Avalon Publishing Group
Sir Francis Walsingham; a courtier in a age of terror.
Do not let the hilariously inaccurate movies and television shows fool you — the reign of Elizabeth I was not smooth sailing with the exception of a single Armada. In fact, the queen and her government were in peril through much of her reign, not because she was a woman but because she was a Protestant. Independent scholar Wilson uses as proof the largely unknown career of Sir Francis Walsingham, a member of Elizabeth's closest inner circle, and evidence of political spin and state-sponsored terrorism. Wilson finds that Walsingham got rather nasty jobs done quietly and efficiently while maintaining his own integrity as a spy-master whose chief talent was the ability to control and sift information. Topics include why the Scots really lost their queen, and why the Armada represented desperation on both sides. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
