documents, mostly held at the Public Record Office - the UK's national archives. This work focuses on Elizabeth I, arguably England's greatest monarch. 16th century documents, many in Elizabeth's own hand, are reproduced in full colour, sometimes for the first time. Items are included which cover all aspects of her long and eventful life - from the crises and dangers of her youth, to her relationships with key members of her court and the problematic Mary Queen of Scots, and finally to the closing years of her life as "Gloriana". Each key document is reproduced in a double-page spread which also includes an extended contextualizing caption and a modern transcription where necessary. The original sources are woven together by a brief narrative history of the reign, fully illustrated in colour with portraits, photographs and other material from the archives.

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