Biography: royalty Books

Book SynopsisCharles II was thirty when he crossed the Channel in fine May weather in 1660. His Restoration was greeted with maypoles and bonfires, like spring after long years of Cromwell''s rule. But there was no going back, no way he could ''restore'' the old. Certainty had vanished. The divinity of kingship fled with his father''s beheading. ''Honour'' was now a word tossed around in duels. ''Providence'' could no longer be trusted. As the country was rocked by plague, fire and war, people searched for new ideas by which to live. Exactly ten years later Charles II would stand again on the shore at Dover, laying the greatest bet of his life in a secret deal with his cousin, Louis XIV.The Restoration decade was one of experiment: from the science of the Royal Society to the startling role of credit and risk, from the shocking licence of the court to the failed attempts at toleration of different beliefs. Negotiating all these, Charles II, the ''slippery sovereign'', played odds and too

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Book SynopsisThe incredible real life story of the world''s first super spy''Full of stimulating detail... vivid glimpses of the world of Elizabethan espionage'' GUARDIAN''Walsingham emerges from these pages as a hero of epic stature'' DAILY TELEGRAPHFrancis Walsingham was the first ''spymaster'' in the modern sense. His methods anticipated those of MI5 and MI6 and even those of the KGB. He maintained a network of spies across Europe, including double-agents at the highest level in Rome and Spain - the sworn enemies of Queen Elizabeth and her Protestant regime. His entrapment of Mary Queen of Scots is a classic intelligence operation that resulted in her execution. As Robert Hutchinson reveals, his cypher expert''s ability to intercept other peoples'' secret messages and his brilliant forged letters made him a fearsome champion of the young Elizabeth. Yet even this Machiavellian schemer eventually fell foul of Elizabeth as her confidence grew Trade ReviewFull of stimulating detail... vivid glimpses of the world of Elizabethan espionage -- Simon Calow * GUARDIAN *Robert Hutchinson's lucid and learned volume gives us a vivid portrait of Walsingham... an excellent book * INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY *Walsingham emerges from these pages as a hero of epic stature * DAILY TELEGRAPH *An accessible, authoritative account of Francis Walsingham's life and work. Written with a sense of the dramatic... The author is very good at evoking the atmosphere of suspicion and paranoia during Elizabeth's reign and seems to relish describing the methods of torture at Walsingham's disposal and the brutality of the age. It makes Elizabethan statecraft immediate and entertaining * BOOK MAGAZINE *Compelling * LITERARY REVIEW *Impeccably researched... the author has constructed what almost amounts to a thriller in this gripping narrative * GOOD BOOK GUIDE *The story told here is intense and compelling * BBC HISTORY MAGAZINE *Hutchinson neatly combines his expert knowledge with an impressive narrative suspense and mordant sense of humour... A darkly informative read * WATERSTONES BOOKS QUARTERLY *The strength of this book lies in its combination of brilliant original research with a compelling narrative * HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW *

