Biography: royalty Books

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 *

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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 *

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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.

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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.

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Book SynopsisThe lives of Tudor women often offer faint but fascinating footnotes on the pages ofhistory. The life of Catherine or Katryn as her husband would one day pen her name Carey, the daughter of Mary Boleyn and, as the weight of evidence suggests, Henry VIII, isone of those footnotes.As the possible daughter of Henry VIII, the niece of Anne Boleyn and the favourite ofElizabeth I, Catherine's life offers us a unique perspective on the reigns of Henry and hischildren. In this book, Wendy J. Dunn takes these brief details of Catherine's life and turns theminto a rich account of a woman who deserves her story told. Following the faint trailprovided of her life from her earliest years to her death in service to QueenElizabeth, Dunn examines the evidence of Catherine's parentage and views her worldthrough the lens of her relationship with the royal family she served.This book presents an important story of a woman who saw and experienced muchtragedy and political turmoil during the reigns of Hen

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Book SynopsisFifteen years in the making, a landmark reinterpretation of the life of a pivotal figure in British and European historyTrade Review"This is serious, definitive history, essential for undergraduates and academics. . . . Bates gets as close to the subject as any medieval biographer could wish."—Dan Jones, Sunday Times"Bates has devoted a lifetime of learning to William the Conqueror and his age. In this definitive biography of the man who forever changed England with hisinvasion of 1066, Bates contends that a full understanding of William’s place in history requires locating him in a longer period.”—Tony Barber, “Best books of 2016," Financial Times"The best ever biography of the ruthless Norman bastard — masterly and exciting, but always measured and scholarly."—Simon Sebag Montefiore, The Week, 22nd July 2017“A coherent, consistent and complete portrait by a single master. . . This book is a monument to Bates’s knowledge of William, his career and his times. It has significantly advanced our understanding of this imposing figure, and it will, and should, be the point of departure for future discussions of the reign.”—Mark Hagger, English Historical Review"Leading expert David Bates gives one of British History’s headline figures the in-depth treatment. . . . From his personality to the consequences of his military actions, this book will heartily extend your knowledge of 1066 and all that."—History Revealed"David Bates has given us a magnificent new biography of William the Conqueror to add to his superb edition of William’s royal charters. Reflecting many years of research, it is deeply learned, full of important new insights and . . . makes a major contribution to our knowledge and understanding, not only of the Conqueror but also of the world in which he lived. No scholar working in the field can afford to ignore this; all readers with an interest in the period will benefit from it."—Paul Dalton, TLS“There is surely no-one better placed than Prof. David Bates to write this biography. . . A magnificent achievement of detailed description and analysis.” —Matthew Bennett, Reviews in History “This thorough biography, bringing together so many medieval life histories, demonstrates what close, informed and imaginative engagement with the seemingly intractable remnants of the medieval past can accomplish.” —William M. Aird, French History“Richly detailed and nuanced in interpretation. . . a very considerable achievement, moving historical debate forward and, not least in importance, the publisher is to be thanked for a very reasonable price.” —Judith Green, History“A judicious and thoughtful study...The reader is rewarded not only with detailed handling of the rich, if rarely straightforward, testimony of the charter and narrative material, but also with masterful overviews of the period-defining and problematic record of the Bayeux Tapestry and the monumental and monumentally-detailed evidence of Domesday Book.”—H. F. Doherty, Northern HistoryWon the 2017 Choice Award for Outstanding Academic Title"David Bates's biography of William the Conqueror is a worthy culmination of a lifetime's study of one of England's greatest and in many ways most complex kings. Despite the 950 years which now lie between us and William's remarkable victory at Hastings, Bates conjures up the man in all his strengths, weaknesses and passions, and proves that there is still much new to learn about this man who changed the course of the histories of England, Britain and France."—David Crouch, author of The English Aristocracy, 1070–1272"This book tells of William the Conqueror as never before. David Bates recognizes a distinguished predecessor, yet where D.C. Douglas wrote from the outside in, Bates writes from the inside out to show how the biography of Duke-King William is what illuminates Normandy and England at a critical time in their histories. Bates writes with surpassing command of the sources to bring out the problematic contexts of challenges facing the Conqueror throughout his life. He shows that William's legacy of achievement and brutality was as troubling to the writers who knew or remembered him as it is for us. Moreover, the deployment of a vast new secondary literature renders this book virtually a tribute to the burgeoning Anglo-Norman field of research that it occupies. Bates' William the Conqueror is a monumental accomplishment."—Thomas N. Bisson, author of The Crisis of the Twelfth Century: Power, Lordship, and the Origins of European Government

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Book SynopsisPrince Philip was a man of many, many words. For almost eighty years since he first entered the public's eye, Prince Philip had been telling the world exactly what he thought of it.Over the years, Prince Philip's quips and wisecracks have been labelled as shocking and even outrageous, but at the root of this colourful royal was a very funny man who seemingly never took life too seriously. He was an icon of the royal family and a reminder of a time when the world was a different place – and for that, we, the Great British public, salute him.This tiny tome is a celebration of his extraordinary life in the service of his subjects, as well as a compilation of his best (and worst) one-liners, in his own inimitable style.'I rather doubt whether anyone has ever been genuinely shocked by anything I have said.'Prince Philip, in an interview, 1999. Smashing Fact No.1:Philip was 13 years old when he met his future wife, Elizabeth. They were both attending the wedding of Princess Marina of Greece and the Duke of Kent in 1934. Elizabeth was eight at the time. The pair met again five years later.Table of ContentsKing's Speech • Royal Flush • Duke of Hazard • Prince Squirming • Silly Philipisms • The Gaffer.

