Synopses & Reviews
Dubbed the pirate queen by the Vatican and Spain's Philip II, Elizabeth I was feared and admired by her enemies. Extravagant, whimsical, and hot-tempered, Elizabeth was the epitome of power. Her visionary accomplishments were made possible by her daring merchants, gifted rapscallion adventurers, astronomer philosophers, and her stalwart Privy Council, including Sir William Cecil, Sir Francis Walsingham, and Sir Nicholas Bacon. All these men contributed their vast genius, power, greed, and expertise to the advancement of England.
In The Pirate Queen, historian Susan Ronald offers a fresh look at Elizabeth I, focusing on her uncanny instinct for financial survival and the superior intellect that propelled and sustained her rise. The foundation of Elizabeth's empire was built on a carefully choreographed strategy whereby piracy transformed England from an impoverished state on the fringes of Europe into the first building block of an empire that covered two-fifths of the world.
Based on a wealth of historical sources and thousands of personal letters between Elizabeth and her merchant adventurers, advisers, and royal cousins, The Pirate Queen tells the thrilling story of Elizabeth and the swashbuckling mariners who terrorized the seas, planted the seedlings of an empire, and amassed great wealth for themselves and the Crown.
Synopsis
Many biographies have been written about Queen Elizabeth I of England. They focus on her struggle for the throne and personal affairs, but Elizabeth's remarkable financial acumen has been sorely neglected. During her long reign, she turned an economically weak country, overshadowed by France and Spain, into a powerful empire. And the cornerstone of England's financial recovery was privateering, also known as piracy.
In the fascinating revisionist biography The Pirate Queen, historian Susan Ronald draws on more than a thousand original manuscripts and personal letters to explore how, in a carefully choreographed plan, British ships plundered rich cargoes and secured territory in the name of the Crown. This is a story about power and greed, but also about survival; without Elizabeth's foresight and determination, it is entirely possible that not only England but also the English language would have been absorbed by its enemies. The Pirate Queen is an entertaining and enlightening look at the woman who laid the economic foundation of the British Empire.
Susan Ronald, author of The Sancy Blood Diamond, has consulted for five British government departments and The National Trust. Born and raised in the United States, she has lived in England for more than twenty years.
A highly colorful, swashbuckling read, one that will give you new respect for Britain's first Elizabeth. -- Seattle Times
Synopsis
"A highly colorful, swashbuckling read, one that will give you new respect for Britain's first Elizabeth." --Seattle Times
Extravagant, whimsical, and hot-tempered, Elizabeth was the epitome of power, both feared and admired by her enemies. Dubbed the pirate queen by the Vatican and Spain's Philip II, she employed a network of daring merchants, brazen adventurers, astronomer philosophers, and her stalwart Privy Council to anchor her throne--and in doing so, planted the seedlings of an empire that would ultimately cover two-fifths of the world.
In The Pirate Queen, historian Susan Ronald offers a fresh look at Elizabeth I, relying on a wealth of historical sources and thousands of the queen's personal letters to tell the thrilling story of a visionary monarch and the swashbuckling mariners who terrorized the seas to amass great wealth for themselves and the Crown.
Synopsis
"A highly colorful, swashbuckling read, one that will give you new respect for Britain's first Elizabeth." --Seattle Times
An illuminating revisionist biography about Queen Elizabeth I and her merchant-adventurers who terrorized the seas, extended the Empire, and amassed great wealth for the throne.
Extravagant, whimsical, and hot-tempered, Elizabeth was the epitome of power, both feared and admired by her enemies. Dubbed the pirate queen by the Vatican and Spain's Philip II, she employed a network of daring merchants, brazen adventurers, astronomer philosophers, and her stalwart Privy Council to anchor her throne--and in doing so, planted the seedlings of an empire that would ultimately cover two-fifths of the world.
In The Pirate Queen, historian Susan Ronald offers a fresh look at Elizabeth I, relying on a wealth of historical sources and thousands of the queen's personal letters to tell the thrilling story of a visionary monarch and the swashbuckling mariners who terrorized the seas to amass great wealth for themselves and the Crown.
Synopsis
Historian Ronald offers a fresh look at Elizabeth I, focusing on her uncanny instinct for financial survival and her superior intellect that propelled and sustained her rise, including her use of piracy to transform her realm into the greatest empire the world had ever seen. 16-page b&w photo insert.
Synopsis
Extravagant, whimsical, and hot-tempered, Elizabeth was the epitome of power, both feared and admired by her enemies. Dubbed the "pirate queen" by the Vatican and Spain's Philip II, she employed a network of daring merchants, brazen adventurers, astronomer philosophers, and her stalwart Privy Council to anchor her throne—and in doing so, planted the seedlings of an empire that would ultimately cover two-fifths of the world.
In The Pirate Queen, historian Susan Ronald offers a fresh look at Elizabeth I, relying on a wealth of historical sources and thousands of the queen's personal letters to tell the thrilling story of a visionary monarch and the swashbuckling mariners who terrorized the seas to amass great wealth for themselves and the Crown.
About the Author
Susan Ronald, author of The Sancy Blood Diamond, has consulted for five British government departments and The National Trust. Born and raised in the United States, she has lived in England for more than twenty years.