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Book SynopsisThe longest-reigning monarch in European history! If the news about Harry, William, Kate, Meghan, and the rest of the British royals has you wondering about how this latest generation of princes, princesses, dukes, and duchesses got their start, you're not alone. Queen Elizabeth II For Dummies takes you on a fascinating journey through the life of Great Britain's longest-serving monarch. You'll find revealing stories about Queen Elizabeth II's family background, her childhood, early ascension to the throne, and her role during times of national crisis and triumph. The book combines must-know facts about the monarchy with details of the remarkable woman who has held the crown for over 68 years (and counting). You'll also read about: Where shows like The Crown stay true-to-life and where they take artistic liberties with historical factQueen Elizabeth II's relationship with Prince Charles, the late Prince Phillip, Princess Diana, and the thousands of famous figures she has encountered duTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 About This Book 1 Foolish Assumptions 3 Icons Used in This Book 3 Beyond the Book 4 Where to Go from Here 4 Part 1: the Road to the Throne 5 Chapter 1: Queen Elizabeth II: A Global Icon 7 Carrying the Weight of History 9 Heading up a monarchy 1,500 years in the making 9 Ruling the jig-saw kingdom 11 Being one of the precious few queens 13 Following in the Footsteps of Grandpa and Daddy 16 George V 17 George VI 17 Wearing Many Different Hats 18 Ruling in theory 18 Running the family firm 19 And Being a Mum, Too 20 The Secrets of Elizabeth’s Success 21 She’s been queen for a long time 21 Her style has evolved and adapted 21 She uses more carrot than stick 22 She’s nothing if not discreet 23 Chapter 2: Triumph of Compromise: Constitutional Monarchy 25 From Tribal Leader to King of England 27 Settling down with the Anglo-Saxons 27 Uniting through adversity 29 Ruling by Divine Right? 32 Losing my religion: Henry VIII’s church reforms 33 Entering the first Elizabethan Age 35 Finding Mary (Queen of Scots) 35 Becoming a republic 36 Establishing a Constitutional Monarchy 37 Choosing absolutism or republicanism? 38 Bringing about revolution 38 Appointing a newcomer 40 Learning with George: what monarchs shouldn’t do 41 American Republic, French Republic – Britain next? 42 Chapter 3: Victoria: The Queen Who Defined an Era 43 The Monarchs Who Came Before Victoria 44 The Young Queen 45 Along Comes Albert 46 How Albert helped the British monarchy 47 The royal network 48 From Monarch to Empress 49 Victoria Gives Way to Parliament 50 Britain’s New Empire 51 Death, despair, and republicanism 52 Celebrating Victoria’s Jubilees 53 Golden Jubilee, 1887 53 Diamond Jubilee, 1897 54 After Victoria 54 Edward VII: A playboy king 55 George V: A dull king for a difficult time 55 Chapter 4: The Birth of a Princess 57 Bertie: The Stammering Second Son 58 Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon: A Suitable Match 58 Princess Lilibet is Born 60 Baby Betty steals the limelight 62 Grandma knows best 62 A sister is born 63 Educating a princess 64 Chapter 5: Edward VIII: The King Who Abdicated 65 Edward Prince of Wales 66 A Populist Prince 67 Edward’s other education 67 A trial run 68 Enter Wallis Simpson 68 Accession and Abdication 69 Act I: October 1936 71 Act II: November 1936 72 Act III: December 1936 73 Chapter 6: Preparing for the Throne 75 Bertie Steps up to the Plate 75 Peeking out from behind the glass curtain 77 Building up to war 78 Choosing a premier 80 The Royals at War 82 Royalty on rations 83 Working towards victory 84 Sharing hardship 84 The princesses at war 85 Countdown to the Crown 87 Reaching out to the Commonwealth 88 Courting Philip of Greece 89 Living the family life 90 Part 2: the Young Queen 93 Chapter 7: Coronation: ‘I Present Unto You Queen Elizabeth’ 95 An Occasion of Pomp and Ceremony 96 Glamour in Westminster Abbey 96 The glory of the Crown Jewels 99 Mixing family and politicians on the guest list 99 A Day to Remember 100 Chapter 8: The Queen Goes to Work 101 Working Daily as a Dutiful and Diligent Monarch 102 Dressing the part 103 Heading to work 104 Ploughing through the paperwork 105 Relaxing with some downtime 106 Acting as a Political Figure 107 Understanding the relationship between the Crown and Parliament 107 Meeting with the prime minister 108 Hosting heads of state 109 Carrying On with a Continuous Round of Visits and Ceremonial Duties 110 Touring her realm: visiting, opening, and launching 111 Running ‘The Firm’: the Windsor family business 111 Chapter 9: Back-up: The Royal Household 113 At Home With the Windsors 114 Crown properties 114 The Duchy of Cornwall 115 Private Properties 116 Are You Being Served? Meeting the Royal Household 116 The five key departments of the household 117 The power behind the throne: the Private Secretary’s Office 119 Working for the Royal Family 120 Chapter 10: The Globe-trotting Monarch 121 Taking Those All-important First Steps 122 Travelling Around the World 42 Times (Without a Passport) 124 Touring the Commonwealth of Nations 125 Understanding the Commonwealth’s role 126 Drawing the crowds and spreading joy 127 Bowling them over: Elizabeth and the Aussies 127 The Saviour of the Commonwealth? 128 Acting As a Royal Ambassador 128 Forging special relationships: Elizabeth and America’s presidents 130 Boosting trade 131 Passing the baton to other royals 132 Using Planes, Trains and Automobiles 132 Royal coaches 132 Royal cars 133 The royal train 134 The royal yacht 134 Royal flight 135 Chapter 11: The Queen Mother 137 Creating a New Role for the Former Empress 137 Sharing the Queen’s Duties 139 Flying the royal flag 139 Remaining the Queen’s mother (not just the Queen Mother) 140 Flipping the Coin: The Other Side of the Queen Mother 141 Sharing Royal Duties Around the Family 142 Out and about with Charles and Anne 142 Remaining a working family 143 Part 3: the Need to Adapt 145 Chapter 12: Times They Are a-Changing 147 Witnessing Britain’s Waning Influence in the World 147 No longer ruling an empire 148 No longer ruling the waves 149 No longer ruling the Middle East 149 No longer ruling Africa 150 Joining the European Economic Community 151 Surviving Gossip, Constitutional Complications, and Political Scandal 153 Philip’s solo world tour 153 The princess and the politician 155 Political shenanigans 156 Saying farewell to Winston 158 Ruling Through the Swinging Sixties 159 Satire and the establishment 159 Elvis and four boys from Liverpool 160 Changing social attitudes 162 Being Stuck in a Time Warp? 162 Malcolm Muggeridge 162 John Grigg 163 John Osbourne 163 Reactions from the monarchists 163 Chapter 13: Margaret: Elizabeth’s Troubled Sister 165 Looking at the Early Life of the Lively One 166 Becoming the All-singing, All-dancing Playgirl 166 Falling in Love 168 Introducing Group Captain Peter Townsend 168 Calling it off 170 And (Eventually) Getting Married 171 Being the odd one out 172 Finally a marriage 173 Heading Downhill: Sex, Drink, and Cigarettes 174 Divorce and depression 174 (Just about) Remaining a dutiful royal 175 Margaret’s final years 176 Chapter 14: The Royal Response to Criticism 177 The Raising of Charles and Anne 178 Prince Charles at school and beyond 178 Princess Anne grabs the headlines 179 Heading Towards the 1960s 181 Welcoming Two New Boys to the Family 182 Prince Andrew 182 Prince Edward 183 Living With Unsavory Rumours 184 Living with the Labour Party 185 Opening Up to the World (A Little) 186 The Royal Family documentary 187 The Investiture of Charles 187 The continued need for a little mystery 188 Chapter 15: Celebrating 25 Years: The Silver Jubilee 189 Britain’s Difficult Decade: The 1970s 189 Dealing with trouble and strife 192 Finding reasons to be cheerful 193 Keeping Calm and Carrying On 194 Planning Elizabeth’s Jubilee 196 Entering Jubilee Year 197 Celebrating in June 1977 199 Part 4: Stormy Waters 201 Chapter 16: The Tragedy of Charles and Diana 203 Stepping Out With Charles 204 Charles’s first girlfriends 204 Charles’s number one: Camilla Shand 206 Introducing Lady Diana 207 The early life of Lady Diana 207 Charles and Diana get engaged 209 The Marriage of Charles and Diana 210 Building up to the big day 210 Worrying moments of the wedding 211 Going Steady: The First Few Years of Marriage 212 Heading off on honeymoon 212 Protecting Diana from the press 213 The birth of Prince William 213 The Birth of Prince Harry 214 Fulfilling Royal Duties Together 215 Troubling times beneath the surface 215 Diana’s affairs 217 The whispers get louder 218 Heading Towards the End of The Marriage 218 Remembering Diana’s Final Year 220 Chapter 17: The Queen’s Wealth and the Cost of the Monarchy 221 Understanding Royal Finances Over the Centuries 222 Introducing the Civil List 222 Mixing family and state funding 224 Reforming the System 225 Introducing the Sovereign Grant 226 The growing grant 227 Giving the family some extras 227 Totalling Up the Windsors’ Wealth 228 Paying tax (on a voluntary basis) 228 Bowing to pressure 229 Estimating Royal Value For Money 230 Chapter 18: One Country, Two Women: The Age of Margaret Thatcher 233 Comparing Elizabeth and Margaret 234 The pragmatic Queen and her principled prime minister 234 The mother and the schoolmarm working together for a while 235 Navigating Difficulties and Dangers 236 The assassination of Louis Mountbatten 237 Rhodesia becomes Zimbabwe 238 South African apartheid 240 The invasion of Grenada 241 Prince Andrew goes to war: The Falklands 242 Coalminers divide the nation and its rulers 243 More Bombings, a Wedding and a 60th Birthday 244 Chapter 19: Defender of the Faith 247 Understanding the Long Relationship Between Crown and Church 248 Stirring things up: The radical Tudors 248 Calming things down: The Anglican compromise 249 Figuring out Elizabeth’s Faith 251 Delivering the Christmas message 252 Talking religion 253 Checking out Royal Chapels and Churches 253 Balmoral 254 Buckingham Palace 254 Sandringham 254 Windsor Castle 255 Chapter 20: Annus Horribilis 257 Staying Married is Hard to Do 258 What is a royal marriage? 258 The Windsor’s complicated history of marriage 259 Following the Family’s Progress 261 Charles: The tortured one 262 Anne: The gamechanger 262 Andrew: ‘Randy Andy’ 263 Edward: The lost boy 265 Watching a Royal Game Show 265 Smouldering Tension: Fire in Windsor Castle 267 Part 5: Steadying the Ship. 269 Chapter 21: ‘Long to Reign Over Us’: No Sign of Flagging 271 Negotiating the 1990s 272 Dwindling public deference 273 Surviving the songs and satire 274 The Death of Diana 275 Sunday, 31 August 275 Monday 1 September 276 Tuesday 2 September 276 Wednesday 3 September 276 Thursday 4 September 277 Friday 5 September 277 Saturday 6 September 278 The aftermath of Diana’s death 279 Ancient Monarchy meets New Labour 279 Celebrations and Bereavements 281 Elizabeth and Philip’s Golden Wedding 281 The death and funeral of Princess Margaret 282 The passing of the Queen Mother 282 A Queen’s Work is Never Done 283 Reacting to 9/11 283 Heading over to Eire 284 Going online 285 Chapter 22: The Queen’s Animal Friends 287 Horsing Around: The Princess and Her Ponies 288 Following royal equine tradition 288 Learning to ride 289 Being in the saddle 289 Breeding Equine Success 290 Backing the winners 292 Attending Royal Ascot 292 Her Majesty’s notable racehorse winners 294 Keeping Pets and Receiving Presents 294 The corgis 294 The dorgis 295 Exotic animals as gifts 295 Supporting Bloodsports 296 Chapter 23: The Golden and Diamond Jubilees 297 Celebrating 50 Years on the Throne: The Golden Jubilee 297 Making careful preparations 298 Dining with five prime ministers 299 Proving popular at party time 299 Lighting up the Empire State Building 300 Jaunting 40,000-miles around the world 300 Following In the Footsteps of Victoria: The Diamond Jubilee 300 Becoming re-dedicated to a life of service 301 Falling (a little) flat 301 Planning for the Platinum Jubilee 302 Holding unprecedented popularity 303 Unique celebrations for a unique queen 303 Chapter 24: Succession Secured 305 Entering a Brave New World 305 Becoming a Happier Family 307 Charles 307 Anne 308 Edward 308 Opening the London Olympics 309 Making Ripples on the Royal Pond 309 Andrew’s murky goings-on 310 Weathering recession and austerity 311 Going Green: Environmental Efforts 312 Exploring the Difficult Lives of William and Harry 313 The princes at their mother’s funeral 314 The steady one: William’s education and service 315 The wild one: Harry, soldier and playboy 316 Introducing Catherine Middleton 316 A new marriage for a new age 317 Catherine’s non-royal upbringing 318 Changing the Rules of Succession 319 Updating the Monarchy In The New Century 319 Relaxing into the role 320 Welcoming George, Charlotte, and Louis to the family 320 Chapter 25: Home Alone 321 Living Without Philip 322 The Land Rover funeral 322 Tributes and complaints 323 And Elizabeth? 323 Facing Britain’s Current Big Issues 324 Austerity 325 Scottish independence 325 Brexit 326 BLM and culture wars 328 Covid-19 329 Going It Alone: Harry and Meghan 330 Marrying a TV star 330 Heading into American exile 332 Preparing For The Crown: King Charles III 332 What Will History Make of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II? 334 Her reign was not without difficulties 334 She did her duty 335 Part 6: the Part of Tens 337 Chapter 26: Ten Prime Ministers Elizabeth has Worked With 339 Winston Churchill (1952–1955) 340 Harold Macmillan (1957–1963) 340 Harold Wilson (1964–1970, 1974–1976) 341 James Callaghan (1976–1979) 342 Margaret Thatcher (1979–1990) 342 John Major (1990–1997) 343 Tony Blair (1997–2007) 344 Gordon Brown (2007–2010) 345 David Cameron (2010–2016) 345 Boris Johnson (2019 to the time of writing) 345 Chapter 27: Ten Tricky Moments for Elizabeth 347 Rumours of Prince Philip’s Infidelity (1948 onwards) 347 The Affair Between Princess Margaret and Peter Townsend (1952–1955) 348 Lord Altrincham Criticizes the ‘Priggish School Girl’ (1957) 350 The Unwise Appointment of Lord Home as Prime Minister (1963) 351 Dismissal Crisis: The Governor-General Sacks Australia’s Prime Minister (1975) 352 Michael Fagan Sneaks Into the Queen’s Bedroom (1982) 353 A New Biography Reveals Criticism of Prince Charles’s Upbringing (1994) 353 The Palace is Slow to Capture the Public Mood on Princess Diana’s death (1997) 354 Prince Charles Says he is ‘Impatient’ to Succeed to the Throne (2012) 355 President Trump Pats the Queen on the Back (2019) 355 Chapter 28: Ten Royal Portrayals 357 Jeanette Charles in Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002) 357 Helen Mirren in The Queen (2006) 358 Barbara Flynn in The Queen docu-drama (2009) 359 Freya Wilson in The King’s Speech (2010) 360 Emma Thompson in Walking the Dogs (2012) 360 Sarah Gadon in A Royal Night Out (2015) 361 Penelope Wilton in The BFG (2016) 361 Claire Foy in The Crown (2016–2017) 362 Olivia Coleman in The Crown (2019–2020) 363 Imelda Staunton in The Crown (2022) 364 Chapter 29: Ten Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren 365 Prince William, Duke of Cambridge 366 Prince George of Cambridge 367 Princess Charlotte 368 Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex 368 Princess Beatrice 370 Princess Eugenie of York 370 James Mountbatten-Windsor, Viscount Severn 371 Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor 371 Peter Phillips 372 Zara Tindall 372 Index 373

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Book SynopsisNew in paperback - The first biography of Alfred the Great's son, the forgotten king who was crucial to uniting England.