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Book SynopsisThe struggle for the soul of England after the death of Henry VIII

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Book SynopsisHistory has pictured Elizabeth I as Gloriana, an icon of strength and power -- and has focused on the early years of her reign. But in 1583, when Elizabeth is fifty, there is relentless plotting among her courtiers -- and still to come is the Spanish Armada and the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots. We have not, until now, had the full picture.This gripping and vivid portrait of her life and times -- often told in her own words (and including details such as her love of chess and marzipan) -- reveals a woman who was insecure, human (''You know I am no morning woman''), and unpopular even with the men who fought for her. This is the real Elizabeth, for the first time.Trade ReviewA beautifully rounded portrait of both the woman and the queen . . . This is a masterful biography. -- Amanda ForemanA gripping story of Queen Elizabeth's last years, authoritatively researched and engagingly recounted by the leading Tudor historian of our age -- James Shapiro, author of 1599 and 1606One of the very best historians we have in the country . . . It is brilliant, vigorous history, and a triumph of storytelling and scholarship -- Jessie Childs * Telegraph *Guy's careful work with documents known and unknown, scattered throughout Europe's archives, allows him to paint a novel portrait of a complex - maybe even unknowable - queen -- John Gallagher * Guardian *The best biography ever written of the Virgin Queen - a revisionist, sensitive, compelling, majestic masterwork that you can't put down -- Simon Sebag-Montefiore * Evening Standard *A gripping story of Queen Elizabeth's last years, authoritatively researched and engagingly recounted by the leading Tudor historian of our age. It will be of special interest to anyone interested in the political world in which Shakespeare's Elizabethan drama is steeped-from anxiety over royal succession to England's costly war in Ireland -- James Shapiro, author of 1599 and 1606John Guy's Elizabeth presents a beautifully rounded portrait of both the woman and the queen. Thanks to Guy's prodigious use of previously untapped material, we see, for the very first time, the full panoply of ambition and insecurity, plotting and deceit that marked the middle years of her reign. This is a masterful biography. -- Amanda ForemanAs you'd expect from John Guy, this is a very good read, a vivid and fascinating warts-and-all portrait of the ageing Elizabeth, backed by meticulous research -- Claire TomalinOne of the very best historians we have in the country. Guy is in his element prising off the myths that are barnacled to the queen. It is brilliant, vigorous history, and a triumph of storytelling and scholarship -- Jessie Childs * Telegraph *John Guy is arguably the world's leading expert on Tudor history. When he writes a book, especially this, his first on Elizabeth's life, it should be taken very seriously as having something new to say, and so it does ... a wonderful book and a magisterial account of the latter half of Elizabeth's reign that calmly reassesses every claim and myth by simply reading all the original manuscript correspondence. The result puts the record straight, but it also allows Guy to produce a pacy and compelling story -- Jerry Brotton * Sunday Times *Guy pored through 250,000 manuscripts in his quest to understand the ageing Elizabeth. Intimidated by that mountain of parchment, most historians have tended to recycle the myths of Gloriana and Good Queen Bess. Not Guy. Guy is no ordinary historian. Few can match his ruthless obsession for accuracy. Between every line comes whispered reassurance: "You can trust me; I touched those documents." Guy the scholar melds perfectly with Guy the storyteller. Small tales are used to illustrate big issues. Under the weight of Guy's scrutiny, familiar myths crumble. The weight of evidence suggests that he understands Elizabeth better than any historian has -- Gerald DeGroot * Book of the Week, The Times *[A] most excellent biography. It puts a cruel but clarifying lends on the vain monarch's twilight years. She has never been more exposed than in Guy's tome. A contender for history book of the year -- John Lewis-Stempel * Sunday Express *What emerges from the author's great efforts to mine the archives for a truer picture is a more flawed Elizabeth - but perhaps a more human one * The Economist *John Guy, as eminent a Tudor historian as they come, has set himself the explicit task of correcting Strachey's colourful narrative of Elizabeth's old age. The result is 400 pages of outstandingly documented scholarly detail ... scholarship that should earn the respect of popular and expert reader alike -- Kate Maltby * Spectator *Superb ... John Guy persuades us that pretty much everything we think we know about Elizabeth is wrong -- Andrew Roberts * Wall Street Journal *There is a lot to like about this book. Energetic [in] tone... Guy is a lively guide ... Guy is especially good when describing the political machinations of Burghley and Walsingham ... [and] Guy gives us a clean sense of a man [the Earl of Essex] who was brilliant, vain, petulant and self-serving in equal measure * History Today *Enthralling... the book is also beautifully illustrated * Editor's Choice, The Bookseller *Guy is exceptionally good on how various myths took root -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *Outstanding. This page-turning book is history, biography, scholarship personified, and a crystal-clear look at Elizabeth in the war years that erases the myths and presents the real woman. Absolutely one of the best biographies of Elizabeth ever * Kirkus (starred review) *With the remarkable advantage of access to long-buried and misfiled primary sources [...] the aging monarch receives a balanced treatment. [Gives] readers a fuller view of the confident, experienced, and adaptable queen * Publishers Weekly *The dean of living Tudor-era historians * Christian Science Monitor *Meticulously researched and highly readable revisionist biography. Recommended for lovers of British history and feminist biography * Library Journal *A fresh, thrilling portrait -- Stacy Schiff * New York Times *Oft portrayed as fierce, this reveals an Elizabeth I who is in fact fallible and insecure * New Day *Significant, forensic and myth-busting, John Guy inspires total confidence in a narrative which is at once pacy and rich in detail -- Anna Whitelock * Times Literary Supplement *The brilliance of Elizabeth: The Forgotten Years lies in the energy of its narrative, as well as in Guy's eye and ear for scene and conversation. To interweave all of this with the life of the queen is a formidable achievement. He has captured the complexity of contemporary politics. ... Most striking is Guy's portrait of Elizabeth -- Stephen Alford * London Review of Books *

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Book SynopsisFor more than 70 years, the marriage of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip was at the centre of the nation's life. Now, in My Husband and I, Ingrid Seward reveals the real story of their loving and enduring relationship. When a young Princess Elizabeth met and fell in love with the dashing Naval Lieutenant Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, it wasn't without its problems. The romance between the sailor prince and the young princess brought a splash of colour to a nation still in the grip of post-war austerity. When they married in Westminster Abbey in November 1947, there were 3000 guests, including six kings and seven queens. Within five years, as Queen Elizabeth II, she would ascend to the throne and later be crowned in front of millions watching through the new medium of television. Throughout her record-breaking reign until Prince Philip's death on 9 April 2021, she relied on the formidable partnersh

