Biography: royalty Books

Book SynopsisThe acclaimed biography by Jeffrey Robinson, now revised and updated to coincide with the major motion picture starring Nicole Kidman as Princess Grace.It was one of the most famous romances of the 20th century-Europe's most eligible bachelor, Prince Rainier of Monaco, and America's most beautiful movie star, the Academy Award-winning actress Grace Kelly, fell in love against the backdrop of the closest thing the modern world has to a magical kingdom, the French Riviera's Principality of Monaco.Told with affection and humor, and written with the unprecedented cooperation of Prince Rainier III and his children, Prince Albert, Princess Caroline, and Princess Stephanie, Grace of Monaco takes readers beneath the surface glitz and the glamour of Monte Carlo for a never-to-be-forgotten portrait of the House of Grimaldi.Trade Review"One of the best biographies of the year." -- St. Louis Post Dispatch "Rekindles the magic of the century's greatest love stories." -- Daily Express "Wonderful." -- USA Today "Creates a picture of a fascinating woman and an enduring love affair." -- Boston Herald "The first inside story of the world's most glamorous family." -- Sunday Mirror Infodad blog, 7/9/15 "There is a fair amount of information here about Monaco, much of it interesting history...The book's discussion of how their public-relations work was handled by Nadia Lacoste certainly offers insight into celebrity management and marketing--at least in the 1950s...Robinson's book shows clearly how Grace and Rainier fit the "untouchable" model of celebrity, with people wanting to know everything they could about them, see as much of them as possible, but never for a moment believing that the glamorous lives of Grace and Rainier were anything like their own mundane ones...Grace of Monaco is a story of what celebrity used to be and how it changed over time."

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Fresh, gripping and vivid' Simon Sebag Montefiore 'Majestically narrated' Dan Jones 'A portrait that chills you to the bone' Leanda de Lisle, The TimesA dedicated brother and loyal stalwart to the Yorkist dynasty for most of his early life, Richard's personality was forged in the tribulation of exile and the brutality of combat. An ambitious nobleman and successful general with a loyal following, he could claim to have achieved every ambition in life except one: the crown.By stripping back the legends that surround England's most controversial king and returning to original manuscript evidence, Chris Skidmore's compelling biography reveals Richard III as contemporaries saw him.Trade ReviewExhaustively researched, scrupulously even-handed and a genuinely fresh approach to one of the most ploughed-over and controversial reigns in English history. Skidmore neatly sidesteps the by-now sterile controversy about Richard's character and draws instead on the unusually full documentation of the reign to offer a detailed and persuasive narrative of what Richard actually did - and, at least as importantly, what he was thought to have done -- David StarkeyA fresh, gripping and vivid portrait of a Richard III who is not just chilling, ruthless and terrifying but also a practical politician in a brutal age - a man of his time -- Simon Sebag MontefioreA bold and fresh new biography of one of the most enduringly fascinating monarchs in all of British history, steeped in the latest research and majestically narrated -- Dan JonesA deeply absorbing account - intelligent, forensic and thought-provoking - of one of the most dramatic, disturbed and disturbing moments in English history -- Helen CastorThrillingly paced, meticulously researched, refreshingly free of psychological speculations, Skidmore's supremely insightful biography is a joy to read -- John GuyA portrait that chills you to the bone ... Skidmore describes Richard's death in horrifying detail ... It marks the bloody climax to a biography in which the unfolding horror comes from the slow burn of detail drawn from manuscript sources and recent scholarship judiciously presented, and in a story well told -- Leanda de Lisle * The Times *Richard III, of all the English monarchs, deserves a fair hearing and Chris Skidmore's meticulous account does justice to this vilified king. With forensic detail, Skidmore looks at sources as well as rumours to build a picture of the last Plantagenet monarch. What shines out from this modern biography is the author's attempt to be fair to the last English king to ride in battle, who took murderous decisions in life; but died a hero -- Philippa GregoryScholarly and genuinely objective ... Skidmore is adept at placing in proper perspective the dilemmas that faced Richard ... Highly readable -- Andrew Roberts * Wall Street Journal *Skidmore's new biography of Richard is a full and measured account of his subject ... [He] tells the story with style and the empathy of a well-trained historian ... Skidmore has given us an eminently readable account of Richard's life and reign, firmly anchored in fifteenth-century politics and culture -- David Grummitt * Times Literary Supplement *It is all but impossible to write either something fresh, or something fair, about Richard III, yet Chris Skidmore has pulled off both feats. Wide-ranging research brings out a Richard who is neither the crookbacked villain nor the victim, but a man for all political seasons, whose fall illumines his violent, complex age -- Sarah Gristwood, author of Game of Queens[Examines hostile indictments of Richard III] with sharp writing and a marvellously exhaustive command of contemporary documentary sources ... In the author's hands, there's no lack of thrilling details in Richard's saga ... His biography bids fair to become the definitive account for the twenty-first century -- Bob Duffy * Washington Independent Review of Books *King Richard III is one of the most divisive figures in history, but this new biography aims to ignore the controversy and return to the facts: his personality, motivations and allegiances. How single-minded was his pursuit of power, and what role did he really play in the deaths of his young nephews? * History Revealed *This first-rate book ... will be read with great profit and pleasure by fellow historians, and by all those who simply enjoy learning about dramatic episodes in the past from a fine writer -- Alistair Lexden * The London Magazine *Skidmore successfully creates a balanced biography of the famously complicated last king of the Yorkist line ... [T]his carefully researched biography effectively captures Richard's turbulent reign and intense personality up to the violent end * Publishers Weekly *No monarch in British history excites greater curiosity ... This first-rate book of some 400 pages will be read with great profit and pleasure by fellow historians - and by all those who simply enjoy learning about dramatic episodes in the past from a fine writer -- Lord Lexden * The House Magazine *His portrayal of Richard is balanced; his narrative detailed and engaging. For those familiar with Richard's life, this will be a refreshing read; for those not, this will be an excellent introduction * Historical Novel Society *

