Biography: royalty Books
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Shadow King: The Life and Death of Henry VI
Book SynopsisA thrilling new account of the tragic life and troubled times of Henry VI. 'The best life of Henry VI now in print' DAN JONES. 'Vivid, absorbing and richly detailed' HELEN CASTOR. 'A well-crafted moving account of a tragic reign' MICHAEL JONES. First-born son of a warrior father who defeated the French at Agincourt, Henry VI of the House Lancaster inherited the crown not only of England but also of France, at a time when Plantagenet dominance over the Valois dynasty was at its glorious height. And yet, by the time he was done to death in the Tower of London in 1471, France was lost, his throne had been seized by his rival, Edward IV of the House of York, and his kingdom had descended into the violent chaos of the Wars of the Roses. Henry VI is perhaps the most troubled of English monarchs, a pious, gentle, well-intentioned man who was plagued by bouts of mental illness. In Shadow King, Lauren Johnson tells his remarkable and sometimes shocking story in a fast-paced and colourful narrative that captures both the poignancy of Henry's life and the tumultuous and bloody nature of the times in which he lived.Trade ReviewJohnson is to be commended for doing something different, putting [Henry VI] back where he belongs. It is Henry's character, scrupulously and sensitively drawn by Johnson, that did most to shape the extraordinary and dramatic events of his reign * The Times *[Lauren Johnson's] intention is to rediscover the man behind the myths and she has succeeded. Johnson has written a long, scrupulously researched book, but an eminently readable one * New Statesman *A lively telling of a hapless reign * Strong Words *Enthrallingly told... [Lauren Johnson] gives us a convincing picture of Henry, a gentle man unsuited to his position, and of his bloody and brutal times... The Shadow King is a scholarly work aimed at the common reader - and the common reader is richly rewarded' * Wall Street Journal *This evocative life of Henry VI shows how betrayal and defeat drove him out of his wits... An involving account of a still undersung saga' * Daily Telegraph *Unanimously impressed... Praised its courage in portraying a less obvious protagonist than bigger and bloodier characters' * The Oldie *A vivid, unusual story, and Johnson tells it well * Daily Telegraph *
£11.40
The History Press Ltd Henry III
Book SynopsisThis book explores an England in the aftermath of Magna CartaTrade ReviewDarren Baker paints an unforgettable portrait that allows every reader of this book to come away with a deeper understanding of medieval kingship and the determination of one king in particular to survive and save his dynasty in very difficult political circumstances. -- Michael Clanchy
£18.70
HarperCollins Publishers The American Duchess The Real Wallis Simpson
Book SynopsisDraws startling parallels with Meghan Both were 34 when they met their princes, both are adored children of strong, single mothers, both have a pared-down style and an electric presence and both are evidently worshipped by their Royal partners.' S MagazineThe intimate biography of one of the most misunderstood women in British royal history.Life has always been made difficult for those marrying into England's royal family. In 1936, just months into his reign, King Edward VIII proposed to Wallis Simpson, a divorced American woman. Gossip ran wild, and that cacophony of speculation and distrust both hid the real Wallis, and forced Edward into abdicating so that he might marry the woman he adored.In this intimate biography Anna Pasternak seeks to understand Wallis and her relationship with Edward and The Crown. Using testimony from her closest friends, she shows the warm, loyal, intelligent woman who was written off and undermined by the powerful, often manipulative men of the EstablishTrade Review‘Pasternak interviews fresh people … These people bring fresh observations … What makes the book unputdownable is Pasternak’s lively and detailed retelling of this ever-fascinating, ridiculously poignant love story.’ The Times ‘A sympathetic biography … Pasternak’s empathetic study of Wallis attempts to redress the balance and emphasises her intelligence, independence and unwillingness to ruin the life of the man she loved … With such aggressive press coverage of Meghan Markle, it is useful to be reminded that perceived royal interlopers have always been treated harshly.’ Observer ‘Puts Wallis Simpson in a new light and draws startling parallels with Meghan … Both were 34 when they met their princes, both are adored children of strong, single mothers, both have a pared-down style and an electric presence and both are evidently worshipped by their Royal partners.’ S Magazine ‘Rather like a romantic novel … Occasional bursts of Mills & Boon style … One reads the letters from her to her besotted King – as he then still was – begging him not to give up his throne; she certainly was no social mountaineer.’ Daily Telegraph ‘Explains why colourful, excitable characters have struggled to fit into the Royal family’ Daily Telegraph ‘The best book about the Windsors for decades – because it's true.’ Petronella Wyatt ‘An enchanting love story, wonderfully told’ Sir Ronald Harwood ‘Anna Pasternak does not spare an ounce of drama nor detail …. a profoundly moving meditation on love, loyalty, and, ultimately, forgiveness’ Amanda Foreman
£11.69
HarperCollins Publishers Finding Freedom The Sunday Times number 1
Book SynopsisINSTANT INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER * NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * #1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER * ONE OF THE TOP 10 BEST-SELLING ROYAL BIOGRAPHIES OF ALL TIMEWhen news of the budding romance between a beloved English prince and an American actress broke, it captured the world's attention and sparked an international media frenzy.When news of the budding romance between a beloved English prince and an American actress broke, it captured the world's attention and sparked an international media frenzy.But while the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have continued to make headlines from their engagement, wedding, and birth of their son Archie to their unprecedented decision to step back from their royal lives few know the true story of Harry and Meghan.For the very first time, FINDING FREEDOM goes beyond the headlines to reveal unknown details of Harry and Meghan's life together, dispelling the many rumours and misconceptions that plague the couple on both sides of the pond. As members of the select Trade Review‘Utterly gripping’ Daily Telegraph ‘Essential reading’ The Mail on Sunday ‘Well-written, impeccably sourced and a fascinating deep dive into one of the most exciting chapters in royal history’ Vanity Fair ‘Lifts the lid on the complex relationships in Britain’s most famous family’ Telegraph ‘Lays bare the devastating family rifts that led to [Harry and Meghan] quitting the UK’ The Sun ‘An important contribution to the understanding of the biggest crisis in the royal family for more than 20 years’ The Times ‘Revelatory’ Daily Express ‘Fascinating’ OK! ‘Explosive’ Bella ‘Brilliant read’ HELLO! ‘A must-read’ Independent ‘An important historical narrative’ Metro
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Edward VIII Penguin Monarchs
Book SynopsisThe acclaimed Penguin Monarchs series: short, fresh, expert accounts of England''s rulers - now in paperback''After my death'', George V said of his eldest son and heir, ''the boy will ruin himself in 12 months''. From the death of his father in 1936 to the constitutional crisis provoked by his proposal to the then-married American socialite Wallis Simpson and his subsequent abdication, Edward VIII reigned for less than year. In choosing the woman he loved over his royal birthright, Edward fulfilled his father''s prophecy and instigated the monarchy''s most significant upheaval of the twentieth century. Retitled ''Duke of Windsor'' and essentially exiled, Edward has remained a controversial figure ever since. Through his correspondence with, amongst other confidants, Winston Churchill, Piers Brendon traces Edward''s tumultuous life in this superb, pacey biography.