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Book Synopsis''Never before had the world seen four such giants co-existing. Sometimes friends, more often enemies, always rivals, these four men together held Europe in the hollow of their hands.'' Four great princes - Henry VIII of England, Francis I of France, Charles V of Spain and Suleiman the Magnificent - were born within a single decade. Each looms large in his country''s history and, in this book, John Julius Norwich broadens the scope and shows how, against the rich background of the Renaissance and destruction of the Reformation, their wary obsession with one another laid the foundations for modern Europe. Individually, each man could hardly have been more different - from the scandals of Henry''s six wives to Charles''s monasticism - but, together, they dominated the world stage. From the Field of the Cloth of Gold, a pageant of jousting, feasting and general carousing so lavish that it nearly bankrupted both France and England, to Suleiman''s celebratory pyramTrade ReviewWonderful . . . This was indeed a glorious age and Norwich has made a brilliant decision to study four idiosyncratic rulers as an interacting quartet rather than separately . . . A lively and charming book * THE TIMES *With characteristic deftness of touch, Norwich brings each character vividly to life and skilfully weaves their stories together . . . Norwich introduces a dazzling cast of characters: from Leonardo da Vinci to Martin Luther, Joanna the Mad to Anne Boleyn . . . the portrayal feels entirely fresh and enables the reader to gain new insights into some of history's most familiar characters. It is a genuinely inspired idea for a book, and Norwich executes it with typical aplomb -- Tracy Borman * BBC History Magazine *Scholarly and entertaining . . . This book provides a vivid and compelling picture of this turbulent century * BBC History Magazine *Packed with extraordinary figures - not just the four princes, but artists and emperors too . . . a warm, witty and fascinating look at how such dynamic individuals shaped the Renaissance and the Reformation right across Europe throughout the sixteenth century * History Revealed *What makes this such a compelling read is that the author seasons his erudition with a sharp eye for the quirky fact and the sardonic comment . . . a fascinating and compulsive story -- John Ure * Country Life *Norwich made a brilliant decision to study them as an interacting quartet, rather than individually, for only in this way can one begin to understand how great events and great personalities were hopelessly entangled . . . charming * Sunday Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisIn this new book royal historian Lady Colin Campbell covers The Queen's Marriage in intimate detail. Using her connections and impeccable sources she recounts details of the inside story of the monarch's relationship with the Duke of Edinburgh and her close family.

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Book SynopsisRobert the Bruce had himself crowned King of Scots at Scone on a frozen March morning in 1306. After years of struggle, Scotland had been reduced to a vassal state by Edward I of England and its people lived in poverty. On the day he seized the crown Bruce renewed the fight for Scotland's freedom, and let forth a battle cry that would echo through the centuries. Using contemporary accounts, Ronald McNair Scott tells the story of Scotland's legendary leader, and one of Europe's most remarkable medieval kings. It is a story with episodes as romantic as those of King Arthur, but also one which belongs in the annals of Scottish History, and has shaped a nation.Trade ReviewThe definitive biography of this heroic figure * * Mail on Sunday * *A thundering good narrative . . . splendidly told * * Sunday Telegraph * *A splendid read . . . Bruce has found his right chronicler * * Daily Telegraph * *

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Book SynopsisAnne Neville was queen to England's most notorious king, Richard III. She was immortalised by Shakespeare for the remarkable nature of her marriage, a union which brought together a sorrowing widow with her husband's murderer. Anne's misfortune did not end there. In addition to killing her first husband, Richard also helped kill her father, father-in-law and brother-in-law, imprisoned her mother, and was suspected of poisoning Anne herself. Dying before the age of thirty, Anne Neville packed into her short life incident enough for many adventurous careers, but was often, apparently, the passive instrument of others' evil intentions. This fascinating new biography seeks to tell the story of Anne's life in her own right, and uncovers the real wife of Richard III by charting the remarkable twists and turns of her fraught and ultimately tragic life.

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Book SynopsisFew kings deserve more than David I the reputation as maker' of his kingdom. Although overshadowed in popular memory by his descendant, the later saviour' of Scotland, Robert Bruce, it was David who laid the foundations of the medieval Scottish monarchy and set in train the changes that created the kingdom that vied with England for mastery of the British Isles. In a reign spanning nearly three decades, David moved his kingdom from the periphery towards the heart of European civilisation.

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Book SynopsisA history of Richard III

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Book SynopsisWho invented the ''House of Windsor'' as a royal name? Who founded Westminster Abbey? Which king had twenty-one illegitimate children? David Halliam answers all these questions and more. Here is a continuous history of the English monarchy, showing how the nine dynasties rose and fell.The book describes the most memorable features of the life and times of each king or queen - from Egbert, crowned in 802 and considered the first king of England, to Queen Elizabeth II - as well as recording the extraordinary lives of their queens, consorts, mistresses and bastard children. It also tells the story of the Saxons, describes what has happened to the monarchs'' mortal remains, and relates many lively incidents of royal history that rarely appear in the text books.Read of the saintly Edward the Confessor, who is believed to have refused to consummate his marriage; of the rumbustious Henry VIII, given to beheading those who displeased him; of the ''little gentleman in black velvet'', who caused the death of William III; and of Queen Victoria''s strange servant, the ''Munshi'', Queen Emma, who endured a trial by ordeal; and Anne Boleyn, widely suspected of being a witch.A complete list of the monarchs'' reigns and a genealogical table showing the royal descent down thirty-seven generations from Egbert to Elizabeth II adds to the volume''s reference value.