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Book SynopsisWITH AN EXCLUSIVE NEW CHAPTER FOR THE PAPERBACK EDITIONThe Amazon No.1 BestsellerThe Sunday Times BestsellerTHE ROYAL BOOK OF THE YEAR_________________________________'Eye-poppingly revealing. . . impeccable sources, historical heft and canny insights served up with a zingy wit. There are many royal biographers, but few as good as this. She turns gossip into the first draft of history.' TELEGRAPHFrom the Queen's stoic resolve to the crisis of Meghan and Harry. From the ascendance of Camilla and Kate to the downfall of Andrew. Full of remarkable inside access, The Palace Papers by Sunday Times bestselling author Tina Brown will change how you understand the Royal Family.'Clever, well-informed and disgustingly entertaining' THE TIMES'There are royal books, and there are royal books. But The Palace Papers is in a genre of its own' RADIO TIMES'Jaw dropping! What a book . . . if you ever want to feel like a fly on the wall of any of the palaces, this is it.'LORRAINE KELLY'Brown's prose has the swoosh of an enjoyably OTT ballgown' FINANCIAL TIMES'The world's sharpish and best-informed royal expert' PIERS MORGAN'Riveting and rigorous' PANDORA SYKES'A witty, rip-roaring read . . . full off perceptive and witty observations' i Newspaper'A rollicking ride through recent royal family history . . . Tina Brown's sparkling prose and eye for detail enliven an entertaining exposé' OBSERVER'The most explosive royal book of the year' THE SUN'Gloriously irreverent, racily written and often very funny. The early chapters on the long affair between Prince Charles and Camilla read like a non-fiction version of Jilly Cooper's Rutshire Chronicles' NEW STATESMAN'A motherlode of delectable gossip . . . Brown has produced a work both scholarly and scandalous that makes us think about what the post-Elizabethan world may bring, alternately amusing and horrifying us along the way . . . vivid and richly-embroidered' INDEPENDENT'The devil is in the delicious detail . . . Brown tackles her subjects with the same brio she brought to her years as a highly regarded magazine editor . . . Her access to those who flit around the royals gives her writing an edgy authenticity' DAILY MAIL'Brown thrashes her way through absolutely everything that has happened to the family since the end of the last book in 1997 . . . Charles and Camilla are vividly brought to life in a series of well-researched stories and anecdotes' SUNDAY TIMES'The Palace Papers is a sharp-nibbed observation of a generation of tumult for the House of Windsor, bookended by the deaths of Princess Diana and Prince Philip. It's a story about media as much as monarchy, and it draws from almost every chapter in Brown's career in journalism' FINANCIAL TIMES'It's hard to look away as Tina Brown delves into decades' worth of royal scandals' GUARDIAN'Utter brilliance . . . a rip-roaring read' SCOTSMAN'A brilliant book. Tina Brown has inside knowledge and writes so well' LADY ANNE GLENCONNER (author of Lady in Waiting)_________________________________'Never again', became Queen Elizabeth II's mantra shortly after Diana's death. More specifically, there could never be 'another Diana' - a member of the family whose global popularity upstaged, outshone, and posed an existential threat to the British monarchy. Picking up where The Diana Chronicles left off, The Palace Papers reveals how the royal family reinvented itself after the traumatic years when Diana's blazing celebrity ripped through the House of Windsor like a comet.Tina Brown takes readers on a tour de force journey that shows the Queen's stoic resolve as she coped with the passing of Princess Margaret, the Queen Mother and her partner for seven decades, Prince Philip, and triumphed in her Jubilee years even as the family dramas raged around her. She explores Prince Charles's determination to make Camilla his queen, the tension between William and Harry who are on 'different paths', the ascendance Kate Middleton, the disturbing allegations surrounding Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein, and Harry and Meghan's stunning decision to 'step back' as senior royals. Despite the fragile monarchy's best efforts, 'never again' seems fast approaching.Sunday Times bestseller, February 2023

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Book SynopsisThe Lao and the Siamese are descendants of the same Ai-Lao race, but they have different characters and destinies, and they established their own kingdoms. The invasion of ViengChan by Siam in 1779 left Lao LanXang in danger of total collapse. The twelve-year-old prince Chao Anouvong, the feudal ruling class, the court nobility and many of the people were forcefully taken to Siam, resulting in the total political extinction of a society that had governed LanXang for over 1,000 years. Chao Anouvong grew up in Bangkok and was regarded by the Siamese as a mere provincial ruler. He returned to ViengChan at the age of twenty-eight and became king, with nothing to support him but his own talents and his ambition to restore LanXang.

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Book SynopsisTelling the story of their lives from children to modern day, this fascinating and revelatory new book will look at the fraught relationship (and fiery rivalry) between King Charles and Prince Andrew.Raised for vastly different futures, one burdened with the responsibility of becoming the future king and the other destined to live in his shadow, Charles and Andrew have spent their lives on different sides of the same coin.War of the Windsors tells, for the first time, the complete story of Charles and Andrew from their diverging childhoods to their current struggles. It looks at the distinct but overlapping stories of the two heirs, from being separated in their early years and the Queen's supposed overindulgence of Andrew to the competition for Lady Diana and finally, Charles' ascension to throne while his brother is stripped of Royal duties. And it explores whether, with the scandals around Andrew still fresh in public memory, Charles will ever let his brother back into the family.With extensive research and expert sourcing, War of the Windsors is the incredible inside story of a family in turmoil. Recounting the highs and lows of a brotherhood then turned into a rivalry, royal author and journalist Nigel Cawthorne looks at the makings of a decades long feud and questions whether, ultimately, the brothers will one day band together again.

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Book SynopsisThe delightfully clever mystery in which Queen Elizabeth II secretly solves a murder at Buckingham Palace - perfect for fans of The Crown and The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman.'A witty whodunit starring our very own HM The Queen as an amateur sleuth' - GOOD HOUSEKEEPINGQueen Elizabeth II is having a royal nightmare.A referendum divides the nation, a tumultuous election grips the United States - and the body of a staff member is found dead beside Buckingham Palace swimming pool.Is it a tragic accident, as the police think? Or is something more sinister going on?As Her Majesty looks for answers, her trusted assistant, Rozie, is on the trail of a treasured painting that once hung outside the Queen's bedroom.But when Rozie receives a threatening anonymous letter, Elizabeth knows dark forces are at work - and far too close to home. After all, though the staff and public may not realise it, she is the keenest sleuth among them. Sometimes, it takes a Queen's eye to see connections where no one else can . . .Agatha Christie meets The Crown in A THREE DOG PROBLEM, the much-anticipated second book in the 'Her Majesty The Queen Investigates' mystery series by SJ Bennett - for fans of The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, Agatha Christie and M.C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin.______________________PRAISE FOR THE 'HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN INVESTIGATES' SERIES:'A pitch-perfect murder mystery' - Ruth Ware 'A witty whodunnit' - Good Housekeeping'Written with wit and brio' - Daily Express'Miss Marple with a crown' - Daily Mirror'Absolute perfection!' - Isabelle Broom'Delightfully charming' - Adele Parks'Pure confection' - New York Times'Warm & witty' - Woman&Home'A delightful read' - BBC Radio 2'I loved it' - Joanne Harris 'A total joy' - Nina Stibbe'Charming' - Guardian'What a hoot!' - Saga

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Book SynopsisFor more than forty years, Diana, Princess of Wales, has been mythologized to the most extraordinary degree. Adored and lionized by some, ridiculed and traduced by others, Diana has always commanded a cultural presence unmatched by any other member of the royal family.In Dianaworld, Edward White offers both a portrait of the princess and a group portrait of those who existed in her orbitfrom her royal in-laws, her servants, and the dilapidated ranks of the British aristocracy from which she rose, to drag performers, artists, Britain's ethnic minorities, and the Gen Z superfans who maintain her status as a cultural icon.Drawing on a wide array of sources and perspectives, many never used in books about Diana or the royal family, White vividly recreates the world Diana lived in, explores the growth of her global reputation, and illuminates her lasting impact on the world she left behind.

