"Twenty-five years ago Louis Montrose’s pioneering essay ’Eliza Queen of Shepherdes and the Pastoral of Power’ cracked one of the crucial codes of Elizabethan celebratory rhetoric. His new book, addressing the complex and contradictory nature of Elizabeth as performer and spectacle, finally fulfills a very old promise. This is an important and fascinating book, and it is wonderful to have it at last."

Stephen Orgel, author of The Authentic Shakespeare

"A fascinating acount of [Elizabeth’s] representation as a woman ruler in a patriarchal society and of her councilor’s attempts to take political advantage of her gender while simultaneously working to contain its perceived frailties. . . . This important interdisciplinary work offers valuable insights into her culture and will be of interest to all Elizabethan scholars."

Retha M. Warnicke | Renaissance Quarterly

"McKee has done an admirable job bringing this extraordinary woman to life. The selections are well chosen, and include samples from an entire lifetime of work. . . . I heartily recommend this book and applaud McKee’s decision to issue these important texts."

Tryntje Helfferich | H-Net Review

"In this finely woven tapestry of a book, Louis Montrose draws on and reorients his substantial writings on the world of Elizabethan imagery as he explores the competing and diverse representations of the queen. . . . The Subject of Elizabeth offers easy and rewarding access into the challenging world of the Elizabethan court."

Mary Hill Cole | Literature and History