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Book SynopsisStephen''s reign was one of the darkest periods of English history. He had promised Henry I that he would support the king''s daughter, Matilda, as the rightful heir to the English throne, but when Henry dies in December 1135 he broke his promise and quickly made himself king. Like many of the nobles, he was unwilling to yield the crown to a woman. Civil wars and the battle for the English Crown dominated his reign, and this fascinating book examines the conflict between Stephen and his cousin. The campaigns, battles and sieges of England''s first civil war are explored, including the two major battles at the Standard adn Lincoln, which show that Stephen always held more ground than his opponents and was mostly on the offensive. The two sides finally reached a compromise, after 14 years, with the Treaty of Wallingford - Stephen would rule unopposed until his death but the throne would then pass to Henry of Anjou, Matilda''s son. Full of colourful characters, this is a fascinating story

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Book SynopsisA captivating exploration of the role in which Queen Victoria exerted most international power and influence: her role as matchmaking grandmother. In the late nineteenth century, Queen Victoria had over thirty surviving grandchildren. To maintain power in Europe, she hoped to manoeuvre them into dynastic marriages with royalty across the world. Yet her grandchildren often had plans of their own, fuelled by strong wills and romantic hearts. Her matchmaking plans were further complicated by tumultuous international upheavals; revolution was in the air and after her death, her most carefully laid plans fell to ruin. Queen Victoria's Matchmaking travels through the glittering palaces of Russia and Europe, weaving in scandals, political machinations and family tensions, to enthralling effect. It is at once an intimate portrait of the royal family and an examination of the conflict caused by the power, love and duty that shaped the marriages that Queen Victoria arranged. At tTrade ReviewWonderfully compelling and packed with new material - a gripping story beautifully told -- Jane RidleyCadbury is an adroit storyteller. Her lively, colourfully written book, Queen Victoria’s Matchmaking, recounts the courtships and marriages of a handful of the Queen’s grandchildren … a panoramic family saga, its players by turns pragmatic and romantic, wilful, dutiful, misguided and, occasionally, tragic … Cadbury writes with verve -- Matthew Dennison * Daily Telegraph *[An] absorbing book ... The fall of the Romanovs occupies the superb last pages of Cadbury’s book ... Dynastic mergers, we may deduce from Deborah Cadbury’s account, offer no defence against the whims of history. This catastrophe-laced slice of royal history offers a ripping read -- Miranda Seymour * Observer *Engrossing … Cadbury engagingly presents [Queen Victoria] as a mesmerising Mrs Bennet, summoning her children and then her grandchildren to Balmoral ... The stories of [Queen Victoria’s] descendants are mesmerising and often stranger than fiction … From the pen of a writer of skill and style, this surprising narrative leaves you wanting more -- Paula Byrne * The Times *A skilfully woven account -- Stephan Halliday * Times Higher Education Supplement *Cadbury’s account of Victoria’s attempts to bend her unruly grandchildren to her matrimonial will is the stuff of melodrama … covered with verve and insight by Deborah Cadbury in her new history -- Daisy Goodwin * Sunday Times *An entertaining, well-written and well-conceived book … perceptive and revealing in the light it throws on the mind and attitudes of Victoria. Cadbury has consulted sources in numerous archives, including the Royal Archives at Windsor, and has chosen her quotations with skill * Literary Review *In this enjoyable story for fans of royal machinations, Cadbury ably shows not just the successes, but also the damage inflicted by Victoria's single-mindedness. An instructive European history * Kirkus *Impeccably researched, and written with all the brio and understanding of a major historical novel, Princes at War takes us intimately and even shockingly into the human dynamics of a barely functional family at the time of our greatest peril -- Praise for 'Princes at War', David Kynaston, author of 'Austerity Britain'One of the most riveting tales of the nonfiction season, rendered with novelistic drama but deliberate detachment. The inner tensions of the palace during wartime and the inner tensions of a remarkable family make for one of the best, and ultimately most uplifting, stories of the war years -- Praise for 'Princes at War' * Boston Globe *A moving and deeply researched account ... Her story is gripping, illuminating and generous in its recognition of the central, dramatic role of the monarchy in Britain's finest years -- Praise for 'Princes at War', William ShawcrossDeborah Cadbury combines the family drama against the backdrop of the war with terrific narrative verve -- Praise for 'Princes at War', Daisy Goodwin * The Times *Fascinating, fresh insights into a story of four brothers -- Praise for 'Princes at War', Stephen Halliday * Times Higher Education Supplement *

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Book SynopsisThe Swan King is the biography of one of the most enigmatic figures of the 19th century, described by Verlaine as 'the only true king of his century'. A man of wildly eccentric temperament and touched by a rare, imaginative genius, Ludwig II of Bavaria is remembered both for his patronage of Richard Wagner and for the fabulous palaces which he created as part of a dream-world to escape the responsibilities of state. In realization of his fantasies, he created a ferment of creativity among artists and craftsmen, while his neglect of Bavaria's political interests made powerful enemies among those critical of his self-indulgence and excesses. At the age of 40, declared insane in a plot to depose him, Ludwig died in mysterious circumstances.Table of ContentsPreface The Northern Apollo Reborn The Captive Years From Cage to Throne The Coming of the Friend The Second Lola A Triumph, an Idyll and a Parting Germany in Turmoil Sophie Lilla...and Others Wagnerian Strains A Crucial Decade 1866-1876 Fantasies in Stone Dreams of El Dorado Ludwig II and the Theatre Forbidden Longings Farewell to Wagner The Twilight Years The Trap Closes Prophecies Fulfilled Epilogue: The Cult of the Swan King

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Book SynopsisThis new book portrays the life and character of Good King Billy', one of Britain's most endearing sovereigns and down-to-earth Hanoverians.