£6.23
Penguin Books Ltd William IV Penguin Monarchs
Book Synopsis''He had brought nothing but trouble to the navy: how would he fare as King?''Known as the ''Sailor King'', William IV was sent to join the navy by his father to discipline him, but instead became notorious for his calamitous years of service, his debts and his relationship with the actress Mrs Jordan. Yet, as Roger Knight''s biography shows, William also helped see the country through the great constitutional crisis of its age, enabling the smooth succession of his niece Victoria.
£6.23
Penguin Books Ltd George III Penguin Monarchs
Book SynopsisKing of Britain for sixty years and the last king of what would become the United States, George III inspired both hatred and loyalty and is now best known for two reasons: as a villainous tyrant for America''s Founding Fathers, and for his madness, both of which have been portrayed on stage and screen.In this concise and penetrating biography, Jeremy Black turns away from the image-making and back to the archives, and instead locates George''s life within his age: as a king who faced the loss of key colonies, rebellion in Ireland, insurrection in London, constitutional crisis in Britain and an existential threat from Revolutionary France as part of modern Britain''s longest period of war.Black shows how George III rose to these challenges with fortitude and helped settle parliamentary monarchy as an effective governmental system, eventually becoming the most popular monarch for well over a century. He also shows us a talented and curious individual, committed to music, art, architecture and science, who took the duties of monarchy seriously, from reviewing death penalties to trying to control his often wayward children even as his own mental health failed, and became Britain''s longest reigning king.Trade ReviewThis volume forms part of the Penguin Monarchs series, an impressive collection of short biographies written by renowned historians ... Their aim is not simply to summarise, but to offer genuine insights in accessible format. Black's analysis of George III is a welcome addition. [He] ... manages to pepper his trim narrative with lovely frills. The mark of a good short book is its ability to inspire curiosity and further investigation. Black achieves just that. -- Gerard DeGroot * The Times *Black brilliantly demolishes the paranoiac Whig view of George as trying to accrete powers to himself unconstitutionally. The George who emerges is a far more attractive figure than the Whig historians depicted, let alone Thomas Jefferson with his 28 histrionic and inaccurate accusations against George in the Declaration of Independence, and especially Lin-Manuel Miranda's hilarious but profoundly historically incorrect caricature. -- Andrew Roberts * The Critic *
£8.54
Dorling Kindersley Ltd DK Life Stories Queen Elizabeth II
Book SynopsisDiscover the inspiring story of Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in British history, in this fascinating kids'' biography.At just 25 years of age, Princess Elizabeth succeeded King George VI to the British throne. This compelling book looks at Elizabeth''s life, both as a public and private figure. It traces her early years as a princess, her experiences in the women''s army during World War II, her coronation, her life as Queen both at home and in the public eye, her death at Balmoral and the events of her funeral. Learn how Elizabeth worked alongside 15 British prime ministers, met leaders from around the world, and remained a stable presence as head of the British royal family.DK Life Stories goes beyond the basic facts to tell the true life stories of history''s most inspiring people. Full-colour photographs and hand-drawn illustrations complement age-appropriate, narrative text. Definition boxes, information sidebars, and inspiring
£6.99
Quarto Publishing PLC What a Thing to Say to the Queen
Book Synopsis‘What do you do?’ a guest inquired of the Queen at a Buckingham Palace garden party. ‘I had no idea what to say,’ the Queen told friends afterwards. This specially updated edition, released to mark the passing of the late and much-missed monarch, is a collection of warm, amusing recollections from the royal household celebrating the lighter side of palace life. As the longest reigning monarch of this realm, the Queen represented stability, hope and continuity. We loved her because she was always there, didn’t make a fuss and was dedicated in her duty even in old age. But alongside her stoic and sensible exterior, she was also renowned for a playful and keen sense of humor, as seen when she delighted audiences all around the world by inviting Paddington Bear for tea to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee.How exactly did the Queen reactwhen she found Table of ContentsForeword vii No Airs and Graces The Life of State – Not Always as Expected With the Truly Powerful Not Quite How We Should be Treated Our Jewels and Clothes Our Feminine Allure Married Life Royal Dining We Are Royal After All Staff With the Church Our Realms and Interests Over the Seas Our Wild Side What We Like and What We Don’t Like The Early Days What is Ordinary Life Like? Our Animal Kingdom Royal Mother Our Eye for Detail Cost Cutting Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press Within the Family House and Garden Sources
£9.49
Vintage Publishing The Lady In The Tower
Book SynopsisAlison Weir is one of Britain's top-selling historians. She is the author of numerous works of history and historical fiction, specialising in the medieval and Tudor periods. Her bestselling history books include The Six Wives of Henry VIII, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Elizabeth of York and The Lost Tudor Princess. Her novels include Innocent Traitor, Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen and Anne Boleyn: A King's Obsession. She is an Honorary Life Patron of Historic Royal Palaces and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. She lives and works in Surrey.Trade ReviewOne of our best popular historians...with an impressive scholarly pedigree in Tudor history * Independent on Sunday *It is testament to Weir's artfulness and elegance as a writer that The Lady in the Tower remains fresh and suspenseful, even though the reader knows what's coming... One of the pleasures of The Lady in the Tower is that it invites the reader into the historiographical process as Weir's emphasis on primary sources allows us to evaluate them alongside her * Independent *Weir...knows her sources well. She writes in an engaging way and adopts an even-handed approach * Irish Times *This is vintage Weir: a thrilling episode of history superbly related and treated with penetrating analysis and a great dollop of common sense -- Jessie Childs * Literary Review *The research is exhaustive... It would be hard to imagine a more thorough examination of any comparable historical issue... Weir is to be congratulated on her impartiality and sound judgement * BBC History Magazine *
£13.49
Orion Publishing Co Princess Margaret
Book SynopsisElegant and sophisticated biography of Princess Margaret, the controversial sister of Queen Elizabeth II, the Princess Diana of her day'A fascinating insight into the life of the party girl who became an icon in postwar Britain' DAILY EXPRESSTrade ReviewThis sympathetic but unsentimental biography explores the paradoxical nature of a fascinating, infuriating woman * MAIL ON SUNDAY *A fascinating insight into the life of the party girl who became an icon in postwar Britain * DAILY EXPRESS *It has an engaging sense of immediacy that goes some way towards balancing the sadness that Margaret's life inspires in retrospect * DAILY TELEGRAPH *She was a witty, intelligent, stimulating companion - happily Tim Heald captures all these qualities in his admirably well-balanced biography * LITERARY REVIEW *A sympathetic tribute and an exploration into a tormented soul * GOOD BOOK GUIDE *An entertaining and reliable book * GUARDIAN *An insightful, enjoyable book * DAILY TELEGRAPH *This sympathetic but unsentimental biography explores the paradoxical nature of a fascinating, infuriating woman -- Simon Shaw * MAIL ON SUNDAY *A fascinating insight into the life of the party girl who became an icon in postwar Britain * DAILY EXPRESS *A sympathetic tribute and an exploration into a tormented soul * GOOD BOOK GUIDE *
£10.99
Batsford Ltd Britains Kings Queens
Book SynopsisA concise, informative history, of Britain's 56 sovereigns from Alfred the Great in the 9th century to our reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. Beautifully illustrated, this book also includes family trees and details of where and when each monarch was born, where they were crowned, the dates they reigned and where they are buried.Table of ContentsFamily Tree, Introduction, Early Kings of Wessex, 2 Family Trees,Later Saxon and Danish Kings, Family Tree, Information on Kings and Queens to present day
£6.00
Batsford Ltd The Royal Line of Succession
Book SynopsisQueen Elizabeth II is descended from King Egbert through 12 centuries of monarchs. Showcasing all the family trees, from the Anglo-Saxons to the Windsors, this useful guidebook explains the fascinating process on how power transferred from one monarch to the next.
