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canadajanes's review against another edition
5.0
Easy to read history of the interactions between Elizabethan England and Islam. A lot that I didn't know.
n_nazir's review against another edition
2.0
Bit of a slog to read through and when it delved into being more of a literary analysis of some of the playwrights of the time it became even more so.
lokster71's review against another edition
4.0
This is a fascinating book. A well-written, well-researched history of isolated Elizabethan England's relations with the Islamic world and how that impacted the culture of the time, particularly in the theatre culminating with Shakespeare's Othello.
It is often forgotten how isolated Elizabeth's protestant England was in the face of implacable Spanish hostility and a largely Catholic European mainland. And a potential alliance with the Islamic powers would help protect England by keeping Spain militarily occupied elsewhere.
Brotton's book is packed full of interesting information but it avoids just working on the level of dry diplomatic history. It works as the story of individuals too: merchants, soldiers, and adventurers. Of whom the Sherley family must provide the most interesting example (and get a chapter of their own accordingly.)
The analysis of the literature of the time is also interesting and gives you an insight into the choices made by Shakespeare and others. The use of the Turk or Moor as a 'heretic' could also be seen as representing Catholicism - equally heretical to a Protestant England and more of an obvious threat.
There's much more I could say about this book, but I don't have the time. Worth reading in a time of conflict between Islam and 'the West'. It shows how much has changed, but much still remains the same.
It is often forgotten how isolated Elizabeth's protestant England was in the face of implacable Spanish hostility and a largely Catholic European mainland. And a potential alliance with the Islamic powers would help protect England by keeping Spain militarily occupied elsewhere.
Brotton's book is packed full of interesting information but it avoids just working on the level of dry diplomatic history. It works as the story of individuals too: merchants, soldiers, and adventurers. Of whom the Sherley family must provide the most interesting example (and get a chapter of their own accordingly.)
The analysis of the literature of the time is also interesting and gives you an insight into the choices made by Shakespeare and others. The use of the Turk or Moor as a 'heretic' could also be seen as representing Catholicism - equally heretical to a Protestant England and more of an obvious threat.
There's much more I could say about this book, but I don't have the time. Worth reading in a time of conflict between Islam and 'the West'. It shows how much has changed, but much still remains the same.
dougsasser's review against another edition
2.0
This was a Goodreads.com give away. It explores trade relations with England during the reign of Elizabeth I with the Ottoman and Persian Empires. English culture, taste and theater were influenced by this relationship. This book is well researched and it shows the complexity of the interconnections of historical studies.
carroq's review against another edition
4.0
Disclaimer: I received a free copy via Goodreads Giveaways in exchange for an honest review.
This was an interesting read. It covers the period from around the mid 16th century to the beginning of the 17th century. Of course, the focus is on the relationship between England and the Ottoman empire. It goes beyond that to some degree by going into detail about some interactions with the Persians and the Muslims in Morocco. With the rise of Protestantism, England became cut off from much of Europe. This led to them seeking alliances in other areas.
The writing was a little mixed in my opinion. Most of it is very good. However, there are times where the book gets very dry. There were only a couple instances that I can think of, but they dragged on because they were full of dates and names with little insight. Most of the book does not fall into that category though. It became great when the author delved into the plays that were created during this time. They provide insight into the relationships between these kingdoms and the English people. The analysis of some important Shakespeare plays in light of the events discussed in this book is wonderful.
This was an interesting read. It covers the period from around the mid 16th century to the beginning of the 17th century. Of course, the focus is on the relationship between England and the Ottoman empire. It goes beyond that to some degree by going into detail about some interactions with the Persians and the Muslims in Morocco. With the rise of Protestantism, England became cut off from much of Europe. This led to them seeking alliances in other areas.
The writing was a little mixed in my opinion. Most of it is very good. However, there are times where the book gets very dry. There were only a couple instances that I can think of, but they dragged on because they were full of dates and names with little insight. Most of the book does not fall into that category though. It became great when the author delved into the plays that were created during this time. They provide insight into the relationships between these kingdoms and the English people. The analysis of some important Shakespeare plays in light of the events discussed in this book is wonderful.
caprica's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars out of 5.