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Book SynopsisWhat killed Katherine Parr?She was the ultimate Tudor survivor, the queen who managed to outwit and outlive Henry VIII. Yet just over eighteen months after his passing, Katherine Parr was dead. She had been one of the most powerful people in the country, even ruling England for her royal husband, yet she had died hundreds of miles from court and been quickly buried in a tiny chapel with few royal trappings. Her grave was lost for centuries only for her corpse to be mutilated after it was rediscovered during a tea party. The death of Katherine Parr is one of the strangest of any royals and one of the most mysterious.The final days of Henry VIII's last queen included a faithless husband and rumours of a royal affair while the weeks after her funeral swirled with whispers of poison and murder. The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr dives into the calamitous and tumultuous events leading up to the last hours of a once powerful queen and the bizarre happenings that followed her passing.Fro

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Book SynopsisMeghan and Harry The Real Story: Persecutors or Victims provides the reader with genuine insight into the consequences of the couple's choices through her recognition of what it has taken them to get there, including infuriating the late Queen and jettisoning close family as well as friends and colleagues.

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Book SynopsisWinner of THE HW FISHER BEST FIRST BIOGRAPHY PRIZESPECTATOR, SUNDAY TIMES, DAILY TELEGRAPH, TLS, FINANCIAL TIMES, GUARDIAN, DAILY MAIL and SUNDAY TELEGRAPH BOOKS OF THE YEAR''Imagine Wolf Hall rewritten by John le Carré ... gripping ... a rare achievement'' Tom Holland, GuardianIt is 1501. Henry VII has won the throne of England through luck, guile and ruthlessness. But for many he remains a usurper. Now, his elder son is to marry, in a wedding upon which the fate of the country, and the entire Tudor dynasty, will hang ...''A masterpiece. Rich, resonant and utterly compelling'' Helen Castor, Sunday Telegraph, Books of the Year''Gripping ... brilliant ... The enigmatic Henry is brought thrillingly to life as one of the most unlikely but tenacious kings ever to wear the English crown'' Dan Jones, Daily Telegraph, Books of the Year''Thrilling and sinister'' Simon Sebag Montefiore, Daily Trade ReviewA brilliant debut ... this impressive book will certainly become the definitive study of our strangest, most mysterious, king -- Desmond Seward * BBC History Magazine *Stunning ... effortlessly vivid prose ... a revelation. [Penn's] focus is on the last, fear-filled decade of [Henry VII's] reign, but his sinuously coiling chapters seamlessly unfold the past as well as the present of his protagonists ... [He] has pulled off a rare feat: a brilliant and haunting evocation of the Tudor world, with irresistible echoes of the age of fear in which we now live -- Helen Castor * Telegraph *[A] brilliant mash-up of gothic horror and political biography ... a tour de force: both scholarly and a pleasure to read, covering the breadth of the European political scene, while providing the details that allow us to feel intimately the terror at home * Spectator *Remarkable ... Penn brilliantly recreates the sterile atmosphere suffocating Henry's England. His eye for time, circumstance and the telling anecdote is keen. Winter King offers us the fullest, deepest, most compelling insight into the warped psychology of the Tudor dynasty's founder to have appeared since Bacon wrote * Financial Times *[Thomas Penn] is a superb teller of a tale, a reveller in dodgy deeds, a keen observer of the febrile, dissimulating characters of court and embassy, and a splendid limner of the great jousts and entertainments of the age ... with a sharp eye for detail and adroit use of a gifted historical imagination, ... he lets us hear the creak of oars and the scratch of pens, as well as the tubercular king fighting for every breath ... Vigorous and thoroughly enjoyable * Economist *I feel like I've been waiting to read this book a long time ... a fluent and compelling account ... The level of detail is fascinating and beautifully judged ... I think that, for the first time, a writer has made me feel what contemporaries felt as Henry VII's reign drew to an end; the relief, the hope, the sudden buoyancy -- Hilary Mantel, author of 'Wolf Hall'Succeeds brilliantly ... [a] finely drawn portrait ... Penn's deft turn of phrase superbly re-creates the drama and personalities of the court -- Tracy Borman * Sunday Times *An exceptionally stylish literary debut. Henry VII may be the most unlikely person ever to have occupied the throne of England, and his biographers have rarely conveyed just what a weird man he was. Thomas Penn does this triumphantly, and in the process manages to place his subject in a vividly realised landscape. His book should be the first port of call for anyone trying to understand England's most flagrant usurper since William the Conqueror -- Diarmaid MacCullochA definitive and accessible account of the reign of Henry VII that will alter our view not just of Henry, but of the country he dominated and corrupted, and of the dynasty he founded ... [Penn's] point is to show that this is not the "merrie England" of the Tudor myth, but a country forced under the rule of a new king, spied on and policed for any sign of disloyalty, and tyrannised by the use of ancient half-forgotten fines and taxes -- Philippa Gregory * Observer *[Penn] achieves the remarkable feat of making the reign of Henry VII seem more interesting than that of his son. Winter King is well titled: the fingers of the first Tudor king, in Penn's account of his final years, are icy to the touch, and probe into every nook and cranny of the kingdom ... gripping and unexpected -- Tom Holland * Guardian *Penn's scholarly and engrossing life of Henry VII ... gives a complex and exact sense of how power worked in early modern England -- Sam Leith * Spectator (Books of the Year 2012) *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A gripping and revelatory biography of Britain's Danish conqueror."— Simon Sebag Montefiore, The Week“Yale’s invaluable English Monarchs series receives an impressive addition with this life of Cnut, the Danish warlord who conquered England in the first half of the 11th century. Bolton, a Stockholm-based scholar, restores Cnut’s image by drawing on a full range of Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon sources.” —Tony Barber, Financial Times“How did Cnut win this power and how did he use it? Timothy Bolton is a formidable scholar who endeavours to answer these questions.”—Lawrence James, The Times, 11th February 2017“It is evident that Timothy Bolton masters the English written sources of the period to perfection. We get a finely tuned history of the means and ways in which Cnut wielded power through the machinery of government, carried out by the personnel in the English church. It is also apparent that Bolton has a fine ear for the complexities of utilising the few, limited and late written sources from Scandinavia… it is an invaluable introduction for cultural historians and archaeologists to what a proper political historian fostered in the English tradition can wring out of source material.”—Karen Schousbe, Medieval HistoriesTimothy Bolton’s book is a timely reminder that seas connect as much as they separate, and that even a thousand years ago it was common to hear different languages on English streets... It is pleasing to see an early medieval king given the same attention as his successors.”—Lesley Abrams, TLS“Bolton has made an exhaustive study of the available sources, both texts and artefacts. His narrative has the virtues of a well-told story.”—Dr. Nicholas Orme, Church Times“This is a very readable and serviceable overview of the reign of Cnut, and a useful recapitulation, at a reasonable price, of many aspects of Bolton’s important original study” —Barbara Yorke, The English Historical Review"Smart, pithy, scholarly biography of one of England's least-understood but most intriguing kings. Another excellent volume in the authoritative Yale Monarchs series."—Dan Jones, author of The Plantagenets and The Wars of The Roses"Through judicious use of Northern sources Timothy Bolton gives us a Cnut firmly rooted in Scandinavia, and a nuanced portrait of an English monarch and Scandinavian ruler active on a European stage."—Pauline Stafford, author of Queen Emma and Queen Edith "Drawing on a range of rich resources from Old Norse sagas and poetry to charters, chronicles and laws from England, Timothy Bolton presents a fresh and engaging account of the compelling figure of Cnut in all his diverse glory."—Rory Naismith, King’s College London, author of Money and Power in Anglo-Saxon England"In this stimulating and timely study, Timothy Bolton illuminates a king and an age of supreme importance. Cnut's forging of an Anglo-Scandinavian Empire and England's place within it are explored in original and thought-provoking ways - fresh evidence is put forward and well-known material considered anew. Bolton is a confident guide through the tangled thicket of sources that surround Cnut, handling English and Scandinavian texts with insight and sensitivity."— Martin J. Ryan, co-author of The Anglo-Saxon World

