Demiana's Book Review On "The Royal Diaries (Elizabeth I)

The Royal Diaries (Elizabeth I)
Author: Kathryn Lasky
Published by Scholastic
In 555 Broadway, New York, NY, USA, year 1995
The book is 237 pages long
Found in Christian Heritage School’s Library

Story Review

Who could’ve she been from the inside? The one who brought unto us the Elizabethan Age! Did she go through torture as a child, or lifelong happiness? The one, who changed the future of England, was once seen as nothing but a shadow, Elizabeth. As a child, Elizabeth was skilled with needlework, and knowing many languages. She was the daughter of King Henry VIII, and his second wife Anne Boleyn, who was known in England as a “witch”. Elizabeth was later on, known as the Virgin Queen, as she never agreed to marry, because of her father who had six wives, two of them he beheaded, and two of them he divorced! This book is a brilliant piece written as a royal diary of the childhood of Elizabeth I, hence the title, “The Royal Diaries (Elizabeth I)” with true historical notes at the end of the book to complete the events.

In England, 1544, Elizabeth received a diary as a gift from her governess Kat. That is where she poured out her pain, secrets, and most important events on paper. The first thing she emphasized was her feeling of being invisible. First reason is because her father would exile her whenever he was unpleased with her. Another thing is the fact that she shall never rule, because she is third in line to the throne. Finally, how people look at her as half witch, because of her mother whom Henry VIII beheaded. Of course, her father was pleased with her sometimes, and still loved her, and so did Kat, and her good friend Robin. Years passed by, and things didn’t change from there.

And just as Elizabeth was waiting for her life to become more interesting, things instead started becoming very strange, and poison took place! The duchess of Lexford was poisoned. Elizabeth thought that it could’ve been her own sister, Mary, in the plan, because the duchess was getting in the way of Mary’s marriage plans! As all this chaos affected everyone in the palace, things get worse for Elizabeth, as Mary finds out about her diary that she has hidden! Back in the day that would’ve been a big deal, as she wrote how she truly felt about certain people in the diary that she would never say to anyone if she wanted to keep her life! As all this takes place everyone is waiting anxiously to find out if Edward will rule, or not, because his father, Henry VIII is terribly ill!

And it came upon them as the darkest hour, King Henry VIII dies! Of course now Edward becomes King, and rules by the guidance of his advisors, as he is still very young! Elizabeth from that point on was going through her hardest times. She would trade her life of royalty, but also of pain, and torture for a bird’s life! As she writes the last thing in her diary, “Would I trade my title for a bird’s life, a palace for a nest a realm for the sky?” Did Mary ever reveal her? Or rather did Elizabeth blame her sister for the poisoning of the duchess of Lexford, and announced it? How will Elizabeth ever rule? What is ahead of her before victory, as she discovers her destiny? The answer is in the book.

Christian Perspective

This book was written in a Christian perspective, because all the characters are Christian in the book. However there were many actions that were not Christ-like what so ever. For example, Henry divorcing two wives, beheading two, and exiling his daughter! Also, Elizabeth made terrible assumptions, and blamed her sister for poisoning the duchess! I think that if they were truly Christians, not just by name they would’ve had a lot less conflict in the family, and I also wonder how much the story would’ve changed if that was the case.

My Thoughts

I personally admire this book. It is a historical fiction written from the perspective of a royal victim. Because this book was written in the first person, it is easier to understand what Elizabeth really felt like in the book. It is an everyday journal in which you can find what might’ve been the inner feelings, and thoughts of Elizabeth I! I strongly recommend this book to history lovers, mystery lovers, and those who are interested in knowing what royals had to go through, because of their uneasy life. If you are one of those people, you won’t be able to put this book down!