Queen Elizabeth

Abbott, Jacob, 1803-1879Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.8

Word count: 295K words
Chapters: 30

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971, and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today. Queen Elizabeth, by Jacob Abbott. Author: Abbott, Jacob, 1803-1879. Language: English. Class: DA: History: General and Eastern Hemisphere: Great Britain, Ireland, Central Europe. Release Date: June 13, 2009.

Editor's review

This biography of Elizabeth I by Jacob Abbott belongs to his series of historical figures written for general readers; the English original is distributed free by Project Gutenberg. Its value lies not in amassing cutting-edge scholarship but in a clear, coherent narrative that tells the complete story of Elizabeth's growth from princess to queen, the governing challenges amid the Reformation, and her dealings with Parliament and the European powers. The language is relatively plain and the chapters short, making it suitable as an introductory English-language history read. Reading it conveys the style of nineteenth-century popular history writing: emphasis on character and the sequence of events, less on source criticism. For readers who want to build an overall impression of the late Tudor period before deciding whether to delve into specialist studies, this is an accessible general reader; it can also serve as practice material for English learners encountering historical narrative. Note that the book's views carry the limitations of its era and should not be treated as the sole authority.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General history enthusiasts who want a first acquaintance with Elizabeth I's life in English
English or history undergraduates in their early years who need general background on the late Tudor period
Self-learners who want to practice reading long English texts in short chapters
Readers interested in the style of nineteenth-century popular history writing

Not a good fit for

Specialist researchers who need the latest scholarship and source criticism
Readers expecting in-depth analysis of court politics and controversial questions
Beginners with limited English reading stamina who need Chinese support

Reading tips

Start with the table of contents and chapter titles, and map the key points of Elizabeth's life from birth to accession along a timeline.
After each chapter, write two or three sentences on the events and relationships, rather than merely following the plot.
When the background on the Reformation and European diplomacy is unclear, read alongside a general history for reference.
Compare the book's judgments with later scholarship and note the biases of nineteenth-century narrative.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this a complete Chinese translation?

No. This is the English-language original e-book released by Project Gutenberg; the text is in English and no Chinese translation is included, so readers need some English reading ability.

Can I read it without background knowledge of the Tudor dynasty?

Yes. The author focuses on narrative and explains people and events fairly clearly, but background on the Reformation and European diplomacy is brief; it is advisable to look over a short Tudor timeline first.

Can the book's views be quoted directly?

Direct quotation is not recommended. The book was written in the nineteenth century as popular history, and its narrative carries the biases of its time; specific historical facts should be checked against modern scholarship before being cited.

Comments

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About the author

Abbott, Jacob, 1803-1879 Author

Jacob Abbott (1803–1879) was an American author and educator best known for his historical and biographical works. The library holds 51 of his works, including Darius the Great, History of Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, History of Julius Caesar, Richard II, Cyrus the Great, Pyrrhus, Cleopatra, and Peter the Great. Writing for young readers, he wove individual lives into the broader context of their times, narrating the rise and fall of rulers and figures in clear, accessible prose that made history both readable and instructive. His historical biographies circulated widely and helped popularize history reading. Public information on the details of his life is limited, so this profile focuses on the subjects and style of his works.