I very much enjoyed listening to this author and lecture about her book. As others have commented I stumbled across this for its ASMR qualities but was also captivated by its history and subject. I believe she would do better to avoid statements regarding contemporary politics, modern feminism, etc. as they detract from her subject and coarsen an otherwise pleasant presentation. There is a subtle misandry and smarmy feminism that seemed thematic. Also after using these metaphors she goes on to completely excuse her subject Elizabeth the first for her brutal imprisonment and execution of her half-sister, Mary.… She doesn’t make mention of the fact that she imprisoned her for almost 20 years, then executing her, then blaming it on men. I believe she also make some factual errors by stating that England’s economy was somehow in ruins in 1588…she compares it to Spain and France. It’s difficult to find GDP data from 1588 but it is established that Spain was in bankruptcy under the reign of Philip during that time. I enjoyed it and she is a formidable intellect and author. History and events are best judged through the objective lens of the time and era they took place. Injecting her modern feminist academic themes and statements was unnecessary.