Read more less

Book SynopsisExploring beyond the banal newspaper headlines that have caricatured our future king over the years, Robert Jobson's biography provides a fresh insight into the extraordinary life of HRH Charles, Prince of Wales as he passes his seventieth birthday at a watershed in the history of the modern British monarchy. Based on extensive fresh material and resources, the book debunks the myths about the man who will be king, telling his full, true story. The author has met Prince Charles on countless occasions, and draws on the knowledge and memories of a number of sources close to the prince who have never spoken before, as well as members of the Royal Household past and present who have served him during his decades of public service. The book also reveals the truth about the Prince's deeply loving but not always conventional relationship with his second wife and chief supporter, Camilla. The result is an intriguing new portrait of a man on the cusp of kingship.Charles: Our Future King explores the Prince's complex character, his profoundly held beliefs and deep thinking about religion - including Islam - politics, the armed services, the monarchy and the constitution, providing an illuminating portrait of what kind of king Charles III will be.Trade ReviewA compelling book full of ground-breaking new material -- Book review * Daily Mail *Shocking and ground-breaking -- Book review * Daily Mirror *A bombshell new book -- Book review * The Sun *

Read more less

Book SynopsisCleopatra Selene, daughter of Cleopatra VII of Egypt and Mark Antony, was the only member of the Ptolemaic dynasty to survive after her parents were defeated by the future Roman emperor Augustus at the Battle of Actium. Paraded as a prisoner in a Roman triumph, then brought up in the household of Augustus’ sister Octavia, she would marry a North African prince, becoming co-ruler of the Roman client-state of Mauretania. Jane Draycott recreates the life and times of a woman who became a powerful ruler in her own right at a time when most women were marginalised, and whose remarkable life shines new and revelatory light on Roman politics, society and culture in the early years of the Empire.Trade ReviewAnyone who wants to learn more about [an] underappreciated female ruler should read this book * All About History *Draycott brings to life the little-known story of an intelligent, powerful woman of mixed Macedonian, Roman, and Egyptian heritage making her own way in exciting historical times -- Adrienne Mayor, author of The Amazons: Lives and Legends of Warrior Women across the Ancient WorldA vibrant and fascinating portrait of a great woman who deserves her place in the pantheon of Roman queens -- Emma Southon, author of Agrippina: The Most Extraordinary Woman of the Roman WorldFascinating! Full of fabulous facts about ancient Rome, Egypt and North Africa. I loved all the details of life in Cleopatra's world supported by a feast of visual and literary references -- Caroline Lawrence, author of The Roman MysteriesJane Draycott has written an excellent account of Cleopatra's daughter – princess, captive, and queen. In Draycott's capable hands, the archaeological evidence tells half the tale, and it is intriguing. Here, Cleopatra Selene finally attains her rightful place in history -- Barry Strauss, Cornell University, author of The War that Made the Roman Empire: Antony, Cleopatra, and Octavian at ActiumIt is extraordinary that such a story has remained untold for so long. The historian and archaeologist Jane Draycott has masterfully pieced together a rich range of literary and artistic sources to create this immensely readable account of a great queen, Egyptian and Roman, who wielded power at a time when women were largely marginalised. * New Statesman *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisPrincess Diana is seen as the first member of the British royal family to tear up the rulebook, and the Duchess of Cambridge is modernising the monarchy in strides. But before them was another who paved the way.Princess Mary was born in 1897. Despite her Victorian beginnings, she strove to make a princess’s