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Book SynopsisA revelatory and racy biography of the early life of the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip.We have grown so used to seeing Prince Philip as a loyal, dutiful and occasionally bad-tempered old man that it is easy to forget what a strange and intriguing life he led when he was younger. Young Prince Philip' tells the story of the first, hugely intriguing, half of his life.In this fast-paced and highly entertaining biography, Philip Eade will focus on those aspects of the Prince's early life that are most compelling: his father's dramatic flight from revolutionary Greece; the subsequent madness of his deaf mother and prolonged absences of his feckless father; his school days in Nazi Germany; his relationship with his four sisters, all married to Germans, one to an officer in the SS; his rather breezy courtship and marriage to the most eligible girl in the world; and his alleged infidelities and membership of raffish circles during the 1950s and 60s.Written with great verve, Young Prince PhilTrade ReviewPraise for Young Prince Philip: “The narrative is as suspenseful as any thriller. Truly an excellent read” Lynn Barber, Sunday Times “Highly readable…. This engaging book deserves to take its place among the first rank of modern royal biographies” Daily Mail “Perhaps this should be regarded as a sighting shot, staking a claim for the official biography….on the basis of this excellent book one can say it would be a task that Eade was singularly well qualified to undertake” Philip Ziegler, Spectator “Fascinating reading …this carefully researched, warm-hearted and unjudgmental account…is…rich in detail” Evening Standard “Eade’s staunchly unhagiographic book is well spiced with….royal titbits, and enlivened by a lemony tartness in the author’s tone….Eade’s account is as thoughtful and unbiased an explanation as we are likely to get of the contentious, sensitive, grouchy old martinet” Miranda Seymour, Guardian ‘You cannot judge a person's life until you have walked a mile in their shoes, and this brilliant new biography of [Prince] Philip's early life takes you inside that experience.’ Irish Independent ‘Young Prince Philip is not a forelock-tugging royal biography . . . Philip Eade casts a clear eye over his subject’s first thirty years, fleshing out with intelligence and sympathy the man whose gaffes have entertained the nation.’ Frances Wilson, Times Literary Supplement

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Book Synopsis''The best account in English of the early years of Elizabeth'' Evening Standard A woman in a man''s world, Queen Elizabeth I was to become England''s most successful ruler. Confident in her destiny, intensely intelligent, passionately sexual yet (she said) a virgin, Elizabeth''s reign was characterised by a self-assurance unusual for the time. Finding her way through the labyrinthine plots that surrounded the court, she had to live by her wits, surrounded by betrayal and suspicion, not knowing who to trust with her desire to be queen, or her desire to be a lover.David Starkey''s portrait of the first female ruler of England is an enlightening account. Filled with lucid and clear scenes with fascinating insight throughout, Elizabeth is a truly masterful retelling of the life of a legendary monarch.''What a page turner!'' Time Out''Fresh and lively... Vividly told'' Sunday TimesTrade ReviewFresh and lively... Vividly told... He sets before us not only the woman behind the throne but the girl behind the woman * Sunday Times *The best account in English of the early years of Elizabeth... One of the most zestful pieces of narrative history written...a racy read and first-rate history * Evening Standard *What a page turner! A white knuckle ride through history...inspired research, from the clues embedded in the portraits to court ceremonial to the often circumlocutory letters * Time Out *I found myself compelled by David Starkey's vivid recreation of the hazardous uncertainty of Elizabeth's early life, her successive exclusions from the centre of power, the studiedly ambiguous answers she offered her interrogators, her inevitable implications in conspiracies and narrow escapes from execution * Times Literary Supplement *Combines a relaxed and unfussy style with a thorough knowledge of the period and a sharp eye for detail. Elizabeth's life makes for a compelling story and Starkey tells it well * Spectator *

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Book SynopsisLeanda de Lisle is the highly acclaimed author of several bestselling and prize-winning books on the Tudors and Stuarts including Tudor: The Family Story, White King: The Tragedy of Charles I and Henrietta Maria: Conspirator, Warrior, Phoenix Queen. She writes and speaks on historical matters for TV, radio and publications including The Times, the Spectator and History Today.Trade ReviewA wonderfully fluent portrait of five generations... de Lisle brings an entirely fresh feel to the Tudor story, reminding us of the one thing the monarchs themselves wanted us to forget: the sheer improbability of their royal rule -- Dan Jones, author of The Plantagenets * The Times (Saturday Review) *Violent, heady, glamorous stuff, this is popular history of a very superior sort -- Lucy Worsley * Country Life *Vivid... Part of the interest of this book lies in the portraits of strong women -- Charles Moore * Daily Telegraph *Tudor is a gripping account of a family riven by passionate jealousies, murderous ambitions and crippling tragedies. Leanda de Lisle is a master storyteller, and this is her greatest work yet. Immersive and exhaustively researched, Tudor is a triumph. * Amanda Foreman, author of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire *While many Tudor fans have been crying out for an accessible narrative history of the entire period, few historians have felt able to rise to the challenge... [de Lisle] manages to achieve that very feat... should now be the go-to book -- Chris Skidmore * History Today (Books of the Year 2013) *

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Book SynopsisThe Habsburgs have been described as demons - responsible for a 'history of atrocities'; and, as dodos - living fossils unable to adapt to the modern world. This book features figures as mad Queen Juana, progressing through Spain with her husband's decaying body; the 'heroically fertile' Maria Theresa; and, the Maximilian, 'Emperor' of Mexico.Table of ContentsThe Castle of the Hawk 1020-1300; cosa nostra (our cause) 1300-1400; universal empire 1400-1500; el dorado (the golden one) 1500-1550; a war to the last extremity 1550-1660; Felix Austria - the happy state 1660-1790; the last cavalier 1790-1916; finis Austriae - the end? 1916-1995. Family trees - The House of Habsburg 1000-1922.

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Book SynopsisChristopher Clark''s Kaiser Wilhelm II: A Life in Power is a short, fascinating and accessible biography of one of the 20th century''s most important figures.King of Prussia, German Emperor, war leader and defeated exile, Kaiser Wilhelm II was one of the most important - and most controversial - figures in the history of twentieth-century Europe. But how much power did he really have?Christopher Clark, winner of the Wolfson prize for his history of Prussia, Iron Kingdom, follows Kaiser Wilhelm''s political career from his youth at the Hohenzollern court through the turbulent decades of the Wilhelmine era into global war and the collapse of Germany in 1918, to his last days. He asks: what was his true role in the events that led to the outbreak of the First World War? What was the nature and extent of his control? What were his political goals and his success in achieving them? How did he project authority and exercise influence? And how did his people really view him?Through original research, Clark presents a fresh new interpretation of this contentious figure, focusing on how his thirty-year reign from 1888 to 1918 affected Germany, and the rest of Europe, for years to come. ''Clark''s fresh and enlightening history brings the Kaiser''s life into critical and illuminating review''  German History Christopher Clark is a lecturer in Modern European History at St Catharine''s College, University of Cambridge. His book Iron Kingdom: The Rise and Downfall of Prussia 1600 to 1947 was the winner of the Wolfson Prize for History.Trade ReviewClark's fresh and enlightening history ... brings the Kaiser's life into critical and illuminating review * German History *

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Book SynopsisFrom the acclaimed Wolfson Prize-winning author, a dazzling history of the world''s emperors For millennia much of the world was ruled by emperors: a handful of individuals claimed no limit to the lands they could rule over and no limit to their authority. They operated beyond normal human constraint and indeed often claimed a superhuman or divine authority. In practice they ran the gamut from being some of the most remarkable men who ever lived, to being some of the worst and least remarkable. Dominic Lieven''s marvellous new book, In the Shadow of the Gods, is the first to grapple seriously with this extraordinary phenomenon. Across the world peoples, willingly or unwillingly, fell into orbit around figures who reshaped or destroyed entire societies, imposed religions and invaded rivals. Lieven describes the anatomy of imperial monarchy and the principles by which it functioned. He compares the great emperors of antiquity, the caliphs and the warrior-emperors of the steppe before he turns to the Habsburg, Russian, Ottoman, Mughal and Chinese emperors, packing the book with extraordinary stories, astute observations and a sense of both delight and horror at these individuals'' antics. The entire breadth of extreme human behaviour is here - from warlords to patrons of the arts, from political genius to feeble incapacity and pathological violence. As one of the great experts both on empires and on Russian history, Lieven is brilliantly qualified to write a book that brings to life a system of rule that dominated most of human history, as well as some of history''s grandest and most dismaying figures.Trade ReviewUnique, captivating and dazzling global history ... Despite its astonishing range and the complexity of its subject, In the Shadow of the Gods is full of enticing human detail ... a sparkling history infused with entertaining reflections. -- H Kumarasingham * Literary Review *An impressive feat of synthesis, written with the author's customary flair and eye for detail ... with its engaging style, its undogmatic tone and the wealth of coverage, it will undoubtedly attract many readers. ... stimulating, informative and enjoyable. -- Krishan Kumar * Times Literary Supplement *Dynamic, original and convincing ... exceptionally stimulating. -- Philip Mansel * The Spectator *Fascinating ... I read the book in a state of baffled wonder that such an extraordinary system could have dominated huge tracts of the world for most of recorded history ... Lieven's book was obviously finished before the Russian invasion, but if you want to know what it is all about, In the Shadow of the Gods is not a bad place to start. -- Ferdinand Mount * Prospect *A new work by Dominic Lieven is always a treat... It's not only superb and masterly in its analysis but strikingly relevant on power and empire now. -- Simon Sebag MontefioreAn erudite, globe-spanning study ... Lieven's sharp wit and vast knowledge impress. This eloquent and entertaining chronicle casts world history in a new light. * Publishers Weekly *A really interesting way into questions about Russia, Ukraine and China ... Lieven's book gives a fantastic historical perspective on why emperors have been so important in the context of broader Eurasia. * BBC History Magazine Books of the Year *Dominic Lieven brings to his latest work a striking, informed empathy for the dilemmas of mighty sovereigns ... Mr Lieven offers especially vivid portraits of some great empresses ... The era of crowned despots who personify the divine may well be over, but the age of self-conscious imperial calculus is not. * The Economist *Sweeping ... A consistently engaging comparison-contrast look at the mechanics of empire. * Kirkus *

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Book SynopsisThe acclaimed Penguin Monarchs series: short, fresh, expert accounts of England''s rulers - now in paperbackCharles II has always been one of the most instantly recognisable British kings - both in his physical appearance, disseminated through endless portraits, prints and pub signs, and in his complicated mix of lasciviousness, cynicism and luxury. His father''s execution and his own many years of exile made him a guarded, curious, unusually self-conscious ruler. He lived through some of the most striking events in the national history - from the Civil Wars to the Great Plague, from the Fire of London to the wars with the Dutch.Clare Jackson''s marvellous book takes full advantage of its irrepressible subject.