£6.00
Quercus Publishing The Kings Speech Based on the Recently Discovered
Book SynopsisTHE BESTSELLING BOOK THAT INSPIRED THE OSCAR AND BAFTA AWARD-WINNING FILM One man saved the British Royal Family in the first decades of the 20th century - amazingly he was an almost unknown, and certainly unqualified, speech therapist called Lionel Logue. Logue wasn''t a British aristocrat or even an Englishman - he was a commoner and an Australian to boot. Nevertheless it was the outgoing, amiable Logue who single-handedly turned the famously nervous, tongue-tied, Duke of York into the man who was capable of becoming King. Had Logue not saved Bertie (as the man who was to become King George VI was always known) from his debilitating stammer, and pathological nervousness in front of a crowd or microphone, then it is almost certain that the House of Windsor would have collapsed. The King''s Speech is the previously untold story of the extraordinary relationship between Logue and the haunted young man who became King George VI, drawn from Logue''s unpubTable of ContentsAcknowledgments. Introduction. God Save the King. The 'common colonial'. Passage to England. Growing Pains. Diagnosis. Court Dress with Feathers. The Calm Before the Storm. Edward VIII's 327 Days. In the Shadow of the Coronation. After the Coronation. The Path to War. 'Kill the Austrian House Painter'. Dunkirk and the Dark Days. The Tide Turns. Victory. The Last Words. Notes. Index.
£10.44
The Museum of Brands The Royal Scrapbook
Book SynopsisAll the pomp and circumstance of over 100 years of royal events come together in this colourful and evocative Royal Scrapbook, which celebrates the coronations, weddings and jubilees over five reigns, beginning with Queen Victoria''s Diamond jubilee and ending with a celebration of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II''s Golden Jubilee. Here are all the souvenirs, from badges and bunting to pencils and money boxes, which have captured the flavour of each memorable moment: souvenirs that have been treasured and handed down from one generation to the next. Included are not only the more enduring items: the commemorative flags, mugs, jigsaws and chocolate tins but also the ephemera, whether milk bottle tops, sweet wrappers or paper hats.Now for the first time, this Royal Scrapbook brings together over 1,000 images magnificently illustrating royal festive occasions, for us to relive either with wonder or nostalgia. Once again material from the Robert Opie collection illuminates the past in a remarkable way.
£14.20
Pan Macmillan The Diamond Queen
Book SynopsisPolitical journalist Andrew Marr's vivid account of the Queen and her reign over Great Britain and the Commonwealth.Trade ReviewMarr's writing is persuasive, liberal, energized * Observer *Marr has a gift for narrative and précis, a pithy turn of phrase and an ability to unearth the familiar * The Times *Absorbing . . . particularly acute on the political aspects of constitutional monarchy, but he also writes perceptively about individual members of the Royal Family. * Mail on Sunday *Contain[s] a lot of information which will be new to any but the most dedicated student of the monarchy . . . Marr is particularly interesting on the relationship between the Queen and the BBC. -- Philip Ziegler * Spectator *An exploration of the day-to-day duties of the monarch and her family. * Daily Telegraph *Offers the reader a history of the Queen’s reign viewed from the outside, with a particular emphasis on her relations with her prime ministers and the connection between political developments and the monarchy’s shifting fortunes . . . an overwhelmingly positive endorsement of the Queen’s remarkable record. -- Matthew Dennison * Express *A fresh perspective . . . Marr looks at the people and broader historical trends who have shaped Elizabeth II’s approach to her reign . . . fascinating -- Carolyn Harris, author of Raising Royalty Table of ContentsAcknowledgements - i: Preface and Acknowledgements Section - ii: What the Queen Does Unit - Part One: Dynasty is Destiny: How the British Monarchy Remade Itself Unit - Part Two: Lilibet Section - iii: Interlude - The Queen in the World Unit - Part Three: The Queen at Work Section - iv: Interlude - Britannia and the Waves Unit - Part Four: Off With Her Head! The Queen in the Sixties Section - v: Interlude - Money Unit - Part Five: Into the Maelstrom Section - vi: The Future Section - vii: Notes Section - viii: Select Bibliography Acknowledgements - ix: Picture Acknowledgments Index - x: Index
£10.44
Amberley Publishing Anna Duchess of Cleves
Book SynopsisNew B-format paperback - A fresh look at Anne of Clevesâ life as a German noblewoman, and the Continental politics that affected her marriage. Did the doomed union really cause the fall and execution of Thomas Cromwell?
£10.44
Pen & Sword Books Ltd James II VII
Book SynopsisExplores how events in James II & VII's younger life shaped James the King.
£18.70
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Elizabeth I
Book SynopsisElizabeth I is arguably one of the greatest monarchs that ever lived. Against an uncertain political and religious backdrop of post-reformation Europe, she ruled at the conception of social modernisation, living in the shadow of the infamy of her parents' reputations and striving to prove herself an equal to the monarchs who had gone before her. This book seeks to explore some of the key events of her life, both before and after she ascended the English throne in late 1558. By looking at the history of these selected events, as well as investigating the influence of various people in her life, this book sets out to explain Elizabeth's decisions, both as a queen and as a woman. Amongst the events examined are the death of her mother, the role and fates of her step-mothers, the fate of Lady Jane Grey and the subsequent behaviour and reign of her half sister Mary Tudor, along with the death of Amy Dudley, the return of Mary Queen of Scots to Scotland, the Papal Bull and the Spanish Ar
£13.49
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Battles of Bonnie Prince Charlie
Book SynopsisThe true story of Prince Charles Edward Stuart and his fight for the right to the throne.
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Anne Boleyn An Illustrated Life of Henry VIIIs
Book SynopsisA colourful new account of the life and legacy of Anne Boleyn, as told through pictures and illustrations.