life meaningful, using her position to help those less fortunate and defying gender conventions in the process. As the only daughter of King George V and Queen Mary, she would live to see not only two of her brothers ascend the throne but also her niece Queen Elizabeth II.She was one of the hardest-working members of the royal family, known for her no-nonsense approach and her determination in the face of adversity. During the First World War she came into her own, launching an appeal to furnish every British troop and sailor with a Christmas gift, and training as a nurse at Great Ormond Street Hospital.From her dedication to the war effort, to her role as the family peacemaker during the Abdication Crisis, Mary was the princess who redefined the title for the modern age. In the first biography in decades, Elisabeth Basford offers a fresh appraisal of Mary’s full and fascinating life.Trade ReviewAt last a biography of Princess Mary, the Queen’s aunt – and a good one ... She has long deserved a full study and in Elisabeth Basford, she has found a dedicated and sympathetic biographer, who has done her full justice -- Hugo VickersAn enjoyable, worthwhile story, not least in its celebration of an exemplary royal record undertaken with modesty, kindliness and sincerity -- Matthew Dennison, Daily TelegraphFilled with never previously known information, this first full biography is the definitive read for this refreshingly forward-looking, eternally good-willed and relatively little-known Princess -- Annabel Sampson, TatlerShe was an exemplar of the unflagging postwar countess, always doing good, always keeping busy to stave off grief. When we contemplate the Queen’s lifelong devotion to duty, we sense the influence of her unpretentious aunt -- Ysenda Maxtone Graham, The TimesSurprisingly, there has never been a biography of Princess Mary, the Queen's aunt and sister to George VI and the Duke of Windsor, until now. Elisabeth Basford's diligently researched account of the princess's life is therefore a welcome one ... Basford persuasively argues that she was a thoroughly modern member of the royal family, possessed of genuine compassion and interest in helping others ... Perhaps some of her descendants could learn from her -- Alexander Larman, Observer

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe expertly written text offers an insight into the private and public life of the heir to the throne of England, from his early years at Buckingham Palace through to his education at Gordonstoun and Trinity College, Cambridge, as well as his time in the Royal Navy. With a wide range of humanitarian and social interests, Charles is patron to a number of charities and organisations, including The Princes’s Trust, founded in 1976. He has played a central role as father to Princes William and Harry and his devotion and dedication to his mother, Queens Elizabeth II, is outstanding. 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.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisHer Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was Britain's head of state for a remarkable seven decades.She was revered for her steadfastness, admired for her dedication to her country, loved for her sense of humour and the way she put everyone she met at ease.The Queen was, quite simply, one of a kind. She was a record breaker her reign was the longest of any British monarch; she was the world's oldest monarch; and she was the first British monarch to reach the age of 95. Not only that, her marriage to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, which lasted 73 years until his death in 2021, was the longest of any British sovereign.In tribute to a truly remarkable queen who was also a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother this publication looks back on her fascinating life, the people she met, the places she visited, her family and her commitment to her country and Commonwealth.This revised and updated edition, originally published as The Queen at 95, contains hundreds of carefully chosen images that mark her 70-year reign and pays tribute to her unwavering devotion to duty.