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Book SynopsisTold for the very first time, this is the shocking and extraordinary story of the most-conniving and manipulative Tudor family you''ve never heard of . . .???????''A tour-de-force of Tudor history. Remarkable'' DAN JONES''Exciting and immersive. An immensely entertaining history'' SUNDAY TIMES''This is riveting stuff: death, desire, power and scandal'' SPECTATOR''A twist on the Tudors . . . Enormously entertaining - a sheer joy to read'' THE TIMES________Was the House of Dudley out to steal the throne?This was the question on the mind of Elizabeth I''s courtiers when a forbidden book accused generations of the Dudley family of poisonings, plottings, murders, treason, incitement and other ''evil stratagems.''For decades, the Dudleys had been close to the throne, rising from nobodies to the land''s highest offices.Under Henrys VII and VIII, Edward VI, Mary I anTrade ReviewA tour-de-force of Tudor history, as seen through the eyes of a family with a front-row view of almost every major political event in sixteenth-century England. Remarkable -- Dan Jones, Sunday Times bestselling author of Powers and ThronesExciting and immersive. An immensely entertaining history, capturing in full Tudor brilliance the cut-throat glamour of the English throne and the most audacious family to play its game * Sunday Times *House of Dudley is a full-blooded affair, as good on the horrors of war as it is on the soft power of the Dudley women, and written in a lively, episodic style that presents each Dudley as a foil to the monarch they served -- Jessie ChildsBreathes new life into an old and familiar Tudor story. [She] negotiates the labyrinth of Tudor politics with skill, producing a book much more comprehensible and illuminating than others I've read . . . It's delightful, a joy to read * The Times, BOOK OF THE WEEK *I am hugely impressed by The House of Dudley and by the depths of research. This is a pacy narrative, vividly written, that makes you want to read on and on.Joanne Paul is a major new talent in the field and I eagerly await her next book -- Alison WeirThis is riveting stuff: death, desire, power and scandal. Paul has made the most of it, producing a well written and historically grounded page-turner . . . Game of Thrones looks tame compared with the real-life machinations of the Dudleys and the Tudors * Spectator *A twist on the Tudors . . . Enormously entertaining - a sheer joy to read * The Times, '25 BEST HISTORY BOOKS OF 2022' *A hugely entertaining history of three generations of the Dudley family, who dominated the Tudor court * The Times *A thrilling and deeply researched study of power and conspiracy: the rise and fall of the other Tudor dynasty. The House of Dudley illuminates the fascinating men and women who almost became kings and queens in their own right -- Simon Sebag-MontefioreVivid, innovative and authoritative. I could not recommend The House of Dudley more highly. It's a real lesson in how to revitalise the writing of Tudor history -- Sarah GristwoodJoanne Paul's account of this family is rich and compelling. She manages to hit that sweet spot where scholarly history overlaps with dramatic storytelling; she conjures up the look and feel of Tudor life, down to the clothes, the medicines and the furniture, while also being a skilful filler-in of political background . . . Whether or not you have ever succumbed to Mantelmania, you will find yourself drawn in, fascinated, and richly informed * Telegraph *An enthralling read told by Paul with great verve and an eye for the telling detail . . . The family's complex history is concisely and compellingly related * Literary Review *Visceral and illuminating. The extraordinary House of Dudley is the Tudor Game of Thrones. Paul has produced a painstakingly detailed first book with spirit and verve * The Wall Street Journal *Captivating and thought-provoking . . . Sheds immense light onto this often-overlooked family * Royal Studies Journal *The crowning jewel in its genre . . . I can't recommend this book enough. Unputdownable -- Lindsey FitzharrisWhen reading Joanne Paul's lively history of the house of Dudley, it is impossible not to be reminded of Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall trilogy . . . Paul uses the experiences of the Dudleys to light up odd corners and backroom spaces of Tudor palace life * Mail on Sunday *Joanne Paul chronicles the meteoric rise and deadly fall of the Dudleys * BBC History Magazine *Joanne Paul reveals how the might of the Tudor dynasty was built on the blood and sweat of three generations of another family - the Dudleys * BBC History Magazine *Hugely entertaining * The Times, Best Books of Summer 2022 *Fascinating -- Catherine Fletcher * History Today *

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Book SynopsisA magnificent tribute to the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth II, and a celebration of the British royal family.This book is a stunning visual guide to the world''s most famous royals, from Queen Elizabeth''s Norman predecessors to her great-grandchildren. It features events such as the Queens'' coronation and the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, and profiles on key people such as Princess Diana and Prince Harry. This new edition is revised to include the most recent events and milestones, such as the death of the Duke of Edinburgh, the birth of Lilibet and other new family members, the Queen''s Platinum Jubilee, and her death on 8th September 2022. A special 16-page photographic essay is dedicated to her funeral and the accession of King Charles III.This book examines the Queen''s life in detail from her childhood to the end of her reign, but also goes back through more than 1,000 years of history to tell the story of the House of Windsor and the entire succession of kings and queens of England and Scotland. With dazzling galleries of royal artefacts and photographic tours of sumptuous royal residences, this is the perfect book for fans of the Queen and royal family or anyone interested in the history of the British monarchy.

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Book SynopsisA thought-provoking, authoritative biography of one of history’s most maligned rulersTrade Review“In a work which must currently rank as the definitive contribution to our understanding of Louis XVI as a man and a monarch, Hardman displays a quite extraordinary grasp of sources relating to the court and to the high politics of the ancien régime.”—P.M. Jones, English Historical Review"An up-to-date, immensely erudite and compelling study, the fruit of a lifetime’s work on the king. It is also crisply, sometimes brilliantly,written. Hardman’s style is accessible, often witty, and he has a gift for putting complex issues in a nutshell. Louis XVI remains one of the crucial characters in modern history . . . and this is now the best biography of him in any language."—Munro Price, Literary Review"Hardman has devoted much of his life to Louis XVI; some of the excellent illustrations are of objects in his own collection. He uses many new sources, such as papers of the Navy minister the Marechal de Castries, and the magnificent diary of the ambassador the Marquis de Bombelles, spanning the entire period 1780-1822."—Philip Mansel, Spectator"This is the product of a lifetime's research and writing on late eighteenth-century France by one of the foremost scholars of the era. Original, gripping and authoritative, it is the best biography in any language of Louis XVI, and a significant contribution to the history of the French Revolution."—Munro Price, author of The Perilous Crown: France Between Revolutions"John Hardman has written a highly readable, well-paced biography of Louis XVI which draws on the most recent scholarship on French kingship and court politics. He shows sensitivity and sympathy for a monarch who was not blind to what was happening around him but who felt increasingly trapped by forces he could not control."—Alan Forrest, author of Napoleon: Life, Legacy, and Image"This new life of Louis XVI, by the world’s leading authority, not only tells all the good stories with considerable verve, it also offers insightful analyses of the politics of this tragic life that began in the palace of Versailles and ended on the scaffold of the Revolution. It is simply the most authoritative biography of Louis XVI ever written."—Peter Campbell, former professor of French History, University of Versailles

