What Lee provides is a valuable insight into a family whose sense of duty to the monarch and crown saw them well rewarded and regarded even if not by those courtiers who viewed them with a slightly envious eye. Their political legacy extended even into the 20th century.

Recommended for those wanting to expand their reading beyond general histories of both the Tudor, Elizabethan and Jacobite periods.

A very well written and researched account of the Cecil's and much over do I suspect a lot of history lovers will agree.

We are taken back to the humble, if not meagre origins of the Welsh Cecil's or Sysils and learn how through individual talent, attributes, intelligence and attributes, they managed to rise as high as they did by the Elizabethan era, carrying on into the reign of James I.

Well researched and well written, The Cecils offers a further glimpse into Tudor England. I recommend it to readers that enjoy Tudor history who are interested in looking beyond the usual "cast of characters".

*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was such an interest read! I am a huge history buff so this biography was a perfect read for me! I hope to read more by Lee this was well paced and not dry at all.

I decided to pick up this book because I am interested in the Cecil family. Elizabeth I is my all-time favorite Queen and I enjoy reading about those closest to her: including William and Robert Cecil. I also have Burghley House on my never-ending wish list of places to go visit in the UK. It looks absolutely magnificent.

I found the book interesting and well-researched and the author seemed to have had a lot of knowledge of the subject. He mentioned using sources such as Stephen Alford, who I also used for my capstone research paper on Elizabeth I's court.

William Cecil survived the reigns of several monarchs and then rose to the height of his power under Elizabeth I. His life and legacy are quite remarkable, as the author describes in detail. I do not agree with his theory on the death of Amy Robsart, but everyone has their own theory on the subject.

Robert overcame many obstacles with his health to become powerful during the reign of two monarchs Elizabeth I and James I. I find it absolutely incredible he was able to stay in power during the reigns of two different monarchs. The book takes you through a lot of iconic events in history. I enjoyed reading about the two men's lives and their roles in the government

I enjoyed the book, and would recommend it. I would give 3.5 stars. Thank you netgalley and penandsword publishing for giving me an ARC of this book.

I am very interested in the Cecil family - both because of having studied the Tudor period in depth and because I used to live in Stamford, Lincs, and visited Burghley House many times.

So I began to read David Lee's biography of the Tudor Cecils with great anticipation.
And began again. Left it, picked it up again ... several times. Because frankly I was disappointed. Each time I restarted, either from the beginning or from where I had previously left off, I was hopeful that my previous assessment was incorrect. That this time I would be able to read it and enjoy and appreciate it. Alas, it was not to be and I have at last given up. There were just too many grammatical errors, too many badly phrased sentences, too many repetitions of words, ideas, the opinions of others, or of conclusions.

I've not been able to finish the book, sadly, and so my review is not of the entire book. Maybe it is yet to have a final proof read or editorial work, and I hope that may be the case, as the Cecils are a fascinating family, working in interesting times during the Tudor dynasty and especially during the first Elizabethan age, and this should be an interesting book. William Cecil, followed by his son Robert, served as important political ministers, and established a powerful dynasty. David Lee has studied original papers, letters and documents - those of State and those of the family. These are quoted and used to illumine the lives of these men and their family, and hopefully I may at some stage pick up the book and restart - again!

I am grateful to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read the book.

William Cecil, Lord Burghley was Queen Elizabeth I's Chief Minister and Secretary of State. Monumentally influential, he was pivotal to the reigns of three (arguably four) Tudor monarchs. Cecil blossomed into his career during the reign of King Edward VI, he survived the downfall of Lady Jane Grey while promoting his usefulness during the reign of Queen Mary I and finally presenting himself as indispensable during the Golden Age of Elizabeth I.

While there was Lord Burghley, there was also Robert Cecil, Earl Salisbury. The youngest son of William Cecil, he was notably devoted to serving his royal masters. Ruthless and bold, he chiseled a strong position at court, also becoming Chief Minister to Elizabeth I and remarkably, retaining this position during the transition of power from Tudor to Stuart dynasty as King James VI and I assumed the throne of England following the death of Elizabeth.

These men were incredibly important to shaping the reigns of the later Tudor monarchs and David Lee has managed to tackle these powerhouses of history with grace and respect.

Magnificently researched with a clear and direct narrative, Lee weaves the reader through the complexities of this fascinating period of history, exploring the clashes of religion, inner court politics and personal struggles for one at the very centre of the royal circle.

Unbiased and accessible, the author examines his subjects through a balanced lens, considering them within their historical context.

A unique perspective of those closest to the monarch during the Tudor and Stuart Eras, this is a thrilling and wonderful insight into the construct of court life, power, politics and how intelligent men such as the Cecils had to be in order to survive the fickle nature of their royal masters.

In a departure from his usual material, David Lee explores two generations of an Elizabethan political powerhouse, the Cecil family. Focusing on William Cecil, right hand man to Queen Elizabeth I, and his son Robert Cecil, Lee highlights the political acumen, rise to power, and presence of William Cecil and Robert Cecil’s work to continue his father’s legacy in the last years of Elizabeth I’s reign and the early years of James I and VI’s rule. Lee details the social, and familial factors behind the Cecils’ political presence, with a brief exploration of the women in the two men’s lives. Utilizing primary documents and the historiographies of the Elizabethan period, Lee observes and examines this period from the perspectives of the Cecils from their positions in Elizabeth I’s government. Lee examines key historical events such as the Spanish Armada and the Guy Fawkes Gunpowder Plot from the perspectives of the Cecils, allowing the reader to experience and understand these events from the perspectives of the government rather than a general understanding of the topic. Lee’s clear historical expertise (if not specifically in sixteenth-century politics) adds another level to the text, and his analysis and insight into these historical figures and events makes this a compelling introduction to the Elizabethan period and early modern politics.

An informative and readable look at the Cecil dynasty who helped shape the reigns of Edward, Mary, and Elizabeth Tudor. William and Robert Cecil were among the Mr. Secretaries of the Tudor dynasty who forged the role of Prime Minister.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. I loved this novel. The author did a great job researching and I learned a lot about the Cecil family. I have not really read much about the family, so this was a fun read to branch out from the regular characters that a lot of author's write about. Highly recommend.

Well researched & written. Hugely enjoyable & easy to read, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this book to fellow history lovers.