I know a lot of people have been reading up a storm during quarantine, but I honestly haven’t. My motivation just hasn’t been there. So here’s what I have read lately.
The Women of the American Revolution Volumes I & II and Volume III – Elizabeth Ellet
This tome, published in three volumes and over 1000 pages, looks at anecdotes of women who lived in the American Revolution. It’s rather interesting because the author heard many of the stories from those women’s children and grandchildren. It was published in the 1840s and 1850s, so it doesn’t hold up to our current standards for biography. The author raves about how all of the women were paragons of republican virtue and great self-sacrificing heroes. And, oddly enough, the author had an intense rivalry with Edgar Allen Poe.
The Queen’s Agent: Francis Walsingham at the Court of Elizabeth I – John Cooper
This biography examines the life of Sir Francis Walsingham, spymaster and secretary of state to Elizabeth I. It’s a good deep dive into the world of Walsingham. I would recommend that you have a solid base level of knowledge about the Tudor and Elizabethan times. If you’re a fellow Tudor fan, this is a great read. It has a lot of interesting information.
Lafayette – Harlow Giles Unger
You could be forgiven for thinking that the Marquis de Lafayette single-handedly fought and won the American and French Revolutions after finishing this book. This is a comprehensive biography of one of America’s Founding Fathers. But the author is a big fan of Lafayette and isn’t always unbiased. In all of the adventures of Lafayette’s life, the author only criticizes his decision to not seize power in the French Revolution. Overall, it’s an enjoyable read with a lot of information about the American Revolution.
What have you been reading lately?
This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through this link, Extra Black Olives will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