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Book Synopsis A FRESH LOOK AT ONE OF THE MOST EXTRAODINARY MOTHER AND DAUGHTER STORIES OF ALL TIME, FROM BESTSELLING HISTORIAN TRACY BORMAN Readers LOVE Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I:''A wonderful book and one I''m sure I''ll be reading again'' ?????''This really is a triumph! . . . A lucid and fascinating account'' ?????''So well written and meticulously researched'' ?????*************************Anne Boleyn is a subject of enduring fascination. By far the most famous of Henry VIII''s six wives, she has inspired books, documentaries and films, and is the subject of intense debate even today, almost 500 years after her violent death. For the most part, she is considered in the context of her relationship with Tudor England''s much-married monarch. Dramatic though this story is, of even greater interest - and significance - is the relationship between Anne and her daughter, the future Elizabeth I.Elizabeth was less than threeTrade Review'With her extensive research and skilfully woven narrative, Tracy Borman successfully breathes new and enthralling life into the stories of two of the best known women in our history. In so doing, she introduces us to another side of Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth I, and their relationship, one which is both refreshingly unique and fascinating. Masterful, captivating, page-turning, this is solid gold history at its best.' * Nicola Tallis *'For centuries, we were told Elizabeth I never mentioned her disgraced mother. Tracy Borman explodes that myth in this thought-provoking, impeccably researched, and moving account uncovering how Anne's family, intellect, and tragedy shaped Elizabeth I's extraordinary career.' * Gareth Russell *'Anne Boleyn and her daughter Elizabeth I are usually treated as two separate - though both fascinating - individuals. Borman's stroke of genius is to overturn this simplistic view. Her extensive research, tracing the complex web of relationships around the Tudor courts, instead reveals them as the most dazzling female double act in history.' * Sarah Gristwood *In Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I, Tracy Borman sheds fascinating new light on the relationship between the most famous mother and daughter of the sixteenth century. As well as detailing the all too brief personal relationship between the pair, Borman delves expertly into Elizabeth's continuing relationship with a mother that she can barely have remembered. Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I is a compelling read, detailing the myriad ways in which the last Tudor monarch remembered, commemorated and promoted a mother that, to many remained a pariah. A must-read for anyone interested in Anne and Elizabeth, or of the Tudor monarchy in general. * Elizabeth Norton *'Incredibly well-researched, elegantly written, and overall genuinely ground-breaking, Tracy Borman masterfully reveals the bond that existed between the mother, Anne Boleyn, with her daughter, Elizabeth I. Emotional, provocative (in a good way), and thoughtful, this is a history book that all Tudor lovers will want to read.' * Estelle Paranque *This sensational book by one of our greatest and best-loved historians is a MUST for Tudor fans. Never before has Elizabeth I's opinion of her mother, Anne Boleyn, been the subject of an entire book or examined in such fascinating detail. It's a compelling and poignant story, adding immeasurably to our understanding of Elizabeth and shedding new light on the way she saw herself. Astoundingly good. * Alison Weir *'Beautifully envisioned and full of insight, this is a must-read for Tudor history buffs.' -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)'In Borman's accomplished hands, the book makes its case quickly and smoothly - the information is compelling, but never over-burdens us with minutiae.' * Tudor Times *

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Book SynopsisThe Hats of the Crown examines 50 iconic headpieces adorned by the Queen during her reign, uncovering the royal, political and fashion landscape of the time. In her 70 years in power, Queen Elizabeth II has made her mark on history, navigating the ups and downs of the past century and wearing many hats – literally and figuratively. In 1933, little Elizabeth, sits in a carriage alongside her grandfather King George V, wearing a round, pink hat hemmed with flowers. In 2020, the year the world fell into crisis with the covid pandemic, the sovereign dons a very similar hat. Nearly 100 years have passed between these two images, a century of politics, diplomacy and fashion, which is told, in these pages, through the little-known story of the Queen's hats. With a foreword by royal correspondent Alastair Bruce, The Hats of the Crown is a beautiful and informative look back on the life and times of her majesty through these iconic accessories.

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times Top Ten Bestseller''Breathtaking'' The Times''[The book that] made headlines around the world.'' IndependentThe former Prince of Wales has lived his whole life in the public eye, yet he remains an enigma. He was born to be king, but he aims much higher. A landmark publication, Charles: The Heart of a King reveals Charles in all his complexity: the passionate views that mean he will never be as remote and impartial as his mother; the compulsion to make a difference and the many and startling ways in which the Prince and now King of the United Kingdom and fifteen other realms has already made his mark.The book offers fresh and fascinating insights into the first marriage that did so much to define him and an assessment of his relationship with the woman he calls, with unintended accuracy, his ''dearest wife'': Camilla, now Queen Consort. We see Charles as a father and a friend, a sTrade ReviewA must-read … this important book is nothing short of a manual to our future King’s world-view ... and Mayer's book is the first comprehensive attempt to explore and explain what may lie ahead. * GQ *

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Book SynopsisRichard III, King of England from 1483 to 1485, made good laws that still protect ordinary people today. Yet history concentrates on the fictional hunchback as depicted by Shakespeare: the wicked uncle who stole the throne and killed his nephews in the Tower of London.Voices have protested during the intervening years, some of them eminent and scholarly, urging a more reasoned view to replace the traditional black portrait. But historians, whether as authors or presenters of popular TV history, still trot out the old pronouncements about ruthless ambition, usurpation and murder.After centuries of misinformation, the truth about Richard III has been overdue a fair hearing. Annette Carson seeks to redress the balance by examining the events of his reign as they actually happened, based on reports in the original sources. She traces the actions and activities of the principal characters, investigating facts and timelines revealed in documentary evidence. She also dares to investigate areas where historians fear to tread, and raises some controversial questions.In 2012 Carson was a member of Philippa Langley’s Looking For Richard Project, which provided important new answers from the DNA-confirmed discovery of the king’s remains. Her involvement in Langley’s Missing Princes Project, with its international research initiative on the ‘princes in the Tower’, has now informed her revelatory extra chapter.

