The Queens of England (Vol. 1-3) (ePub)

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.