Writing the story of daily life at Elizabeth I’s court, especially of what went on in the Queen’s private chambers, is an excellent idea. It is fascinating to learn about what Elizabeth liked to eat (currant cakes shipped in from Greece were apparently a favourite), what she wore (a wardrobe of 3,000 dresses from which to choose), and her make-up regime – a concoction of egg white, powdered eggshell, alum and poppy seeds was rarely out of use. Anna Whitelock brings all these details, and many more besides, to our attention, but she regularly strays beyond this fresh, insightful analysis to a more general and rather predictable history of Elizabeth’s reign. And there are more than enough of these already. It is a shame that Whitelock did not stick more closely to th