The Sultan and the Queen: The Untold Story of Elizabeth of Islam is an interesting book about a generally under-represented topic in English history. Brotton's attempt to complicate the broader narrative of English history by introducing the story of Elizabethan England's relationship with the Islamic world, an attempt that I think is broadly successful.
The text is generally fairly readable, but I expect this book may be a little bit tougher for someone who does not have at least a general understanding of the area(s) and period. I have the benefit of a fair amount of background when it comes to both of those things, and so had no problem following the narrative. However, I did notice, at least from time to time, that Brotton's discussions of certain events sometimes lacked context (and, admittedly, it would probably have been distracting to endlessly contextualize everything), which indicate to me that the text's intended audience has at least some background knowledge.
The book feels like it alternates between discussions of political and economic events and the developments in London's theater. The latter sections feel weaker than the former; although Brotton's discussions of Shakespeare and Marlowe and the appearance of Muslim characters on the stage can be interesting, I think the text would've benefited from more explicit links drawn between society and these plays. As it is, they feel a bit "dropped in." Nevertheless, cultural context and developments are still relevant, and so this is not a deal-breaking critique.
One of the book's biggest failings, however, is the chapter entitled "Sherley Fever." The chapter is largely about Sir Anthony Sherley, though it also features other members of his family. I do not, frankly, see the value of this chapter. At best, it ought to have been extremely abbreviated. Sherley's escapades may be interesting in their own right (the author seems particularly enamored of him as an historical figure), but the chapter feels like filler, as it doesn't seem to do a great deal to advance the central thesis of the book. Omitting this chapter entirely would not, I think, have had a great deal of impact on the text.
For those seeking to complicate traditional narratives of British history, this is a good text to use. It may be difficult to teach with this whole text, especially at a lower level, but there are a lot of good examples and anecdotes that the book highlights (especially the excerpts of correspondence between Elizabeth and Ottoman and Moroccan leaders that the author includes) that should be useful.
In short, I think this book broadly succeeds in its goal. Although there are some issues with the text itself, the author's prose is engaging, which make this book readable. I was glad to read this book and I expect people with an interest in this period, and especially in this topic, will find this a worthwhile choice.
The Sultan and the Queen: The Untold Story of Elizabeth of Islam is an interesting book about a generally under-represented topic in English history. Brotton's attempt to complicate the broader narrative of English history by introducing the story of Elizabethan England's relationship with the Islamic world, an attempt that I think is broadly successful.
The text is generally fairly readable, but I expect this book may be a little bit tougher for someone who does not have at least a general understanding of the area(s) and period. I have the benefit of a fair amount of background when it comes to both of those things, and so had no problem following the narrative. However, I did notice, at least from time to time, that Brotton's discussions of certain events sometimes lacked context (and, admittedly, it would probably have been distracting to endlessly contextualize everything), which indicate to me that the text's intended audience has at least some background knowledge.
The book feels like it alternates between discussions of political and economic events and the developments in London's theater. The latter sections feel weaker than the former; although Brotton's discussions of Shakespeare and Marlowe and the appearance of Muslim characters on the stage can be interesting, I think the text would've benefited from more explicit links drawn between society and these plays. As it is, they feel a bit "dropped in." Nevertheless, cultural context and developments are still relevant, and so this is not a deal-breaking critique.
One of the book's biggest failings, however, is the chapter entitled "Sherley Fever." The chapter is largely about Sir Anthony Sherley, though it also features other members of his family. I do not, frankly, see the value of this chapter. At best, it ought to have been extremely abbreviated. Sherley's escapades may be interesting in their own right (the author seems particularly enamored of him as an historical figure), but the chapter feels like filler, as it doesn't seem to do a great deal to advance the central thesis of the book. Omitting this chapter entirely would not, I think, have had a great deal of impact on the text.
For those seeking to complicate traditional narratives of British history, this is a good text to use. It may be difficult to teach with this whole text, especially at a lower level, but there are a lot of good examples and anecdotes that the book highlights (especially the excerpts of correspondence between Elizabeth and Ottoman and Moroccan leaders that the author includes) that should be useful.
In short, I think this book broadly succeeds in its goal. Although there are some issues with the text itself, the author's prose is engaging, which make this book readable. I was glad to read this book and I expect people with an interest in this period, and especially in this topic, will find this a worthwhile choice.
lnatal's review
4.0
From BBC Radio 4 - Book of the Week:
Professor Jerry Brotton, one of the UK's leading experts on cultural exchange, examines Queen Elizabeth I's fascination with the Orient. He shows that England's relations with the Muslim world were far more extensive, and often more amicable, than we have ever appreciated, and that their influence was felt across the political, commercial and domestic landscape of Elizabethan England.
