Anna Whitelocke ranks among the leading and most widely read historians of the Tudor dynasty. The author examines the personality of Elizabeth I of England and the era of her reign from an unexpected angle, allowing the reader to look into the queen's holy of holies - her personal chambers, where not only and not so much her favorites work, but the people closest to her - the ladies-in-waiting. These ladies had significant power and influence and were able to suggest something to the queen. They saw Elizabeth without embellishment, dressed her, prepared cosmetics for her, looked after her during illness and often slept in the same bed with her. Before us is a fascinating, with many details based on documents, eyewitness diaries, letters and pamphlets, biography of one of the greatest rulers of the world.