I am liking this book alot more then I expected.  I read it right after a fairly sympathetic telling of "bloody Mary's" reign called "The Queen's Fool" by Philippa Gregory so it was kinda interesting to tie the events together.

What amazes me about the reign of Elisabeth is how many famous to this day men thrived during her rule.  Sir Francis Drake, Bacon, Raleigh (of landing in Virginia fame) for example.

She was an amazing woman for her time - any time!  One of my favorites.

Edited because I've had too much wine t otype.

I haven't read "I, Elizabeth", but one of my fave hist. fiction books about Elizabeth I is "Legacy" by Susan Kay. 

For awhile I've been addicted to historical fiction books about that time period, particularly about the Tudors.  If anyone's looking for a really good historical fiction writer, check into Alison Weir.  She wrote this amazing book called Innocent Traitor:  A Novel of Lady Jane Grey.  She also wrote a book called The Lady Elizabeth, which I haven't read yet but I'm sure its good.