Read more less

Book SynopsisKing Farouk came to the throne in 1936, at the tender age of 16. The young monarch? s rule was to the be the last in a dynasty that had run this ancient land since 1805. Melekper Toussoun? s account is a history told from the inside, as someone who was part of that final dynasty which held the helm until the monarchy was toppled in a coup d''é tat in 1952 ? a coup d? é tat that would probably not have taken place had the young king not suffered an accident that affected the neuronal pathways in his brain.This evocative and highly personal narrative tells the story of the young monarch, and pivots on one central event that was to change everything - Farouk? s car accident on a country road in 1943, in which he sustained an injury which, without damaging his intellectual faculties, changed instantly and permanently his behaviour and personality. Melekper Toussoun evocatively conveys the stresses and strains the king was under through those tortured years, and highlights the gulf between his behaviour before and after the accident where ''Farouk was no longer Farouk.''

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis “engrossing, fast-paced, extremely well-researched biography” (Booklist) transports us to Tudor and Stuart England as Alice Spencer, the daughter of an upstart sheep farmer, becomes one of the most powerful women in the country and establishes a powerful dynasty that endures to this day. Perfect for fans of The Duchess Countess and Georgiana.Alice Spencer was born in 1560 to a family on the rise. Her grandfather had amassed a sizeable estate of fertile grazing land and made a small fortune in sheep farming, allowing him to purchase a simple but distinguished manor house called Althorp. With her sizable dowry, Alice married the heir to one of the most powerful aristocratic families in the country, eventually becoming the Countess of Derby. Though she enjoyed modest renown, it wasn’t until her husband’s sudden death (after he turned in a group of Catholics for plotting against Queen Elizabeth I) that Alice a

Read more less

Book Synopsis'A delightful insight into an eclectic life'The Daily Telegraph'Very funny and astute . . . a loathly feast for royal-watchers' Hilary Mantel, New Statesman Books of the Year 2018'A complete delight, conjuring up, with a few sharp strokes of the pen, a mad, exotic species from a world gone by'Craig Brown, Mail on Sunday'Gloriously indiscreet . . . the best royal book ever'Harry Mount, Financial Times* * *When James Pope-Hennessy began his work on Queen Mary's official biography, it opened the door to meetings with royalty, court members and retainers around Europe. The series of candid observations, secrets and indiscretions contained in his notes were to be kept private for 50 years. Now published in full for the first time and edited by the highly admired royal biographer Hugo Vickers, this is a riveting, often hilarious portrait of the eccentric aristocracy of a bygone age. Giving much greater insight into Queen Mary than the official version, and including sharply observed encounters with, among others, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, the Duke of Gloucester, and a young Queen Elizabeth, The Quest for Queen Mary is set to be a classic of royal publishing.Trade Review'Arguably the most riotously funny volume published this year' -- Max Hastings * The Sunday Times *'A complete delight, conjuring up, with a few sharp strokes of the pen, a mad, exotic species from a world gone by . . . one of this year's funniest and most eccentric books' -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *'Intoxicating, frank and often hilarious anthology of interviews . . . what this fine book demonstrates with wit, candour, and unassailable force, is that royal persons are not at all like ordinary people' -- Alexander Waugh * New York Review of Books *'Illuminating, intriguing and boundlessly entertaining' -- Martin Williams * Country Life *'Superbly edited ... like all the best interviews, these are stories about the hunter circling his prey, and they reveal as much about the interviewer as his subject ... a splendid book' -- Jane Ridley * Spectator *'Wickedly indiscreet . . . one of those rare books that will fascinate and amuse' * The Herald Scotland *