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Book SynopsisThe acclaimed Penguin Monarchs series: short, fresh, expert accounts of England''s rulers - now in paperbackEdward I (1272-1307) is one of the most commanding of all English rulers. He fought in southwest France, in Wales, In Scotland and in northern France, he ruled with ruthlessness and confidence, undoing the chaotic failure of his father, Henry III''s reign. He reshaped England''s legal system and came close to bringing the whole island of Great Britain under his rule. He promoted the idea of himself as the new King Arthur, his Round Table still hanging in Winchester Castle to this day. His greatest monuments are the extraordinary castles - Caernarfon, Beaumaris, Harlech and Conwy - built to ensure his rule of Wales and some of the largest of all medieval buildings.Andy King''s brilliant short biography brings to life a strange, complex man whose triumphs raise all kinds of questions about the nature of kingship - how could someone who established so many key elements in England''s unique legal and parliamentary system also have been such a harsh, militarily brutal warrior?

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Book SynopsisFrom the acclaimed Wolfson Prize-winning author, a dazzling history of the world''s emperorsFor millennia much of the world was ruled by emperors: a handful of individuals claimed no limit to the lands they could rule over and no limit to their authority. They operated beyond normal human constraint and indeed often claimed a superhuman or divine authority. In practice they ran the gamut from being some of the most remarkable men who ever lived, to being some of the worst and least remarkable.Dominic Lieven''s marvellous new book, In the Shadow of the Gods, is the first to grapple seriously with this extraordinary phenomenon. Across the world peoples, willingly or unwillingly, fell into orbit around figures who reshaped or destroyed entire societies, imposed religions and invaded rivals. Lieven describes the anatomy of imperial monarchy and the principles by which it functioned. He compares the great emperors of antiquity, the caliphs and the warrior-em

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Book SynopsisA witty and unconventional biography of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, in his centenary year – perfect for fans of The CrownTrade ReviewA fascinating account of Prince Philip as seen from every conceivable angle. Ian Lloyd demonstrates that there is much we didn’t know about this much-loved – and at times controversial – royal consort -- Joe Little, editor of Majesty magazineFascinating -- Victoria Ward, Daily TelegraphWonderfully lively -- GraziaJaunty, fun and informative ... a multifaceted account * Tatler *Witty [and] well-researched -- Alice Scarsi, Daily ExpressVery readable ... The book doesn’t gloss over any criticism of its subject, but reminds us that Philip has lived an extraordinary life that, in many ways, has been far from easy -- Roland White, Daily Mail

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Book SynopsisNew paperback edition - The fascinating hidden history of the British royal family's nearly men - those who had been destined for the throne, but never made it. Mantle explores the story behind these would-be-kings, showing how the question of succession has not always been a straightforward one.

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Book SynopsisOne of the most overlooked families of the early modern period, the Courtenays played acritical role, and their story of love and loss, loyalty and betrayal, survival and ruinis played out at the courts of four Tudor monarchs. Katharine, Countess of Devon, was Edward IV's daughter. Her first proposed marriagewould have made her Queen of Spain, but she was declared a bastard on the accession of heruncle Richard III. Legitimated under Henry VII, she eventually married Sir WilliamCourtenay, heir to the earldom of Devon. Her closeness to her sister, Queen Elizabeth ofYork, did not prevent the sudden arrest of her husband in 1502.Whilst earning the regardof her royal brother-in-law, Henry VII, she walked a knife edge until the accession of her nephew, HenryVIII. As a widow, he granted her the lands of the earldom of Devon for life, making her oneof the wealthiest female magnates in England.Her death in 1527 spared her the tragedieswhich befell her family in the 1530s. Her son Henry, Marquis of Exeter, was first cousin toHenry VIII, with whom he enjoyed a close relationship until theking's decision to repudiate his queen changed everything. Henry's marriage to GertrudeBlount, one of the most neglected women of the Tudor period, was one of affection andrespect. During the 1530s, she was at the centre of a group opposed to Henry VIII'srepudiation of Catherine of Aragon, passing on information provided by her husband and asmall circle of trusted friends to the imperial ambassador, Chapuys.When her husband was arrested in 1538, he, along with others, was executed; only she survived.Imprisonedin the Tower with her twelve-year-old son, Edward, she was later released while Edwardremained incarcerated until the accession of Mary I. Upon his release, many believed he would marry the queen, but instead, he died in exile from suspected poisoning after surviving several assassination attempts by imperial agents.This study of the Courtenay family follows their lives andfortunes from 1479-1558.

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Book SynopsisNow the basis of a major documentary, this dramatic conclusion to the 'Windsors trilogy' draws on never-before-seen correspondence and diaries from monarchs and politicians

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Book SynopsisThe first biography of Alfred the Great's son, the forgotten king who was crucial to uniting England.

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Book SynopsisIn the Shadow of the Empress is the sweeping family saga of beautiful Maria Theresa, the only woman to inherit and rule the vast Habsburg empire in her own name, and three of her remarkable daughters: lovely, talented Maria Christina, governor general of the Austrian Netherlands; spirited Maria Carolina, the resolute queen of Naples; and the youngest, Marie Antoinette, the glamorous, tragic queen of France, perhaps the most famous princess in history. Unfolding against an irresistible backdrop of courts from Vienna to Versailles, this epic history of Maria Theresa and her daughters is a tour de force of desire, adventure, ambition, treachery, sorrow and glory.Trade ReviewAdding wry humor to her lucid narrative, Goldstone clarifies the era's complex politics and pinpoints how these commanding women helped give shape to modern Europe. This mesmerizing history isn't to be missed. * Publishers Weekly *Nancy Goldstone has the amazing ability of taking on huge subjects-in her latest work, she concerns herself with the life of Empress Maria Theresa and three of her sixteen children, her favorite, the archduchess Maria Christina, Maria Carolina, queen of Naples, and the tragic and famous Queen Marie Antoinette-and turning very complicated stories into a thrilling and coherent narrative. Her deep knowledge of the period, her clear-eyed empathy for her subjects and her effortless style makes for a riveting, entertaining and enlightening book. * Anka Muhlstein, author of The Pen and the Brush: How Passion for Art Shaped Nineteenth-Century French Novels *In the Shadow of the Empress is engrossing historical storytelling, filled with suspense, tantalizing mysteries, intimate family drama, and details of terror, cruelty, courage, and passion, set in the revolutionary cauldron of eighteenth-century Europe. * Adrienne Mayor, author of The Amazons: Lives and Legends of Warrior Women Across the Ancient World *In the Shadow of the Empress is a virtuoso performance, Goldstone at the peak of her creative abilities... the depth of her research and the acuity of her insights are outstanding. -- Gerard DeGroot * The Times *Nancy Goldstone's volume...has much to recommend it...What she does deliver is a highly readable narrative, with plenty of good anecdotes drawn from contemporary memoirs and lively pen-portraits. * TLS *Elegantly written... The author deftly interweaves the ups and downs of Maria Theresa's running contest with Frederick the Great with the vicissitudes of her life as Europe's most prolific procreator... a lively account... rich storytelling. * Wall Street Journal *

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Book SynopsisBarbara Villiers was a woman so beautiful, so magnetic and so sexually attractive that she captured the hearts of many in Stuart-era Britain. Her beauty is legendary: she became the muse of artists such as Peter Lely, the inspiration of writers such as John Dryden and the lover of John Churchill, the future great military leader whom we also know as the 1st Duke of Marlborough. Her greatest amorous conquest was King Charles II, King of England, Scotland, and Ireland, with whom she had a tempestuous and passionate relationship for the better part of a decade. But this loveliest of Stuart-era ladies had a dark side. She hurt and humiliated her husband, Roger Palmer, for decades with her unashamedly adulterous lifestyle, she plotted the ruin of her enemies, constantly gambled away vast sums of money, is remembered for the destruction of the Tudor-era Nonsuch Palace, and was known to unleash terrible rages when crossed. Crassly lampooned by John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester, and subject