£17.00
Pen & Sword Books Ltd James I The King Who United Scotland and England
Book SynopsisThis book explores who King James was as an individual by looking at key events and relationships that shaped him.
£21.25
Orion Publishing Co Power and Glory
Book SynopsisPower and Glory brings us to the dramatic conclusion of Larman''s ''Windsors trilogy''.It begins with the fallout from the revelation of the Duke of Windsor''s wartime treachery, and ends with the Coronation of Elizabeth II on 2 June 1953. In between, it depicts a monarchy - and a country - struggling to cope with the aftermath of World War Two, in an era where old certainties have been replaced by the rise of a new, uncertain world, and where love, tragedy and modernity battle for supremacy.The book draws on extensive unpublished correspondence between major members of the Royal Family including George VI, Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Windsor, the Prime Ministers Clement Attlee and Winston Churchill, and previously unseen diaries and memoranda from courtiers, personal secretaries and leading politicians, exploring everything from the King''s declining health to the (often negative) reactions to Elizabeth''s marriage to Prince Philip and Coronatio
£21.25
Amberley Publishing Four Queens and a Countess
Book SynopsisNew paperback edition - The fateful Tudor triangle: a reigning queen, an exiled queen, and the countess who was obliged to be her jailer. And Bess of Hardwick had a close relationship with two more queens!
£9.49
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Right Royal Scandal Two Marriages that Changed
Book SynopsisA social history of a fifty year period, spanning the Regency into the Victorian era
£16.99
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Empress Alexandra: The Special Relationship
Book SynopsisWhen Queen Victoria's second daughter Princess Alice married the Prince Louis of Hesse and Rhine in 1862 even her own mother described the ceremony as more of a funeral than a wedding' thanks to the fact that it took place shortly after the death of Alice's beloved father Prince Albert. Sadly, the young princess' misfortunes didn't end there and when she also died prematurely, her four motherless daughters were taken under the wing of their formidable grandmother, Victoria. Alix, the youngest of Alice's daughters and allegedly one of the most beautiful princesses in Europe, was a special favourite of the elderly queen, who hoped that she would marry her cousin Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and one day reign beside him as Queen. However, the spirited and stubborn Alix had other ideas
£21.25
Cornerstone Diana, William and Harry
Book Synopsis'[A] pacy, frictionless read' Sunday Telegraph'Cinematic. . . an entertaining and persuasive study of the royal family' Publisher's Weekly'Patterson treats the princess as a person and tells the story from a mother's perspective' Kirkus______________________________Twenty-five years after her tragic death, James Patterson tells the heartbreaking true story of Princess Diana's life as a mother and a global icon.At the age of thirteen, she became Lady Diana Spencer.At twenty, Princess of Wales.At twenty-one, she earned her most important title: Mother.As she fell in love, first with Prince Charles and then with her sons, William and Harry, the world fell in love with the young royal family - Diana most of all.With one son destined to be King and one needing to find his own way, she taught them lessons about royal tradition and also real life. 'William and Harry will be properly prepared,' Diana once promised. 'I am making sure of this.'Even after her tragic death, the strength of her love for her sons remains an enduring inspiration, not only for the two princes, but for the entire world.______________________________Praise for James Patterson'The master storyteller of our times' Hillary Rodham Clinton'One of the greatest storytellers of all time' Patricia Cornwell'Truly astonishing' Bob Woodward
£8.54
Hodder & Stoughton A Queen for All Seasons: A Celebration of Queen
Book Synopsis'Lovely... delivers the warmest of glows' - Telegraph 'Who wouldn't love this chocolate-box delight of insights and snapshots of The Queen...A treasure chest' - Good Housekeeping In 2022 Queen Elizabeth II celebrated seventy years as Queen and Head of the Commonwealth. She was Britain's longest reigning monarch and the very first to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee.A Queen for All Seasons is a perceptive, touching and engaging tribute to this unique woman: a treasure chest of first-hand writings, insights and snapshots of The Queen during key moments of her reign and life, through to her death in September 2022. Joanna Lumley guides us as we meet Princess Elizabeth in 1952, aged just twenty-five, and about to become Queen, and brings us through to the twenty-first century when, in the role of matriarch, The Queen kept the national ship steady through seven decades, including in moments of crisis and suffering. Together this forms a vibrant portrait of the woman herself and the extraordinary role she played.Trade ReviewLovely...Delivers the warmest of glows * TELEGRAPH *You couldn't ask for more cheerful company than Joanna Lumley to lead you through an anthology of the Queen...moving * Daily Mail *A fascinating portrait of Her Majesty * My Weekly *You'll find interesting snippets about protocol, fashion and events - its definitely one to pull out after the Queen's Speech on Christmas Day. * PRESS ASSOCIATION *A touching tribute to a remarkable woman * Woman *Full of golden memories from people of all walks of life, it offers a wonderful and unique insight into Her Majesty's life * THE PEOPLES FRIEND *Who wouldn't love this chocolate-box delight of insights and snapshots of The Queen...A treasure chest * GOOD HOUSEKEEPING *
£10.44
Orion Publishing Co The Rival Queens: Catherine de' Medici, her
Book Synopsis'A gripping tale of royal feuds and divided kingdoms' - AMANDA FOREMANParis, 1572. Catherine de' Medici, the infamous queen mother of France, is a consummate pragmatist and powerbroker who has dominated the throne for thirty years. Her youngest daughter, Marguerite, the glamorous 'Queen Margot', is a passionate free spirit, the only adversary whom her mother can neither intimidate nor fully control. When Catherine forces the Catholic Marguerite to marry the Protestant Henry of Navarre, she creates not only savage conflict within France but also a potent rival within her own family. Treacherous court politics, poisonings, international espionage and adultery form the background to a extraordinary story about two formidable queens, featuring a fascinating array of characters including such celebrated figures as Elizabeth I, Mary, Queen of Scots and Nostradamus.Trade ReviewA gripping tale of royal feuds and divided kingdoms -- AMANDA FOREMANGoldstone upends conventional thought with this well-researched and well-written book, arguing that Catherine de' Medici (1519-1589), the French queen mother, was less Machiavellian in nature than generally believed and that she reacted to geopolitical situations with disastrous results for both her family and France ... Goldstone's witty comments make this historical family drama as easy to read as the best fiction, but it's all the more tragic for being true * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY *This engrossing, action-packed narrative immerses readers in a tumultuous period of European history * LIBRARY JOURNAL *A thrilling tale packed with historical details and shocking revelations. Nancy Goldstone writes with cinematic clarity and vividly brings to life two indomitable women whose ambitions changed the course of European history -- IVANA LOWELLNancy Goldstone leads her reader with a very sure hand through the most dramatic events of Renaissance France. Her narrative is so gripping that THE RIVALS unfolds like a thriller -- ANKA MUHLSTEINOne of the challenges facing any historian of this period is the sheer profusion of themes that need to be handled ... What makes Goldstone's biography so enjoyable is that she manages, thanks to the clarity of her presentation, to lead readers through this labyrinth with a sure and steady hand ... She is a popular historian whose writing is based on very serious research, with a gift for telling the most complicated tale in vivid, accessible prose * NEW YORK REVIEW OF BOOKS *
£12.34
Gibson Square Books Ltd Windsor Spares: The Prince Harry and Prince
