‘The key to the legend of Elizabeth I lies in the violence, tragedy and heady danger of her first twenty-five years. She lost her parents, siblings, freedom and innocence far too soon, but emerged as one of the most iconic rulers in English history. Nicola Tallis charts this extraordinary story with sensitivity, scholarship and compassion, shedding light not only on Elizabeth’s apprentice years, but also her complete character.’ Jessie Childs, author of The Siege of Loyalty House

‘Elizabeth I is one of the most popular figures in history, but this stunning portrayal gives us a vivid and compelling new insight into the real woman behind the public image. Told with all of the author’s characteristic verve and eye for fascinating period detail, the story of the Virgin Queen’s turbulent path to the throne is at once surprising, revealing and utterly irresistible. This is Elizabeth I as you have never seen her before.’ Tracy Borman, author of Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I

‘Sparkling, pacey and page-turning, Nicola Tallis's brilliant new study of the early life of Elizabeth I is an outstanding achievement. Combining new research with an engaging style, it ticks every box. Highly recommended!’ Alison Weir, author of The Lady in the Tower

‘A remarkable achievement – Tallis brings to life the glowing girl behind the iconic mask of the later Virgin Queen. With a wealth of detail unfamiliar even to Elizabethan scholars, it represents a vital contribution to our understanding of the woman and her age. Fresh, vibrant and scholarly, this is history at its very best.’ Sarah Gristwood, author of The Tudors in Love

‘Empathetic, thoughtful, and well-written, in this story of the Virgin Queen’s rise to power, Tallis has proved again why she is fast emerging as one of Britain’s most popular historians.’ Gareth Russell, author of The Palace

‘You cannot fully comprehend Elizabeth I, the Queen, without understanding her hardship and struggles before rising to power. Nicola Tallis’s Young Elizabeth is the biography we needed on these years before Elizabeth was crowned Queen. Compelling, well-researched, and illuminating, this is a must-read for any Tudor lovers.’ Estelle Paranque, author of Thorns, Lust and Glory: The Betrayal of Anne Boleyn

‘This sparkling study of the youth of England’s most famous queen is firmly based on a wealth of original sources. It will delight readers who think they know Elizabeth and those who have yet to become acquainted with her perilous path to the throne.’ Linda Porter, author of Katherine the Queen: The Remarkable Life of Katherine Parr

‘A beautifully crafted account. Tallis brings the young Elizabeth to life with insight and empathy.’ Michael Jones, author of The King's Mother

‘The future Elizabeth I served one of the most dramatic apprenticeships of any queen of England, with her life subject to the twists and turns of the unstable politics of her day. In Young Elizabeth, Nicola Tallis takes a forensic view of the princess’s difficult early life, using her considerable expertise as an historian to paint a dramatic and believable portrait of a girl whose future never seemed certain. Nicola Tallis brings to life the girl who would later become England’s most iconic ruler.’ Dr Elizabeth Norton, author of The Lives of Tudor Women

‘Dr Tallis’s Young Elizabeth paints a gloriously vivid picture of the formative years of one of England’s greatest monarchs. Tallis has all the skill of a Tudor portrait painter, imbuing her study with immense detail, striking realism and vibrant colour. Her Elizabeth is so perfectly captured, she peers out from the pages at you with steely dark eyes. 

  This is a tale of traumatic loss, determined resistance and unwavering dedication to duty. Dr Tallis introduces us to a less familiar Elizabeth, but one of continuing relevance, inspiration and fascination. 

  Tallis’s young Elizabeth is placed in the context of a vibrant tapestry of Tudor characters, both familiar and largely unknown. Taken as a whole, it is a comprehensive and captivating picture of Gloriana’s upbringing.’ Joanne Paul, author of The House of Dudley

 This comprehensively researched and exquisitely written study of the Young Elizabeth is a mesmerizing and immersive game-changer. Thick with detail and sharp in analysis, Tallis has expertly woven the most complete and compelling picture of Elizabeth’s tumultuous youth to date. Most importantly, this book gets to the heart of Elizabeth’s agency and sheds important new light on the complexities and perils of early modern queenship. A welcome corrective to earlier studies, this is scholarly, popular history at its very finest.’  Dr Owen Emmerson, co-author of The Boleyns of Hever Castle