition was printed in February 1892, and the Macmillan edition in the archive was reprinted several times, the last in 1906. The book is in English. Its chapters follow the queen's life, starting with her early life from 1533 to 1558 and moving through the change of religion, foreign relations, and her rivalry with Mary Stuart.

Why it matters

Beesly was a historian writing in Britain in the late 1800s, and his book helped shape how readers of that time understood the reign of Elizabeth. The chapter titles show that he organised her story around religion, foreign policy, and conflicts with Mary Stuart and aristocratic rivals. The epigraph from the Roman historian Tacitus signals his commitment to writing without anger or bias.

Look closer

• Why might Beesly have chosen to begin with her early life and religion rather than her personal life?
• What does the Tacitus epigraph suggest about the author's approach, and how well does the book meet that goal?
• Which voices from Elizabeth's own time are missing from a book written by one historian?