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Book SynopsisFull of passion and betrayal, murder and war, the first volume of an epic new series from bestselling historian Alison Weir, bringing five of England's medieval queens to life.A Daily Telegraph Book of the YearLove, murder, war, betrayalThis is the story of the five extraordinary queens who helped the Norman kings of England rule their dominions. Recognised as equal sharers in the royal authority, their story is packed with tragedy, high drama, even comedy. Heroines, villains, stateswomen, loversBeginning with Matilda of Flanders, who supported William the Conqueror in his invasion of England in 1066, and culminating in the turbulent life of the Empress Maud, whoc claimed to be queen of England in her own right and fought a bitter war to the end, the five Norman queens are revealed as hugely influential figures and fascinating characters. In Alison Weir's hands, these pioneering women reclaim their rightful roles at the centre of English history.Trade ReviewBrings England's Norman queens out of the shadows and dazzlingly to life. Drawing on a wealth of fascinating contemporary sources, Alison Weir presents the drama, passion and intrigue of these extraordinary women's lives and restores them to their rightful place in history. A masterpiece. -- Tracy BormanAnother polished, fascinating gem from Weir herself, the queen of history writing. -- John Lewis-Stempel * Sunday Express *Alison Weir's hugely popular history books are as gripping as novels * The Times *Weir provides immense satisfaction. She writes in a pacy, vivid style, engaging the heart as well as the mind -- Amanda Foreman[A] riveting history of the century following the Norman Conquest -- Simon Shaw * Mail on Sunday *

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Book Synopsis_____________________________________________The 20th Anniversary Edition of Tina Brown's definitive behind-the-scenes insight into the life of Diana Princess of Wales, as depicted in the hit Netflix series The Crown, with a brand new introduction by Andrew Marr._____________________________________________More than twenty years after her death, Princess Diana remains a mystery. Was she "the people's princess," who electrified the world with her beauty and humanitarian missions? Or was she a manipulative, media-savvy neurotic who nearly brought down the monarchy?In this commemorative edition, which includes a new introduction by Andrew Marr, The Diana Chronicles parts the curtains on Diana's troubled time in the mysterious world of the Windsors, as she breaks out of her royal cage into celebrity culture, where she found her own power and used it to devastating effect.Knowing Diana personally, Tina Brown understands her world, understands its players and has-reaching insight into the royals and the Queen herself. Meet the formidable female cast and get to know the society they inhabit, as you never have before.Trade ReviewFilled with insider anecdotes and gleeful accounts of the Royal family’s dysfunction (spending every August in the freezing outpost of Balmoral for a start), it’s also the desperately sad tale of a young woman who wanted family love and support only to be left disillusioned and isolated but (thankfully) found great solace in her children. * Stylist *Intensely well researched and an un-put-down-able read, Tina Brown's extraordinary book parts the brocaded velvet, lifts the expensive net curtains and allows us an unprecedented look at the world and mind of the most famous person on the planet. It is a tragi-comedy, a soap opera, a social commentary, a historical document and a psychological examination, written by a superb investigative journalist.The Diana Chronicles is an enjoyable romp. There are funny moments and Brown in an astute observer of people. Tina Brown is the biographer the princess deserves. * Sunday Telegraph *One of the most well-researched insider books on Diana's life . . . Essential reading for anyone interested in how she became the people's princess, and the battles she endured to ensure her legacy. * Independent *Nothing comes close to Tina Brown's book for its tight grip on the dark human comedy that was Diana's life and death. Brown knows the ritual dances, the shouts and whispers of the tribes of Britain - the Sloanes, the paparazzi, the aristos, and the cocktail lounge lizards - better than anyone who has ever written this story, but she also has a perfect ear for the way ordinary people responded to the doomed Princess. The result is compulsively page-turning. * Simon Schama *

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Book Synopsis'Diana was the very essence of compassion, of duty, of style, of beauty. All over the world she was a symbol of selfless humanity. All over the world, a standard bearer for the rights of the truly downtrodden, a very British girl who transcended nationality. Someone with a natural nobility who was classless and who proved in the last year that she needed no royal title to continue to generate her particular brand of magic...'From Charles Spencer's address at his sister Diana's funeral, Westminster Abbey, 6 September 1997Today, twenty-five years since Diana's death, seems the right moment for a reassessment of this remarkable woman. Did the Royal Family learn lessons from her life, about protection and privacy, about how to incorporate 'outsiders' into their ranks, about how to manage scandal? Did it take any lessons from her death, and the public's reaction not only to that, but to the behaviour of, in particular, the Queen and Prince Charles, in the aftermath? Or have the family and the Palace - 'the men in grey suits', as Diana called them - continued on the same track, unchanged, repeating many of the mistakes made with her, from her first nervous ventures in royal circles to her later defiance of traditional protocols?These and many other questions are explored in this authoritative book, written by two people closely associated with Diana: Inspector Ken Wharfe was the Princess's police protection officer for six years during the most turbulent period of her marriage to Prince Charles. Ros Coward was chosen as author of the official book by the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Trust. Their book is both an examination of the people and events of the time, and an elegiac tribute to one of the most iconic figures of the late twentieth century.

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Book SynopsisLady Jane Grey, the nine-day queen is considered to be one of the most tragic characters in English history. In July 1553 when King Edward VI died at the age of just 15 years old, the Tudor dynasty fell into chaos. The king had no legitimate male heirs and was determined his half-sisters Mary and Elizabeth would not inherit his throne, despite his father Henry VIII stating in his will that they should. We are led to believe that on Edward''s instructions his cousin Lady Jane Grey was to be proclaimed queen. But who was she? Was she the innocent young girl that our history books tell us she was, or a religious fanatic with the aim of keeping Mary off the throne and England Protestant? Or was she nothing but a pawn to men in the game of power and politics, abused by her parents to marry against her will all for a crown she did not want? This book looks into her life from her early years in relative seclusion at the family home at Bradgate through to her tragic end on the scaffold at the

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Book SynopsisCOMMEMORATE THE HISTORIC CORONATION OF THE NEW KING 'To Charles, being monarch has nothing to do with power - he believes his role is to lead. It is up to others whether they choose to follow.'When Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II died in September 2022, it sent shockwaves around the world. The longest reigning and oldest monarch, at ninety-six years of age, she had just publicly celebrated her Platinum Jubilee in June 2022. The Queen's death meant the passing of the Crown to her son, HRH Charles, Prince of Wales, her controversial, earnest, and outspoken heir, who had long lived in the shadow of her mystique.King Charles III's own life has been marred by scandal and myth, but who is the real man behind the Crown? In this revelatory book, renowned royal correspondent and author Robert Jobson examines the life of our new King, and his passions, purpose, and motivations. On the eve of his landmark coronation, Our King considers the life of the man and the monarch, reflecting on how his values and beliefs will shape him as he takes on this monumental role.

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Book SynopsisInspector Ken Wharfe, the first royalty protection officer to publish a memoir, was a crucial figure in the life of Diana, Princess of Wales, for nearly seven years. In that time, he became a close friend and trusted confidant who shared her most private moments. His first-hand contradicts many of the so-called 'facts' about the Princess and provides an affectionate, if not always uncritical, insight into this complex, troubled, but ultimately fascinating woman. Here is the authentic voice of a man who played an important role during Diana's most trying times, and in her beloved sons' formative years, and who shows himself to be an exceptionally perceptive observer of the events that unfolded around the Princess. After Inspector Wharfe resigned his position in 1993 (making headline news), Diana announced her withdrawal from public life and axed her Scotland Yard protection - a decision her former 'top cop' believes led ultimately to her death. This account presents the most intimate portrait of Diana to date, as well as a fitting tribute to one of the outstanding figures of our age.

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Book SynopsisBestselling royal historian David Starkey's captivating biography is a radical re-evaluation of Henry VIII, the British monarchy's most enduring icon.Larger than life in every sense, Henry VIII was Britain's most absolute monarch but he was not born to rule. In this brilliantly readable history, David Starkey follows the promising young prince a Renaissance man of exceptional musical and athletic talent as he is thrust into the limelight after the death of his elder brother. His subsequent quest for fame was as obsessive as that of any modern celebrity, and his yearning for a male heir drove him into dangerous territory.The culmination of a lifetime's research, David Starkey's biography is an unforgettable portrait of the man behind the controversies, the prince turned tyrant who continues to tower over history.Trade Review‘This book is Starkey’s masterpiece.’ Sunday Times ‘Brilliant. Every page has an intimate fascination. An accessible and entertaining book.’ Hilary Mantel, Guardian ‘Demonstrates Starkey’s scholarship and authorial panache.’ Daily Mail 'Writing with a mixture of tabloid verve and original scholarship, peppering every page with pungent wit and yet never skimping on the detail…the best political history of the reign of Henry VIII so far…an outstanding overture.' John Guy, Sunday Times ‘If you like Henry VIII, this is what you'll like.’ Tim Martin, Daily Telegraph (Books of the Year) ‘Starkey gives us an unexpectedly fresh-faced Henry VIII in his breezy biography.’ Dominic Sandbrook, Daily Telegraph (Books of the Year) ‘It is brilliant, beady-eyed history, and every page of it has an intimate fascination…Starkey has eschewed the easy wisdom of hindsight…his strength is that he questions everything…he seeks fresh evidence…his writing is uncluttered and conversational, and he cuts through the back-story…with grace, clarity and wit…accessible and entertaining.’ Guardian

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Book SynopsisTaking readers on a chef's tour of Regency-Era Europe fit for royalty, Carême weaves together recipes and biography to unveil the life of the first celebrity chef: Antonin Carême.