Read more less

Book SynopsisElizabeth Revealed is a lively and affectionate celebration of The Queen's long and eventful life. This gorgeously illustrated book blends personal and public, frivolous and factual in a tribute to an extraordinary woman and the sweeping social changes she has lived through. The enjoyable '500 Facts' format highlights surprising aspects of The Queen's intimate life, the good and the bad years. It offers illuminating glimpses into a changing monarchy and royal family life as an elegant young princess developed into the most famous woman in the world.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe crucial first years of Henry IV's reign examined, to discover how he met and overcame the challenges created by his usurpation of the throne. Having seized the throne from his cousin Richard II in 1399, Henry Bolingbroke, the first nobleman to be made king of England since the twelfth century, faced the remarkable challenge of securing his power and authority over a kingdom that was divided and in turmoil. This collection of essays - the first such collection focusing specifically on the reign of the first Lancastrian king - by some of the leading historians of late medieval England, takes a fresh look at the crucial but neglected first years of Henry IV's reign, examining how Henry met and overcame the challenges which his usurpation created. Topics covered include a reappraisal of the events surrounding the revolutionof 1399; Henry's relations with his northern magnates; the Yorkshire rising of 1405; the "Long Parliament" of 1406 and the nature and purpose of the king's council. This collection adds significantly to an understanding of the character of Henry IV, as well as the circumstances in which he ruled, and will be essential for anyone with an interest in late medieval English political history. Dr GWILYM DODD is Lecturer in History at the University of Nottingham; Dr DOUGLAS BIGGS teaches at the Department of History at Waldorf College. Contributors: M. ARVANIGIAN, MICHAEL J. BENNETT, DOUGLAS BIGGS, JOEL BURDEN, GWILYM DODD, ANTHONY GOODMAN, ANDY KING, CYNTHIA J. NEVILLE, A.J.TUCK, SIMON K. WALKER.Trade ReviewA thought provoking and stimulating collection of essays, which will raise many questions, and will stimulate further research. * SOUTHERN HISTORY *All these essays are well researched and extremely detailed contributions to scholarship, and many revise current understanding of particular issues and episodes in the early years of Henry IV.... This collection says a great deal about the state of late medieval English political history. * HISTORY *Stimulating [and] well-researched. * NORTHERN HISTORY *Table of ContentsIntroduction - Henry of Bolingbroke and the Revolution of 1399 - How Do You Bury a Deposed King? The Funeral of Richard II and the Establishment of Lancastrian Royal Authority in 1400 - Joel Burden Henry IV and Chivalry - A J Tuck Scotland, the Percies and the Law in 1400 - Cynthia J Neville Henry IV's Council, 1399-1405 - Gwilym Dodd Henry IV, the Northern Nobility and the Consolidation of the Regime - Mark Arvanigian 'They have the Hertes of the People by North': Northumberland, the Percies and Henry IV, 1399-1408 - Andy King The Yorkshire Risings of 1405: Texts and Contexts - Simon K Walker The Politics of Health: Henry IV and the Long Parliament of 1406 - Doug Biggs

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book SynopsisDiscover Diana's extraordinary life principles and the secret keys that focused her destiny. Learn how she achieved freedom from oppression and became a force of liberation. Diana's legacy is to help you find your voice of change and live your soul's purpose. Her spirit lives on, inspiring us all.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA definitive new biography of one of British history's most controversial figures, that seeks to bring peace to Richard III's reputation.