Derek Jacobi reads the captivating account of how Britain sent ships, treaties and gifts to the royal families of Morocco and Turkey, including a gold carriage and a full-size pipe organ.
1/5: In this episode, we discover the origins of our taste for Oriental imports - including the sugar which rotted the teeth of our sovereign.
2/5: In this episode, one merchant voyage ends in tragedy when the English crew are captured and turned into galley slaves.
3/5: In this episode, we are taken into the sights and sounds of a royal pageant held in Whitehall in the year 1600 for the Moroccan ambassador.
4/5: In this episode, Queen Elizabeth I's advisers debate how to satisfy yet again the sultan of Turkey's demands for elaborate royal presents.
5/5: In this episode, we visit the London stage to discover the Elizabethan fascination with the little-known world of Islam, particularly by Shakespeare and Marlowe.
Producer: David Roper
A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b074w30m
Professor Jerry Brotton, one of the UK's leading experts on cultural exchange, examines Queen Elizabeth I's fascination with the Orient. He shows that England's relations with the Muslim world were far more extensive, and often more amicable, than we have ever appreciated, and that their influence was felt across the political, commercial and domestic landscape of Elizabethan England.
Derek Jacobi reads the captivating account of how Britain sent ships, treaties and gifts to the royal families of Morocco and Turkey, including a gold carriage and a full-size pipe organ.
1/5: In this episode, we discover the origins of our taste for Oriental imports - including the sugar which rotted the teeth of our sovereign.
2/5: In this episode, one merchant voyage ends in tragedy when the English crew are captured and turned into galley slaves.
3/5: In this episode, we are taken into the sights and sounds of a royal pageant held in Whitehall in the year 1600 for the Moroccan ambassador.
4/5: In this episode, Queen Elizabeth I's advisers debate how to satisfy yet again the sultan of Turkey's demands for elaborate royal presents.
5/5: In this episode, we visit the London stage to discover the Elizabethan fascination with the little-known world of Islam, particularly by Shakespeare and Marlowe.
Producer: David Roper
A Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b074w30m
lokster71's review
4.0
This is a fascinating book. A well-written, well-researched history of isolated Elizabethan England's relations with the Islamic world and how that impacted the culture of the time, particularly in the theatre culminating with Shakespeare's Othello.
It is often forgotten how isolated Elizabeth's protestant England was in the face of implacable Spanish hostility and a largely Catholic European mainland. And a potential alliance with the Islamic powers would help protect England by keeping Spain militarily occupied elsewhere.
Brotton's book is packed full of interesting information but it avoids just working on the level of dry diplomatic history. It works as the story of individuals too: merchants, soldiers, and adventurers. Of whom the Sherley family must provide the most interesting example (and get a chapter of their own accordingly.)
The analysis of the literature of the time is also interesting and gives you an insight into the choices made by Shakespeare and others. The use of the Turk or Moor as a 'heretic' could also be seen as representing Catholicism - equally heretical to a Protestant England and more of an obvious threat.
There's much more I could say about this book, but I don't have the time. Worth reading in a time of conflict between Islam and 'the West'. It shows how much has changed, but much still remains the same.
It is often forgotten how isolated Elizabeth's protestant England was in the face of implacable Spanish hostility and a largely Catholic European mainland. And a potential alliance with the Islamic powers would help protect England by keeping Spain militarily occupied elsewhere.
Brotton's book is packed full of interesting information but it avoids just working on the level of dry diplomatic history. It works as the story of individuals too: merchants, soldiers, and adventurers. Of whom the Sherley family must provide the most interesting example (and get a chapter of their own accordingly.)
The analysis of the literature of the time is also interesting and gives you an insight into the choices made by Shakespeare and others. The use of the Turk or Moor as a 'heretic' could also be seen as representing Catholicism - equally heretical to a Protestant England and more of an obvious threat.
There's much more I could say about this book, but I don't have the time. Worth reading in a time of conflict between Islam and 'the West'. It shows how much has changed, but much still remains the same.
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