Queen Elizabeth I of England is one of the most fascinating women of history. Taking the throne in her own right was unusual for the time -- the only previous Queen in England other than Queen Consorts were the Empress Matilda, whose attempt to be crowned Queen resulted in decades of civil war, and her own sister, Queen Mary I. Yet Elizabeth I was able to do what Matilda had not been able to do. Was it her personality? Was it that the times had changed, following such personalities as Queen Isabella?

With Shekhar Kapur's second biopic on Elizabeth just out on DVD, also starring Cate Blanchett as was the 1999 film, I've put together a list of recommended books and videos about Queen Elizabeth I.