Read more less

Book SynopsisQueen Victoria''s son, Prince Leopold, died from haemophilia, but no member of the royal family before his generation had suffered from the condition. Medically, there are only two possibilities: either one of Victoria''s parents had a 1 in 50,000 random mutation, or Victoria was the illegitimate child of a haemophiliac man. However the haemophilia gene arose, it had a profound effect on history. Two of Victoria''s daughters were silent carriers who passed the disease to the Spanish and Russian royal families. The disease played a role in the origin of the Spanish Civil War; and the tsarina''s concern over her only son''s haemophilia led to the entry of Rasputin into the royal household, contributing directly to the Russian Revolution. Finally, if Queen Victoria was illegitimate, who should have inherited the British throne? The answer is astonishing.Table of ContentsGod save you! where's the princesse?; dynastic climbers; Victoire and Victoria; the ugly ducking; the bleeders; mutation or bastard?; crowns rolling about the floor; the pretenders; the Coburgs and haemophilia in Iberia; later generation; a breed apart.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Nawab Nazim was born into one of India's most powerful royal families. Three times the size of Great Britain, his kingdom ranged from the soaring Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal. However, in 1880, he was forced to abdicate by the British authorities, who saw him as a threat and permanently abolished his titles. The Nawab's change in fortune marked the end of an era in India and left his secret English family abandoned. The Last Prince of Bengal tells the true story of the Nawab Nazim, his wife and their descendants, as they sought by turns to befriend, settle in and eventually escape Britain. From glamourous receptions with Queen Victoria to a scandalous Muslim marriage with an English chambermaid; from Bengal tiger hunts to sheep farming in the harsh Australian outback, Lyn Innes recounts her ancestors' extraordinary journey from royalty to relative anonymity. Exposing complex prejudices regarding race, class and gender, this riveting account visits the extremes of British rule in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It is also the intimate story of one family and their place in defining moments of recent Indian, British and Australian history.Table of ContentsMaps Family Trees Introduction PART I Chapter 1: A prince in name 1838-1848 Chapter 2: Money, power and politics 1849-1859 Chapter 3: Passage from India 1859-1869 Chapter 4: A Cinderella story 1852-1870 Chapter 5: Battling Parliament and the press 1869-1873 Chapter 6: The Nawab's English family 1871-1881 Chapter 7: Leaving England 1880-1884 PART II Chapter 8: Sarah's fight 1885-1925 Chapter 9: Royal bohemians 1907-1914 Chapter 10: Weathering the war 1914-1919 Chapter 11: Writing for a living 1920-1925 Chapter 12: Farming down under 1925-1927 Chapter 13: Divided families 1927-1941 Epilogue Acknowledgements Image Credits Selective Sources Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisTo refer to the private life of Charles II is to abuse the adjective. His personal life was anything but private. His amorous liaisons were largely conducted in royal palaces surrounded by friends, courtiers and literally hundreds of servants and soldiers. Gossip radiated throughout the kingdom. Charles spent most of his wealth and his intellect on gaining and keeping the company of women, from the lowest sections of society such as the actress Nell Gwyn to the aristocratic Louise de Kérouaille. Some of Charles'' women played their part in the affairs of state, colouring the way the nation was run. Don Jordan and Michael Walsh take us inside Charles'' palace, where we will meet court favourites, amusing confidants, advisors jockeying for political power, mistresses past and present as well as key figures in his inner circle such as his ''pimpmasters'' and his personal pox doctor.The astonishing private life of Charles II reveals much about the man he was and Trade ReviewEntertaining history of the antics of the libidinous King Charles II and his licentious court ... tells you everything you need to know about 17th-Century sex -- Sebastian Shakespeare Tatler The King's Bed violates all the po-faced standards of serious scholarship, but that's precisely what makes it so enjoyable -- Gerard DeGroot The Times Don Jordan and Michael Walsh share an unerring nose for a good subject ... These romps through Charles's bed-chamber are wonderfully lively ... Narrating a libertine's life with a gusto tempered by sound common sense, they have produced a book that is as pleasantly addictive as might be suggested by its racy title -- Miranda Seymour Sunday Times While showing that 'never again would an English royal court reverberate with such fun and vigour, so much youthful swagger and sexuality', the book makes clear that Charles's sex addiction had its darker side Mail on Sunday In a tone of breezy bravado in keeping with their concept of their subject's character, Don Jordan and Michael Walsh have written a swashbuckling life of Charles II ... the stuff of a TV mini-series ... the authors have a keen eye for memorable anecdotes which consistently hold the reader's attention Spectator This hugely entertaining book gives the low-down on the many mistresses who shared [Charles II's] bed Mail on Sunday