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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‘My favourite book of the season…a brief and highly selective biography of the QM…concentrating on good stories at the expense of all the guff …along the way we learn some fascinating facts…You know you want this book, and I know you want it, and if you’re very good Father Christmas might bring it for you’ The Spectator ‘Entertaining …compelling…it explains a lot about this most misunderstood of matriarchs…she put the backbone into a royal family that was floundering when she joined it. And she could be shocking and funny’ The Times ‘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+)

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Book SynopsisA gripping royal saga of charmed lives in a changing world. The Jaipurs were India’s mid-century golden couple; its answer to the Kennedys, or Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. Jai and Ayesha, as they were known to friends like Frank Sinatra, Truman Capote and ‘Dickie’ Mountbatten, entertained lavishly at their magnificent palaces and hunting lodges in Rajasthan—and in the nightclubs of London, Paris and New York. But as the Raj gave way to the new India, Jaipur—the most glamorous and romantic of the princely states—had to find its place. The House of Jaipur charts a dynasty’s determination to remain relevant in a democracy set on crushing its privileges. Against the odds, they secured their place at the height of Indian society; but Ayesha would pay for her criticism of Indira Gandhi during the Emergency. From the polo field and politics to imprisonment and personal tragedy, the Jaipurs’ extraordinary journey of transformation mirrors the story of a rapidly changing country.Trade Review'John Zubrzycki does an impressive job of … building up a memorable picture of a glittering family brought to its knees.' -- Daily Mail'Thrilling, deeply satisfying ... a must-read.' -- The Week‘As historian John Zubrzycki dives into the lives of India’s most powerful ruling family in a new book, we look at the power players, past and present, of the grand royal dynasty.’ -- Tatler‘A riveting saga … assiduously researched.’ -- India Today'Extremely readable . . . a nuanced view of the failings and contributions of Indian princes.' -- Sir Mark Tully, former BBC Bureau Chief, New Delhi'Zubrzycki unearths hidden gems with his remarkable storytelling.' -- The Hindu'An intriguing book which will keep the readers hooked till the end.' -- The Times of India'Goes beyond the glitter and gold of the Jaipur royal household to dig out the obscure accounts of romantic jealousies, property feuds, fatal addictions, suppressed grief and more.' -- Indian Express'A fascinating and absorbing book with an unforgettable cast of characters.' -- Sagarika Ghose, author of Indira: India’s Most Powerful Prime Minister

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Book SynopsisThe Queen is a timely book with beautiful photos and fascinating details about one of the most famous women of modern times: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the longest reigning British monarch in history. “Throughout all my life and with all my heart I shall strive to be worthy of your trust.” —Queen Elizabeth II, Coronation Speech, June 2, 1953 When the Queen passed away on September 8, 2022, at the age of 96, she had reigned over the United Kingdom for a total of 70 years and 214 days, having endured the ups and downs that long life will bring. She was a beacon of hope during and after the Second World War in difficult times when the world faced a precarious future, and she served as a role model for generations of men and women who continue to be in awe of her commitment to service, sacrifice, and the Commonwealth of nations over which she ruled. The abdication of her uncle, Edward VIII, in 1936 turned her family’s world upside-down. When her father was crowned King George VI, Elizabeth was thrust into the eye of the storm as a future queen. A shy and reserved child, she grew into a wise and insightful monarch who dealt ably with 15 British Prime Ministers during her long reign, from Winston Churchill to Liz Truss. It was, of course, not always straightforward and the Queen found herself in hot water several times, most notably during the marriage of Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales. When Diana was tragically killed in a car crash, the standing of the Royal Family was probably at its lowest ebb. It is unlikely that we will ever see a monarch reign so long or so effectively again, holding together a disparate group of nations, each with its own aspirations, customs, and traditions. From her uncle’s abdication to the marriage of Princess Diana and Prince Charles, this intriguing biography includes all the ups and downs of Queen Elizabeth’s long life.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 A Beacon of Hope 2 The Duke of York’s Speech 3 The Gathering Storm 4 Abdication and Coronation 5 Coming of Age 6 Rumors of a Royal Romance 7 The Unpolished Prince 8 Announcing the Betrothal 9 The Future of the Monarchy 10 The Passing of George VI 11 Becoming the World’s Queen 12 Princess Margaret’s Impossible Dream 13 Prince Philip and the Thursday Club 14 The Little British Sovereign 15 The Wind of Change 16 The Future King Swears Allegiance 17 The Wealthiest Woman in the World 18 Diana and the Deputy Queen 19 At War with the Queen of Hearts 20 A New Century Dawns 21 Lines of Succession 22 HAPPINESS AND HEARTACHE 23 THE PASSING OF THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH Further Reading Index

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Book SynopsisThe first full exploration of the accusations of malicious witchcraft that plagued the lives of four royal women, and the Woodville line, for centuriesTrade ReviewThis introduces new readers, in the most accessible and colourful way, to a group of royal women who certainly deserve more public notice than they have hitherto received -- Professor Ronald Hutton, author of author of The Witch: A History of Fear, from Ancient Times to the Present

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Book SynopsisThe tall, handsome Abdul Karim was just twenty-four years old when he arrived in England from Agra to wait at tables during Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. An assistant clerk at Agra Central Jail, he suddenly found himself a personal attendant to the Empress of India herself. Within a year, he was established as a powerful figure at court, becoming the queen's teacher, or Munshi, and instructing her in Urdu and Indian affairs. Devastated by the death of John Brown, her Scottish ghillie, the queen had at last found his replacement. But her intense and controversial relationship with the Munshi led to a near-revolt in the royal household. Victoria & Abdul examines how a young Indian Muslim came to play a central role at the heart of the empire, and his influence over the queen at a time when independence movements in the sub-continent were growing in force. Yet, at its heart, it is a tender love story between an ordinary Indian and his elderly queen, a relationshTrade Review'Totally absorbing' * Daily Telegraph *'A tale of Empire and intrigue brought vividly back to life' -- VIKAS SWARUP * author of Slumdog Millionaire *'A charming tale which should have been told before' * BBC History Magazine *

