Agnes Strickland 
The Queens of England (Vol. 1-3) 

Agnes Strickland’s ‘The Queens of England’ is a comprehensive three-volume series that delves into the lives of England’s queens from early medieval times to the Victorian era. Strickland’s detailed and well-researched accounts offer a glimpse into the power struggles, love affairs, and political intrigues that shaped the history of the British monarchy. Her writing style is both engaging and informative, making the book accessible to a wide range of readers interested in British history. The series is a valuable resource for scholars and history enthusiasts alike, providing a nuanced perspective on the lives of these influential women. Strickland’s work is a blend of biography, history, and literary analysis, showcasing her deep appreciation for the subject matter. As a prominent historian and biographer, Strickland’s meticulous research and passion for storytelling shine through in ‘The Queens of England’. Her dedication to capturing the essence of these remarkable women sets her work apart in the field of royal biographies. I highly recommend ‘The Queens of England’ to anyone seeking a compelling and insightful exploration of the lives of England’s queens.

Over de auteur

Agnes Strickland (1796–1874) was an English historical writer and biographer whose most notable work remains ‘The Lives of the Queens of England’ (1840-1848), a compendious and detailed examination of English queenship from the Norman Conquest to her contemporary period. Strickland’s approach to historiography was characterized by a blend of romantic narrative with meticulous research, rousing both acclaim and criticism for her often personalized accounts of her subjects. Born into a literary family, she began her career with verse before moving on to historical prose, effectively carving out a space for women in the field of historical literature. Despite coming from a period where academic histories were largely penned by men, Strickland’s work attained considerable popularity, and her vivid portrayal of queens offered a nuanced insight into the lives of women wielding power in a male-dominated society. Her detailed use of primary sources was pioneering, especially for a female writer of her era, and ‘The Queens of England’ series, crafted with a sympathetic narrative illustration, remains a source of enjoyment and historical interest. Scholarly criticism has examined the allegorical connections Strickland established between the lives of the queens and the Victorian ideals of her time, foregrounding a complex interplay between historical record and the moralistic storytelling that shaped nineteenth-century historiography. The legacy of her work continues to influence historical writing, especially in the genre of female biographies.