Book SynopsisDim and dimmer? You decide! Spares Prince Harry and Prince Andrew have rarely been out of the news since 2019. They both have proved to have a rare knack for creating a royal soap opera and turning their humdrum lives into a major embarrassment to their family. Royal author Nigel Cawthorne unravels their princely lives in this dual portrait and asks. Join this frank and hilarious celebration of this royal double act. Covering all the stations of the cross for royal pain from wives, money, relatives, having to scrounge for millions, being turfed out of the HRH club.Trade ReviewPrevious praise: 'Excruciating'. Sunday Times
£9.49
Cornerstone Queen of the World
Book SynopsisA brilliant portrait of the most famous woman in the world and her place in it, written by the renowned royal biographer and author of Queen of Our Times, Robert Hardman._____________________________'Dazzling, poignant and full of delicious surprises; the true story of how Elizabeth II took on the world - and won. The Crown is fictional. Here is the real thing.' - Andrew Roberts'In Queen of the World Robert Hardman anatomizes from almost every conceivable angle the workings of soft power in creating the present Queen's global role ... His book is a veritable reference work and cornucopia, overflowing with significant anecdotes, people, traditions and incidents.' - Times Literary Supplement_____________________________On recent world history, one leader stands apart. Queen Elizabeth II saw more of the planet and its people than any other head of state, and engaged with them like no other monarch in British history. After her coronation, she visited over 130 countries across the ever-changing globe, acting as diplomat, stateswoman, pioneer and peace-broker, while also managing the responsibilities of a mother and grandmother, and her sixty-four-year marriage to the late Prince Philip.She transformed her father's old empire into the Commonwealth, her 'family of nations', and came to know its leaders better than anyone. In 2018, they would gather in her own home to endorse her eldest son, the Prince of Wales, as her successor.With extensive access to the Queen's family and staff, Hardman tells a true story full of drama, intrigue, exotic and even dangerous situations, heroes, rogues, pomp and glamour - and, at the centre of it all, the woman who genuinely won the hearts of the world for seventy glorious years._____________________________'Superb' - Peter Hennessy'Hardman's book, filled with new details, will be an essential source for any historian of modern Britain. It's also a glorious read' - William Shawcross, SpectatorTrade ReviewHardman’s book, filled with new details, will be an essential source for any historian of modern Britain. It’s also a glorious read * William Shawcross, The Spectator *A magisterial book… Robert Hardman brings together every intriguing detail he’s gleaned about how the Queen reigns. * Daily Mail *This is not only the best biography of the Queen in years, it is also laugh-out-loud entertainment * Daily Express *Dazzling, poignant and full of delicious surprises; the true story of how Elizabeth II took on the world – and won. The Crown is fictional. This is the real thing. -- Andrew RobertsBy far our most authoritative royal specialist, Hardman is a supremely entertaining storyteller and guide as well outstanding political analyst of the Queen's career as international titan of power and tact. Often hilarious, sometimes moving, always as acute as he is fascinating, there's never a dull moment in the untold diplomatic career of the most famous woman in the world, who has known everybody from monsters like Ceaucescu and Amin to heroes like Mandela and JFK. -- Simon Sebag MontefioreWatching The Crown was entertaining but reading Robert Hardman’s Queen of the World was riveting — and true. -- Alice ThomsonSuperb * Peter Hennessy *Rich in anecdotes and insights * Sunday Times *Dazzling, poignant and full of delicious surprises; the true story of how Elizabeth II took on the world – and won. The Crown is fictional. Here is the real thing. -- Andrew RobertsVivid and superlatively well-informed, this is a compelling account of a monarch in perpetual motion * The Daily Mail *
£10.44
Biteback Publishing Pets by Royal Appointment: The Royal Family and
Book SynopsisThe royal family say they can do without many things, but not their animals. For countless monarchs and their consorts, dogs, cats, horses and even the occasional parrot have acted as constant, faithful companions, unquestioning allies and surrogate children. With intimate anecdotes and fascinating detail, royal expert Brian Hoey describes the mini palaces provided for the Queen's pampered corgis; Princess Anne's badly behaved bull terriers; the wild animals - including crocodiles, hippopotami and an elephant - presented to princes and princesses; a regal passion for all things equine; and the pigeon awarded a military medal for its efforts in the Second World War.Trade Review"This is a book about a very British family besotted with all creatures great and small." - Majesty Magazine Book of the Month "Brian Hoey's long familiarity with the lives of the royal family lends his chronicle intimacy." - The Good Book Guide
£9.49
Biteback Publishing The Last Queen: How Queen Elizabeth II Saved the
Book SynopsisUnseen behind the throne, two sides of the royal bloodline competed for influence, and egregious family secrets had to be protected. Meanwhile, in public, a succession of family ruptures put the monarchy under unprecedented scrutiny from the world's media. From the turbulent loves of Princess Margaret to the tragic saga of Princess Diana, from the torments of Prince Charles to the arrival of Meghan Markle, tensions gripped the House of Windsor. Through all this, Elizabeth II remained steadfast in her values while many of those around her seemed to lose their moorings. Clive Irving's gripping account casts new light on seventy tempestuous years of British history, exploring how the Queen, uncomfortable with the pace of the social and cultural changes in her nation, and often seeming out of touch, resolutely kept the monarchy stable in a rapidly changing world. With unparalleled insight, Irving examines the pivotal events of the Queen's reign and then steps above them to assess her role in the royal family's Faustian pact with the media. The final irony is, as Irving's carefully measured scrutiny shows, that in the last decades of her reign the Queen endures to become one of the most admired people in the world while remaining one of the least known and understood. She will likely be the last Queen of the United Kingdom.Trade Review"Clive Irving's immensely readable book brings real authority, context and personal insight to our understanding of the Queen. As a newspaperman in the center of the coverage for decades, he has a wonderful eye for the illuminating detail and a sense of history that pulls together the threads of social and political change, never losing sight of the remarkable woman at the center of his enquiring gaze. The Last Queen is as entertaining as it is essential, and I read it with gusto." - Tina Brown “Irving puts his mark on a familiar story with his confident assessments and insider perspective on the British press. Royal watchers will delight in this richly detailed appraisal of the world’s oldest reigning monarch.” - Publishers Weekly
£17.00
Biteback Publishing Royalty Revealed: A Majestic Miscellany
Book SynopsisThey’re not like us, the royal family. Or are they? We simply don’t know and we’re all desperate to find out. This A-Z of royalty is the practical miscellany of the royal family that everyone’s been waiting for. Did the Queen Mum really give all her clothes to charity? Hundreds of people send Her Majesty boxes of chocolates on her birthday, but what happens to them? Where are the best places to go to see the royal family? Does the Queen hold a driving licence and did she pass a test? What are the correct days and hours when it is permitted to fly a flag above Buckingham Palace? Including fascinating facts on abdication, birthdays, Christmas, dining, equerries, fashion, garden parties, hairdressers, insignia, the Jewel House, Kensington Palace, liveries, maids of honour, nannies, orbs, protection squads, the Queen’s piper, racing, Snowdon, tartans, the Union Jack, Queen Victoria, weddings, the X-ray machine at Buckingham Palace, yachts and Meghan Markle, this is an unstoppable, unbeatable little guide to our great monarchy.