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review“Freed has done so much to illuminate the ins and out of German politics in the late 12th century, ensuring that his book will be a constant point of reference for scholars.”—David Abulafia, History Today“Crafting an erudite biography on Frederick Barbarossa is no easy task, but Freed offers a comprehensive account of Frederick’s reign, rich in historical detail, that is suitable for scholars, students, and the general reader alike. This may be the go-to work on Frederick Barbarossa in English for quite some time yet.”—Stephen Donnachie, Royal Studies Journal‘John Freed's Frederick Barbarossa is a monumental achievement. Not only is it the first serious biography in English of one of the most fascinating and important individuals of the European Middle Ages. It also offers a thoughtful, lucid and immensely readable way into the environment and society from which Barbarossa emerged, and of the challenges and opportunities to be faced in writing about the wonderful world of the first Staufen emperor. We owe John Freed a collective debt of gratitude not only for having braced and mastered these challenges so magisterially, but also for the enjoyment and instruction that his book brings. It will teach experts much they did not know or had not thought about, but it will equally appeal to anyone interested in one of the most transformative periods in the history of medieval Europe.’ – Björn Weiler, author of Kingship, Rebellion and Political Culture: England and Germany, c.1215–c.1250‘John Freed has written a truly monumental biography, which will remain unchallenged as the authoritative account of Barbarossa for a long time to come. Rooted in a comprehensive command of the medieval sources and enriched by Freed’s profound understanding of twelfth-century aristocratic politics and society, this book reveals a Barbarossa stripped at last of many centuries of accumulated myth: as prince, dynast and warlord. Students of medieval history have waited a long time for a fully satisfactory treatment of one of the twelfth century’s most dazzling and complex personalities. With this brilliant and deeply learned book, their wait is over.’ - Len Scales, author of The Shaping of German Identity: Authority and Crisis, 1245–1414 “John Freed’s biography is the first in English for half a century. A 700-page doorstopper, this impressive, learned book certainly makes amends for this previously serious oversight… Thanks to Freed’s scholarly but highly readable biography, this pragmatic Teutonic Arthur might finally gain greater renown beyond Germany.”—Sean McGlynn, Spectator -- Sean McGlynn * Spectator *“Freed’s book is certainly a cause for celebration and will be a lasting resource… gives us a compelling, readable and very well-informed narrative of Frederick’s thirty-eight reign, that made him —with Henry II of England, Louis VII of France and Manuel I of Byzantium — one of the leading political personalities of Europe.”—Mark Whittow, TLS -- Mark Whittow * TLS *“Freed has done so much to illuminate the ins and out of German politics in the late 12th century, ensuring that his book will be a constant point of reference for scholars.”—David Abulafia, History Today -- David Abulafia * History Today *

Read more less

Book SynopsisMemorable not for his life but his death, Edward V is probably better known as one of the Princes in the Tower, the supposed victim of his uncle, Richard III. This work presents to us the backdrop to this tragically short life - and reveals how he was both the hope of a dynasty and an integral cause of that dynasty''s collapse.

