Legacy

I just finished the historical fiction book, “Legacy” by Susan Kay. I enjoyed this book immensely. Written in the 3^rd person, it examines the life of the very enigmatic Elizabeth Tudor, Queen of England from early infantry to her death. Legacy also shows the way three men; best friend and lover Robert Dudley, close advisor William Cecil, and one-time friend turned enemy Phillip of Spain’s lives intertwined with Elizabeth. Legacy spares no detail in showing the hardships that honed her ability to survive the disfavor of her tyrant father, King Henry VIII and the fanatical Catholic Queen Mary I at an early age and Elizabeth’s incredible genius. Legacy reveals Elizabeth as the enigmatic, practical but fascinating monarch who inherited a bankrupt country on the verge of religious civil war and through her 40 years of successful reign brought England into a golden age of peace. The most exciting moment of her reign was when the hopelessly outnumbered English defeat the prestigious Spanish Armada. Kay wove this story incredibly, showing Elizabeth at the lowest points of her life and at the highest. Legacy is a highly recommendable book. Once started, I couldn’t put this book down. The book was vivid and descriptive, masterfully written, even the dialogue was fun to read. Fact is mixed with fiction and the result couldn’t have been better. I loved this book.