£9.49
Biteback Publishing Kensington Palace: An Intimate Memoir from Queen
Book SynopsisFor more than 300 years, Kensington Palace has played host to a colourful cast of kings, queens and assorted aristocratic hangers-on. A stone’s throw from the bustling streets of central London, this grand building has served as the stage for some of the most dramatic and bizarre events in the history of the royal family. It was here that the young Queen Victoria was held a virtual prisoner for eighteen years; and it was here that George II installed both his wife and his mistress, giving the latter rooms so damp that there were said to be mushrooms growing on the walls. More recently, the palace has witnessed an extraordinary series of scandals, from Princess Diana’s bombshell TV interview with a journalist smuggled into the palace disguised as a salesman, to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s shock departure – first for Frogmore Cottage, and then for America – amid rumours of a rift with William and Kate. With exclusive interviews with palace staff past and present, fascinating historical details and a fully updated postscript considering what life after Kensington holds for Harry and Meghan, Kensington Palace: An Intimate Memoir from Queen Mary to Meghan Markle offers a rare behind-the-scenes insight into one of Britain’s most iconic residences.Trade Review"A sparkling account of the often very unregal goings-on at the palace. Richly laced with insider gossip, this is behind-the-scenes royal history at its most entertaining." - Jane Shilling, Daily Mail "A fascinating must-read." - Bella
£9.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Last Princess: The Devoted Life of Queen
Book SynopsisBeatrice Mary Victoria Feodore, later Princess Henry of Battenberg, was the last-born – in 1866 – of Victoria and Albert's children, and she would outlive all of her siblings to die as recently as 1944. Her childhood coincided with her mother's extended period of mourning for her prematurely deceased husband, a circumstance which may have contributed to Victoria's determination to keep her youngest daughter as close to her as possible. She would eventually marry Prince Henry of Battenberg in 1885, but only after overcoming her mother's opposition to their union. Beatrice remained Queen Victoria's favourite among her five daughters, and became her mother's constant companion and later her literary executor, spending the years that followed Victoria's death in 1901 editing her mother's journals and voluminous correspondence. Matthew Dennison's elegantly written biography restores Beatrice to her rightful place as a key figure in the history of the Victorian age, and paints a touching and revealing portrait of the life and family of Britain's second-longest-reigning monarch.Trade ReviewEmotionally sympathetic and beautifully written, its detail meticulous... Confidant and disarmingly impressive debut' * DailyTelegraph *An engrossing tale of a mother and daughter who were also a queen and her subject * Good Book Guide *Beautifully written * Tatler *Readable and empathetic biography * Independent *
£9.49
Usborne Publishing Ltd Queen Elizabeth II
Book SynopsisThe Queen was Britain's longest-reigning monarch and one of the most famous women in the world. But what was she really like? This enthralling story of the life of Queen Elizabeth II is full of photographs and facts that capture the drama and grandeur of her reign, from her childhood during the Second World War and her coronation to the very last days of her reign.Perfect for older fans of Little People, BIG DREAMSTable of ContentsChapter 1 Happy familiesChapter 2 Heir to the throneChapter 3 Love & marriageChapter 4 Head of StateChapter 5 Family strifeChapter 6 A job for life
£6.99
Headline Publishing Group Elizabeth: A Celebration in Photographs of the
Book SynopsisFully revised and updated.Queen Elizabeth II was the longest-serving monarch in British history, with a reign even longer than Queen Victoria. Her extraordinary life is expertly portrayed by Jennie Bond, former BBC royal correspondent, in this magnificent visually led biography. On February 6, 1952, Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh, became Queen on the death of her father, King George VI. The reign that was to see major changes both in the country and Commonwealth and in the role of the monarchy began far away from Britain in a game reserve in Kenya.Elizabeth: A Celebration in Photographs, looks at this remarkable period in the history of Britain's monarchy in lavish and fascinating detail, featuring over 250 photographs. Constantly under scrutiny the entire time she was on the throne, this book presents a balanced and absorbing account of the Queen's life and of her role as the head of state in a country and a world that have changed almost beyond recognition in the seventy years she held the throne.Table of ContentsFamily Tree • Introduction • Princess Elizabeth • New Queen • First Decade • The Second Decade • The Third Decade • The Fourth Decade • The Fifth Decade • The Sixth Decade • Chronology • Index • Acknowledgements.
£21.25
The History Press Ltd The Survival of the Princes in the Tower: Murder,
Book SynopsisThe murder of the Princes in the Tower is the most famous cold case in British history. Traditionally considered victims of their ruthless uncle, there are other suspects too often and too easily discounted. There may be no definitive answer, but by delving into the context of their disappearance and the characters of the suspects, Matthew Lewis examines the motives and opportunities afresh, as well as asking a crucial but often overlooked question: what if there was no murder? What if Edward V and his brother Richard, Duke of York, survived their uncle’s reign and even that of their brother-in-law Henry VII?In this new and updated edition, compelling evidence is presented to suggest the Princes survived, which is considered alongside the possibility of their deaths to provide a rounded and complete assessment of the most fascinating mystery in history.