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Book SynopsisDiscover the real personality behind the multi-million-dollar Netflix blockbuster Outlaw King

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Book SynopsisAS SEEN IN THE TIMES AND UPDATED WITH NEW MATERIALThe Sunday Times and New York Times bestsellerTHE ROYAL BOOK OF THE YEAR' Daily MailTHIS CRISIS IS AS BIG AS THE ABDICATION SAYS LACEY, HISTORICAL ADVISOR TO THE CROWN.The world has watched Prince William and Prince Harry since they were born. Raised by Princess Diana to be the closest of brothers, how have the boy princes grown into very different, now distanced men?From royal expert and bestselling author Robert Lacey, this book is an unparalleled insider account of tumult and secrecy revealing the untold details of William and Harry's early closeness then estrangement. It asks what happens when two sons are raised for vastly different futures one burdened with the responsibility of one day becoming king, the other with the knowledge that he will always remain spare.How have William and Harry each formed their idea of a modern royal's duty and how they should behave? Were the seeds of damage sowed as Prince Charles and Diana's marriTrade Review PRAISE FOR BATTLE OF BROTHERS ‘They were dubbed the Fab Four, but with a smitten Harry exploding at perceived slights to Meghan, the Princes were torn apart by anger that survives today, as Robert Lacey reveals in the royal book of the year’Daily Mail ‘You've read Finding Freedom – now discover the whole story’Tatler ‘A riveting, well researched book’Piers Morgan ‘A portrayal of the royal heir and the spare that rebalances our perceptions of both … It may also convince some readers that Harry made the right decision’Sunday Times ‘A poignant account of the princes’ unhappy childhood’The Times PRAISE FOR ROBERT LACEY’S PREVIOUS BOOKS 'Robert Lacey is the King of royal biographers'Kitty Kelley 'A unique insight… Respected for the depth and extend of his research and contacts, Robert Lacey knows arguably more about the Queen than any other commentator writing today'Daily Mail 'Robert Lacey makes you feel like you're right there, in the palace, in the castle’Vanity Fair ‘Lacey has arranged his material beautifully; not one of these 400 pages is tiresome or dull’Evening Standard ‘[Lacey] has an eye for the telling image … Smart, thorough and well crafted, it is absolutely of its time’Scotsman ‘Has bestseller written all over it’Observer ‘Compulsively readable’Sunday Telegraph 'Beautifully written and thought-provoking … Robert Lacey has written a highly accomplished book which should go into the bags of anyone who has to travel to the kingdom'Literary Review 'Incisive … The real triumph of this book … is the way it peels away the layers of mystery that shroud a civil society of which we have almost no knowledge'Sunday Times

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Book SynopsisHarold Nicolson called her ''the greatest Queen since Cleopatra'', while Cecil Beaton called her ''a marshmallow made on a welding machine''. Stephen Tennant said: ''She looked everything that she was not: gentle, gullible, tenderness mingled with dispassionate serenity, cool, well-bred, remote. Behind this veil she schemed and vacillated, hard as nails.'' Who was she? The Queen Mother''s story has not yet been properly told. This was partly due to her long life, and the difficulty that always exists when a biography of a living person is attempted, partly because she was a queen - and the real person gets hidden behind the perceived image - and partly because she is hard to pin down. From her privileged aristocratic childhood, to the Abdication and the problems with Diana - this book questions how she faced her challenges and crises, assesses her role, how powerful she was, and how she coped. This is a candid, personal portrait of one of Britain''s most loved nationTrade ReviewA bulging plum pudding of insider snippets in the Cecil Beaton tradition, with camp and catty asides laced with worldly wisdom... Vickers has done serious research in some important areas -- Robert Lacey * Sunday Times *This is the first full-length biography - and who better to write it than Hugo Vickers... He is at home in the courtier's world and the circles which the Queen Mother inhabited... A very considerable achievement -- Sarah Bradford * Spectator *A major new biography... Filled with telling anecdotes, it paints an affectionate yet revealing portrait * Daily Mail *There is a small handful of British royal biographies which have acquired classic status... To this number must certainly be added Hugo Vickers's life of Elizabeth the Queen Mother. It is a truly magnificent book... Written with true authority. Hugo Vickers knows his subject through and through... A monumental record of why we all found the Queen Mother such a loveable and inspiring person, and why her pluck and her humour appealed to so wide a public -- A.N. Wilson * Country Life *Witty and respectful … An overall portrait which may well be as close as anyone will ever get to the truth -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisDiscover the untold story behind one of the most sensational chapters in the history of the House of Windsor''This book had me in tears and also made me smile'' 5***** Reader Review ''A loving, informative, respectful tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales'' 5***** Reader Review ''A brilliant and provoking book . . . I was stunned'' 5***** Reader Review _______ In A Royal Duty, Paul Burrell reveals new truths about Princess Diana - and presents for the first time as faithful an account of her thoughts as we can ever hope to read. He was the favourite footman who formed a unique relationship with the Queen. He was the butler who the Princess of Wales called ''my rock'' and ''the only man I can trust''. He was accused of theft, then acquitted following the historic intervention of the monarch. He was the Princess'' most intimate confidante - and is the only person able to separate the myth from the truth of the Diana years. Now, at last, Paul Burrell cuts through the gossip and the lies and takes us closer to the complex heart of the Royal Family than ever before.

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisThis is the story not only of the head of a dynasty, but also a history of our times.Table of ContentsThe House of Windsor • George VI • Elizabeth and Philip • The Young Queen • Parliament and Politics • Family and Duty • Commonwealth Queen • The People's Princess • Annus Horribilis • The New Generation.

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