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Book SynopsisHarthacnut was the last of three Danish kings to rule in England between 1013 and 1042. Although he was king of Denmark for many years, Harthacnut only ruled England directly for the last two years of his life. Yet he shaped the course of English history most profoundly. Because his mother was Emma of Normandy, Harthacnut ensured that Emma''s son by a previous marriage, Edward the Confessor, should succeed him as king of England. This established the Norman claim to the English throne. An understanding of Harthacnut''s adventurous career, his complicated family relationships, and the manner in which he created a northern empire based upon sea power and trade now enables us to appreciate more fully why the Norman Conquest of England came about.

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Book SynopsisA superbly crafted and humane portrait of the final days of the last Romanovs – Nicholas II of Russia and his wife Alexandra. Complementing his Pulitzer prize-winning Peter the Great, in this commanding book Robert K. Massie sweeps readers back to the extraordinary world of imperial Russia to tell the story of the decline and fall of the ruling Romanov family: Tsar Nicholas II's political naivete; his wife Alexandra's obsession with the corrupt mystic Rasputin; and their son Alexis's battle with haemophilia. Against a lavish backdrop of luxury and intrigue, Massie unfolds a family tragedy played out on the brutal stage of early twentieth-century Russian history – the tale of a doomed empire and the death-marked royals who watched it crumble.Trade ReviewA moving, rich and densely documented account of the last Romanovs * Newsweek *Wonderfully rich tapestry... They come vividly alive before our eyes' * New York Times *A magnificent and intimate picture... The main characters [and] a whole era become alive and comprehensible' * Harpers *

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Book SynopsisA stunning tour de force and a remarkable achievement.- Alison WeirThis is Our Island Story for the modern age. - Charles Spencer'Not just a brilliant compendium of biographies, but the biography of an institution: a marvellous read' - Tom Holland'This royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle'(William Shakespeare, Richard II)With 1000 years of royal history from 1066 to the present day, Domesday Book to Magna Carta the Field of Cloth of Gold to King Charles' accession, Crown & Sceptre is an unparalleled exploration of the British monarchy. From Sunday Times bestselling author and joint Chief Curator of Historic Royal Palaces Tracy Borman, comes a fresh, engaging and authoritative account of the crown's tumultuous history - including a chapter on King Charles III. Impeccably researched, Crown & Sceptre explores in gripping detail how this iconic institution has survived the storms of rebellion, revolution and war that brought most of the world's other monarchies to an abrupt and bloody end. It is a story of ruthless dynastic battles, political and social leadership, usurpation and abdication, all set against a backdrop of dazzling ceremony and pageantry."Crown and Sceptre shows an astonishing command of a thousand years of the British monarchy, its traditions, roles and realities beyond the pageantry and romance. Beautifully crafted, insightful, and a genuine pleasure to read, it underscores the royal heritage at the heart of a nation." - Lauren Mackay"Crown and Sceptre" combines an eminently accessible narrative with a lucid scholarly lens. Tracy Borman skilfully unravels the trials and triumphs of this ever-shifting institution. By charting both the majesty and mechanics of monarchy, we get a vivid understanding of why its glittering gears shifted over time, and by whom the levers of change were pulled. A triumph.' - Owen Emmerson, Curator at Hever Castle'Tracy Borman's passion for the British monarch and the crown is infectious and compelling!' - Estelle Paranque'Borman embraces a huge task' - Gerard DeGroot, The TimesEnlightening, gripping and skilfully composed, Tracy Borman navigates the twists and turns of the British monarchy with an expert hand. A pacy narrative that's simply bursting with colour and intrigue, Crown and Sceptre is both powerful and compulsively readable. A masterpiece. - Nicola TallisTrade Review"[E]ngaging and perceptive . . . Given its extensive timeframe and diverse cast of characters, Crown & Sceptre could easily have become little more than a potted history of Britain from 1066 to the present. But while Ms. Borman offers deft and thoughtful assessments of every reign . . . the chronological approach is enriched by details that help to humanize her subjects." * Wall Street Journal *

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Book SynopsisA Times Best Book on the Royal Family of the Year 2022This is a biography of the Queen Mother with all the dull bits stripped out.When told that Lady Mountbatten was being buried at sea, the Queen Mother replied cheerfully. Dear old Edwina, she always did like to make a splash!'During her lifetime, the Queen Mother was as famous for her clever quips, pointed observations and dry-as-a-Martini delivery style as she was for being a member of the Royal Family. She was also famed for her fondness for drinky-poos' usually a gin and Dubonnet or three. Now, Do Let's Have Another Drink recounts 101 biographical vignettes one for each year of her long, remarkable life, including her coming-of-age during World War I, the abdication of her brother-in-law, the truth about her tragic nieces and her relationship with her two daughters over half a century of widowhood.The book is a skimming-stone biography the story of a life without the boring bits and a travel guide to a world that no longer exiTrade Review‘A warm, funny, and above all, sympathetic picture of a remarkable woman… Russell’s ‘skimming-stone’ biography has managed to capture both the laughter and the wisdom – I raise a glass to him’ Daily Telegraph, Four star review ‘Utterly compelling… This drink-infused, deliciously gossipy account of a privileged life is guaranteed to raise the spirits of anyone lucky enough to read it.’ Anne Sebba, author of That Woman: The life of Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor ‘Wonderful prose, telling stories that are hilarious and moving by turns. Immensely enjoyable.’ Suzannah Lipscomb ‘Utterly glorious.’ Emerald Fennell ‘Do Let’s Have Another Drink is a joyful corrective. A triumph.’ Owen Emmerson, co-author of The Boleyns of Hever Castle ‘I absolutely adored this book! It’s wonderful.’ Deanna Raybourn, New York Times bestselling author ‘Gareth Russell brings the Queen Mother’s humanity, courage and spirit to life… a compulsive read.’ Nichelle Tramble Spellman, Showrunner Truth Be Told (Apple TV+) ‘Russell balances titillating gossip and heartfelt poignancy in this sparkling snapshot of Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon… Russell interweaves brisk and informative history lessons with royal family intrigue. Fans of The Crown will lap this up.’ Publisher’s Weekly ‘Affectionate, scholarly, and side-splittingly funny. I couldn’t put it down.’ Adrian Tinniswood, author of Noble Ambitions: The Fall and Rise of the Post-War Country House ‘Utterly captivating… this wonderful book achieves something that none of the conventional biographies has quite managed: to humanise the Queen Mother’ Tracy Borman, author of Elizabeth’s Women

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Book SynopsisNew York Times bestselling author Paul French examines a controversial and revealing period in the early life of the legendary Wallis Simpson

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Book SynopsisThe true story of the White Queen and more, this is a thrilling history of the extraordinary noblewomen who lived through the Wars of the Roses.The events of the Wars of the Roses are usually described in terms of the men involved: Richard Duke of York, Henry VI, Edward IV, Richard III and Henry VII. But these years were also packed with women's drama and in the tales of conflicted maternity and monstrous births alive with female energy.In this completely original book, Sarah Gristwood sheds light on a neglected dimension of English history: the impact of Tudor women on the Wars of the Roses. She examines, among others, Cecily Neville, who was deprived of being queen when her husband died at the Battle of Wakefield; Elizabeth Woodville, the commoner who married Edward IV in secret; Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII, whose love and ambition for her son knew no bounds.Until now, the lives of these women have remained little known to the general public. Sarah Gristwood tells their Trade Review‘For viewers who plan to settle in with ‘The White Queen’, one recent work of history will guide them through the distaff maze of the Wars of the Roses: ‘Blood Sisters’ by Sarah Gristwood’ Boyd Tonkin, Independent ‘In this gem of a book, she effortlessly weaves the dramatic, often tragic, lives of seven royal women…If you treat yourself to one history book this Christmas, make it this one. It’s the book that I wish I had written’ Alison Weir, Books of the Year, BBC History Magazine ‘Entertaining and vividly drawn … A different way of looking at this complex period and Gristwood weaves the story with considerable skill … highly readable’ Literary Review ‘Gristwood successfully evokes the lives of all these women, and in doing so brings a new and welcome perspective on the Wars of the Roses… [a] very agreeable narrative’ Dan Jones, Sunday Times ‘Gristwood’s sensitive approach marks out Blood Sisters as much more than the narrative of an age. It is an exploration of what it was to be a medieval queen… A compelling portrait of this bloody age, complete with the heartbreak and triumphs that went with it… Like a delicately woven tapestry, threads of evidence have to be gathered and pulled together with care. Gristwood does an excellent job of examining in sensory detail the impact of ermines, cloths of gold, Spanish leather and purple velvet’ Spectator

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