£13.49
The History Press Ltd Thorns in the Crown: The Story of the Coronation
Book Synopsis‘A lively book that captures the essence of a modern monarchy and a new Elizabethan era’ - Lyndsy Spence, The Lady‘Down-to-earth and insightful’ - Daily MailIt is 1952 and Britain is changing. The Second World War is over, but the country is still scarred, recovering from six years of horror and still in the grip of food rationing. The British Empire is crumbling as countries fight for their independence both literally and physically. And George VI, the king who had refused to abandon London, is dead.Thorns in the Crown is the story of a country on the precipice, divided between those who held firm to old values and traditions and those who were fighting for modernity and progression. Featuring memories and reflections of those who were part of the coronation, Barry Turner presents a unique look at Britain as it came to terms with the second Elizabethan age.Trade Review"Down-to-earth and insightful" * Daily Mail *
£11.69
The History Press Ltd The Prince and the Plunder
Book Synopsis''Extraordinary and thrilling ... This story should be known to every man, woman and child'' - Lemn SissayIn 1868, British troops charged into the mountain empire of Ethiopia, stormed the citadel of its monarch Tewodros II and grabbed piles of his treasures and sacred manuscripts. They also took his son six-year-old Prince Alamayu and brought the boy back with them to the cold shores of England.For the first time, Andrew Heavens tells the whole story of Alamayu, from his early days in his father's fortress on the roof of Africa to his new home across the seas, where he charmed Queen Victoria, chatted with Lord Tennyson and travelled with his towering red-headed guardian Captain Speedy. The orphan prince was celebrated but stereotyped and never allowed to go home.The book also follows the loot Ethiopia's Elgin Marbles' and tracks it down to its current hiding places in bank vaults, museum store cupboards and a boarded-up cavit
£16.19
Amber Books Ltd Queens: Women in Power through History
Book SynopsisIn a world historically dominated by male rulers, the women who have sat on thrones of their own shine out brightly. Some queens and empresses were born to greatness, while others fought their way to power. Queens ranges from the ancient world to the present day, telling the stories of these women who ruled, from murderous former courtesan Wu Zetian in 7th century China to Elizabeth I, the ‘Virgin Queen’ of England. In 6th century Constantinople, Empress Theodora, who had been a street performer before catching the eye of Emperor Justinian, extended rights for women, passing laws that allowed them to divorce and own property and made rape a crime punishable by death. In 12th century Europe, Eleanor of Aquitaine first married the king of France and then the king of England. At the Mughal court in Lahore in the early 17th century, Nur Jahan, wife of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir, was the political powerhouse behind the throne. In more recent history, the book explores the reigns of Catherine the Great, revealing how a minor German aristocrat came to rule and expand the Russian Empire, Queen Victoria, whose family dominated the world in the early 20th centuty, and her more recent descendent, Elizabeth II, the longest-ruling queen in history. Female rulers are often described as ambitious rather than bold, as devious rather than diplomatically astute and as intriguers and meddlers, all characterizations that are destructive to the reality of women’s lives in the world’s monarchies. Even genealogies still often leave out the women of royal families, overlooking their genuine contributions. To some extent, we will never know these great women of history as well as we know their menfolk; the sources simply leave too many gaps. However, we can and will do better in giving the women rulers of history the recognition they deserve Carefully researched, superbly entertaining and illustrated throughout with more than 180 photographs and artworks, Queens highlights the true personalities and real lives of the women who became monarchs and empresses.Trade Review[A] brilliant tour of the nature of queenship throughout history and all over the world. Rather than the usual list of European monarchs, Jestice demonstrates an impressive range as she introduces readers to queens from Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands, South America—wherever she can find evidence for women rulers… The book is more than an engaging history of women who all deserve to be better known. Each page features illustrations carefully chosen to represent the wide cultures these women came from… Even better, Jestice succeeds in proving that queens have played important parts throughout history—and continue to do so. -- Marissa Moss * New York Journal of Books *Table of ContentsIntroduction The Ancient World Hatshetsup, Pharaoh of Egypt (c.1493–1479 BCE) – the first and longest reigning woman pharaoh in Egyptian history. After her husband Thurmose’s death, Hatshetsup reigned for 20 years. She restored her country’s prosperity by rebuilding trade routes. One expedition returned with myrrh trees for making scent – the first recorded transplant of foreign trees. Hatshetsup left an extraordinary legacy of buildings including her mortuary temple at the entrance to Egypt’s Valley of the Kings. Queen Tomyris of the Massagetae, a nomadic people in Central Asia. Artemisia I of Caria (484–460 BCE) Greek queen in Asia Minor, she helped Persian king Xerxes at the Battle of Salamis in 480 BCE. Cleopatra (51–30 BCE) – The last the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Cleopatra was diplomat, naval commander, linguist, and medical author. Boudicca – led a revolt against the Romans in England in 60 CE. Trung Sisters – a pair of fantastically brave Vietnamese warrior women who fought to oust their Chinese overlords in the first half of the 1st century CE. Zenobia (267–272 CE) – queen of the Palmyrene Empire in Syria The Early Medieval World Theodora (500–548 CE) – Empress of Byzantium, wife of Emperor Justinian. A street performer who caught the emperor’s eye, Theodora rose to rule the empire alongside her husband. She extended rights for women, passing laws that allowed them to divorce and own property and made rape a crime punishable by death. Wu Zetian (690–705 CE) – the sole officially recognized empress regnant of China in more than two millennia. She entered court as a concubine and may have strangled her daughter and poisoned her son to advance her status. Skulduggery aside, the importance to history of Wu Zetian’s period of political and military leadership includes the major expansion of the Chinese empire, extending it deep into Central Asia. Within China, besides the more direct consequences of her struggle to gain and maintain supreme power, Wu’s leadership resulted in important effects regarding social class in society and in relation to state support for Taoism, Buddhism, education, and literature. Æthelflæd (911–918) – Daughter of Alfred the Great and married to the ruler of the kingdom of Mercia, the fierce Queen became known as the ‘Lady of the Mercians’. The High Middle Ages Eleanor of Aquitaine – the richest woman in 12th century Europe. She married first the king of France, introduced courtly literature to the French court and accompanied him on crusade. With the marriage annulled, she then married the king of England. The Renaissance Mary Queen of Scots (1552–67) – ultimately, reluctantly executed by her cousin Elizabeth I Elizabeth I (1558–1603) – After the short reigns of her half-siblings, Elizabeth I’s 44- year-rule brought welcome stability, relative religious tolerance, no major foreign wars and managed to see off the Spanish Armada. Plots and rebellions against her failed and culturally England flourished. Early Modern Nur Jahan (1611–1645) – the twentieth (and last) wife of the Mughal emperor Jahangir, Nur Jahan was a far sharper intellect than her incompetent husband and would whisper advice to him at court. From their court at Lahore, she built up diplomatic and trading relationships across Asia. Catherine the Great (1762–1796) – Catherine was a minor German princess who married the heir to the Russian throne, Tsar Peter III, who turned out to be mentally unstable. When the Tsar was assassinated after only two years in power, Catherine assumed command of Russia. Helped by her lovers Giorgy Orlov and Giorogy Potemkin, she conquered the Ukraine extending the Russian empire to the shores of the strategically important Black Sea. She gave the nobility greater powers following peasant unrest. Late Modern Queen Victoria (1837–1901) – As the British Empire expanded to cover quarter of the globe, she came to rule over more subjects than any other woman in history. Empress Dowager Cixi (1861–1908) – Cixi effectively controlled the late Qing dynasty in China for 47 years after the death of her husband, the Xianfeng Emperor. Queen Elizabeth II (1952–Present) – the world’s longest reigning queen regnant and female head of state, the oldest and longest-reigning current monarch and the longest-serving current head of state. Bibliography Index
£16.99
Batsford Ltd Queen Elizabeth I
Book SynopsisQueen Elizabeth I’s reign is amongst the most exciting and fascinating of any period of English history. She was a glamourous queen who ruled a vibrant nation full of legendary figures: Robert Dudley, Francis Drake, Walter Raleigh, the Earl of Essex were all international celebrities of their day. Great events unfolded, with triumphs such as the defeat of the Spanish Armada, and tragedies, including the long-term imprisonment and execution of Mary Queen of Scots. With love affairs, wily politicians, sinister plots and intrigues at the royal court, Elizabeth’s reign was a long-running drama; it is appropriate that William Shakespeare was writing at the time, and characters and events of his plays often mirrored Elizabethan life. But it was Queen Elizabeth who was the star of the story, holding centre stage over a glittering royal court. In this seminal Pitkin text by G.W.O. Woodward, revised and updated by Gill Knappett for 2019, read how Gloriana reigned in dazzling majesty over an exciting new age of exploration, discovery, artistic brilliance, architectural achievement, foreign conquest and prosperity. This beautifully illustrated biography is part of the Pitkin Royal Collection series, celebrating the lives of the British royal family. Other notable titles in this insightful series include Royal Babies, The Queen and Her Family and Queen Elizabeth II.
