AD After the chaos and uncertainty of the last eighteen months, I was eager to get some structure back in my life and get myself organised this September (yes, I may be 35 years old but I’m still working with academic new years in my head). Then, lo and behold, Tudor Times answered my call and kindly sent me a copy of their BEAUTIFUL new Queen Elizabeth I Book of Days.
After previously using Tudor Time’s Tudor Book of Days I knew this was exactly what I needed to get my life back in order!
What Is A Book Of Days?
The Tudor Book of Days is inspired by the Book of Hours, prized in the Tudor and Renaissance period. Primarily a private book, it listed holy days and hours for prayer. However it was often used to record births and marriages, important events and festivals, or to write messages of affection between friends. Basically think of it as an early modern personal diary.
What is the Queen Elizabeth I Book Of Days?
Hugely informative and stunningly produced, the Queen Elizabeth I Book of Days pairs a practical perpetual diary with a wealth of material on the life and times of the last Tudor queen, Elizabeth I (1533-1603), one of England’s most iconic and celebrated monarchs.
Each of the 365 days of the calendar year has the date (but not the day) of the month, allowing the owner to record their own events and reminders over many years. Every day an event important in Elizabeth’s life is highlighted. There is also an index of people and events, giving more details.
At the front, there is a biography of Elizabeth, some interesting facts and one of her sonnets. Each month, one event is covered in depth, alongside information about palaces and castles that were the backdrops to the queen’s long reign. At the back of the book you will find an index of people that played a role in Elizabeth’s life.
Not a big fan of Queen Bess? Don’t worry! Because at the same time Tudor Times are also releasing a Mary, Queen of Scots Book of Days. The first woman to be crowned as a queen regnant in the British Isles, her tumultuous life and tragic end has fascinated people for centuries. Her Book of Days is equally as beautiful and structured in a similar format.
What I like about the Queen Elizabeth I Book Of Days
These are the features from the new Elizabeth I Book of Days I am loving so far;
- Good quality – the cover is a durable hardback one featuring a stunning detail image taken from the famous Ermine portrait
- Lots of space – the diary pages show a week to two pages, meaning lots of space for notes and scribbles
- Flexible – It’s a perpetual diary, meaning its not dated for any particular year – perfect if you have to start a new diary part-way through the year for some reason (or if time no longer seems relevant after the last 18 months!)
- Year planner – For long-term planning, allowing you to be extra-organised!
- Notes section – I use this for jotting down blog post ideas that pop into my head at the most random times
It really is the PERFECT gift for those who are inspired by this great queen #TeamBess. Dare I say it might make a great Christmas gift for the Tudor history lover in your life?!
This beautiful book is out TODAY so make sure you order a copy now!
Big fan of Elizabeth I? Then you will LOVE this recent post about St Faith’s Church which is FULL of Elizabethan treasures!