£6.00
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Queen Victoria and the Discovery of the Riviera
Book SynopsisQueen Victoria fell in love with the Riviera when she discovered it on her first visit to Menton in 1882 and her enchantment with this 'paradise of nature' endured for almost twenty years. Victoria's visits helped to transform the French Riviera by paving the way for other European royalty, the aristocracy and the very rich, who were to turn it into their pleasure garden. Michael Nelson paints a fascinating portrait of Victoria and her dealings with local people of all classes, statesmen and the constant stream of visiting crown heads. In the process, we see an unexpected side to Victoria: not the imperious, petulant, mourning widow but rather an exuberant girlish old lady thrilled by her surroundings. "Queen Victoria and the Discovery of the Riviera" is an absorbing and revealing account that makes an important contribution to both our understanding of Victoria's character and personality and our view of the late Victorian period.Trade Review"Michael Nelson fully appreciates the subtle relationships between the private and the public, even in the life of imperial sovereigns, and his highly readable book will interest different kinds of readers. For me it is rich in texture as, I believe, it will be for them." Asa Briggs "A distinctly original contribution to the studies of Queen Victoria. Those sections covering the extraordinary people the Queen met on the Riviera are most moving and human." Elizabeth Longford"Table of ContentsList of illustrations Foreword Acknowledgements Note on text Map of the French Riviera Introduction 1 Prologue: The Queen's delight with France 2 1882: Menton. The first visit to the paradise of nature 3 1887: Cannes. A pilgrimage to mourn the death of son Leopold 4 1891: Grasse. The Rothschild gardens and Duleep Singh's confession 5 1892: Hyeres: The Royal Resort 6 1895: Nice. The young officers and the Battle of Flowers 7 1896: Nice. Royal visitors, including King Leopold of the Belgians 8 1897: Nice. The courtiers revolt over the Munshi 9 1898: Nice. The agonies of King Leopold's daughters 10 1899: Nice. The Fashoda Incident threatens the visit 11 Epilogue: The cancelled visit Note on the Queen's journal Notes Chronology Selected Dramatis Personae Bibliography Index
£14.24
Vintage Publishing The Mystery of Princess Louise: Queen Victoria's
Book Synopsis‘Satisfyingly replete with eye-popping stories’ Observer What was so dangerous about Queen Victoria’s artistic tempestuous sixth child, Princess Louise?When Lucinda Hawksley started to investigate, often thwarted by inexplicable secrecy, she discovered a fascinating woman, modern before her time, whose story has been shielded f from public view for years. Louise was a sculptor and painter, friend to the Pre-Raphaelites and a keen member of the Aesthetic movement. The most feisty of the Victorian princesses, she kicked against her mother’s controlling nature and remained fiercely loyal to her brothers – especially the sickly Leopold and the much-maligned Bertie. She sought out other unconventional women, including Josephine Butler and George Eliot, and campaigned for education and health reform and for the rights of women. She battled with her indomitable mother for permission to practice the ‘masculine’ art of sculpture and go to art college – and in doing so became the first British princess to attend a public school. The rumours of Louise’s colourful love life persist even today, with hints of love affairs dating as far back as her teenage years, and notable scandals included entanglements with her sculpting tutor Joseph Edgar Boehm and possibly even her sister Princess Beatrice’s handsome husband, Liko. True to rebellious form, she refused all royal suitors and became the first member of the royal family to marry a commoner since the sixteenth century. Spirited and lively, The Mystery of Princess Louise is richly packed with arguments, intrigues, scandals and secrets, and is a vivid portrait of a princess desperate to escape her inheritance.Trade ReviewSatisfyingly replete with eye-popping stories of life at the various palaces -- Rachel Cooke * Observer *The fullest biography yet of a princess who was friends with Josephine Butler, a feminist and advocate for the health of sex workers, well deserves its place on the shelf -- Lucy Worsley * Sunday Express *Lively, engaging and buoyantly enthusiastic, Hawksley's gallant but necessarily speculative book should encourage the royal archivists to stop being so protective -- Miranda Seymour * Sunday Times *I've always wanted to know more about Princess Louise... Biographies of Kate Perugini and Elizabeth Siddal – who moved in similar artistic circles – drew Hawksley to her. Court secrecy meant that resourcefulness was needed to write it -- Ruth Richardson * Times Higher Education *Hawksley's entertaining and lengthy book gives a vivid insight into Victorian royal life and the repressions and sexual hypocrisies of those days -- Anthony Looch * UK Press Syndication *
£13.49
Anness Publishing The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of Royal
Book Synopsis
£10.79
Parthian Books Charles: The King and Wales
Book SynopsisFor a man who has spent almost a lifetime waiting to be King, Huw Thomas reveals how Wales prepared Charles for the crown. Despite his initial reluctance to come to Wales as a student, his time spent learning the history and language of the Welsh at Aberystwyth in the 1960s fostered a passionate commitment to the nation. Wales has not always returned the compliment, with popular protests and more subtle snubs to his involvement in Welsh affairs. And yet those who have worked with him, and who call him a friend, cite a remarkable ability to make a difference without making a fuss. As a diplomat he is credited with bringing major employers to south Wales, offering jobs to a workforce that had been decimated by the collapse of the coal industry. As a cultural ambassador he revived royal patronage for the arts in Wales and sponsored the finest performers to emerge from the land of song. And as a champion of the natural environment, he has backed the farmers and conservationists who are nurturing the Welsh countryside, not least by employing traditional crafts to create the first royal home in Wales for 400 years.
£9.50
Danann Media Publishing Limited King Charles III: A Modern Monarch
Book SynopsisA boy born to be king, he had to wait 73 years to fulfil his destiny – the longest wait by an heir apparent in British history. ‘King Charles III’ looks back at his life thus far – how his childhood shaped him into the man and monarch he is today, his eventful private life, family heartache, his passions and achievements – and projects forward to predict the kind of sovereign he’s likely to be.
£18.69