Read more less

Book SynopsisKing-makers - Conspirators - Criminals - Nobles - Seducers''A riveting story, splendidly told'' DAILY TELEGRAPH''Gripping and gruesome'' BIG ISSUE IN THE NORTH''Fascinating close-ups of outlandish Tudor behaviour'' DAILY MAILThe Howard family - the Dukes of Norfolk - were the wealthiest and most powerful aristocrats in Tudor England, regarding themselves as the true power behind the throne. They were certainly extraordinarily influential, with two Howard women marrying Henry VIII - Anne Boleyn and the fifteen-year-old Catherine Howard. But in the treacherous world of the Tudor court no faction could afford to rest on its laurels. The Howards consolidated their power with an awesome web of schemes and conspiracies but even they could not always hold their enemies at bay. This was a family whose history is marked by treason, beheadings and incarceration - a dynasty whose pride and ambition secTrade Review[Hutchinson] entertains us with fascinating close-ups of outlandish Tudor behaviour * DAILY MAIL *A gruesome story, of pride, greed and flaunting arrogance, blood and cruelty, cunning and stupidity... [Robert Hutchinson] has created a delightful and instructive book * LITERARY REVIEW *The narrative is compelling and horrible... It is a riveting story, splendidly told * DAILY TELEGRAPH *[Hutchinson] writes with vigour and enthusiasm.. there are some splendid set-pieces (the account of Flodden, for instance, is riveting) * BBC HISTORY MAGAZINE *Robert Hutchinson gives a thoughtful sideways view onto 16th century court politics in House of Treason... a fascinating account of the Howard dynasty * DAILY TELEGRAPH Books of the Year *Hutchinson grips every page with this outstanding story of treason in fearful times laden with espionage and betrayal * OXFORD TIMES *Hutchinson is a lively biographer and brings the period vividly to life. One has a keen sense of its sights and smells as well as the less immediate stink of fear, betrayal and unbearable pain ... This book gives a balanced view of the choices and compromises, the moral subtleties and the physical horrors of the age * THE TABLET *Gripping and gruesome * BIG ISSUE IN THE NORTH *A remarkable story of a dynasty whose pride and ambition secured only their downfall * HUDDERSFIELD DAILY EXAMINER *A riveting book * CATHOLIC HERALD *A gruesome and engaging history * SUNDAY BUSINESS POST *A remarkable story of a dynasty whose pride and ambition secured only their downfall. * HUDDERSFIELD DAILY EXAMINER *A riveting book * CATHOLIC HERALD *A gruesome and engaging history * SUNDAY BUSINESS POST *Gripping and gruesome * BIG ISSUE IN THE NORTH *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisA definitive portrait of one of the most compelling monarchs England has ever had: Elizabeth I.'We are a prince from a line of princes.'Lisa Hilton's majestic biography of Elizabeth I, 'The Virgin Queen', uses new research to present a fresh interpretation of Elizabeth as a queen who saw herself primarily as a Renaissance prince, delivering a very different perspective on her emotional and sexual life, and upon her attempts to mould England into a European state. Elizabeth was not an exceptional woman but an exceptional ruler, and this book challenges readers to reassess her reign, and the colourful drama, scandal and intrigue to which it is always linked.Trade ReviewWhether you agree with Hilton or not, she brings balance to the view that we must judge Elizabeth through the prism of her gender. It is refreshing to be confronted by challenging arguments instead of tired anecdotes. This biography is also full of unusual and interesting insights. I loved the observation that the three most important men in Elizabeth's life were Cecil, Robert Dudley (whom she loved) and Philip II of Spain. Apparently she kept a painting of Philip in her bedroom. -- Leanda de Lisle * THE SPECTATOR *In this book, which draws on new research from Italy, France, Russia and Turkey, the clichéd image of "a bewigged farthingale with a mysterious sex life" is replaced with Elizabeth, the Renaissance prince. The queen used her femininity when convenient but also transcended it. Distinguishing between the "body natural" and the "body politic", Elizabeth saw herself primarily as a prince because royalty negated gender...Hilton's biography manages an impressive balancing act; while eruditely analysing Renaissance ideas and Elizabethan realpolitik it retains all the sexiness we have come to expect from books about the Tudors. Given the humanist education of a prince, Elizabeth was a scholar who eloquently crafted her own speeches. However, she was no blue- stocking; she used her sexuality to get what she wanted both for herself and her country. -- Rachel Trethewey * THE INDEPENDENT *A lively and colourful reassessment of the 'Virgin Queen' by a popular historian and novelist * THE TABLET *This book draws on new research from Italy, France, Russia and Turkey - and the cliched image of "a bewigged farthingale with a mysterious sex life" is replaced with a queen who used her feminity when convenient, but who also transcended it. * i NEWSPAPER *She is our most written-about monarch but the author finds more to uncover -- Jonathan Bate * THE TIMES *...a new approach to writing Elizabeth's life, one which places her firmly in the context of the European Renaissance and beyond. This is an interesting idea, as most biographies look at Elizabeth's life and reign from an overwhelmingly English perspective, an extension of our enduring obsession with the Tudors. -- Linda Porter * HSTORY TODAY *This biography is both informative and enthralling. It is grounded in facts, keeps speculation to a minimum (and even that little is well reasoned), and cuts through the legend to give a glimpse of the real Elizabeth, cunning and naive, generous yet petty. * HISTORICAL NOVELS SOCIETY *Lisa Hilton opens her new biography of Elizabeth I by outlining her leading idea: that Elizabeth was a new kind of ruler for England, a prince on the Machiavellian model, who held that "the ruler's primary duty was the preservation of the state at any cost". By ruling in this way, Hilton asserts Elizabeth led her realm out of the Middle Ages and towards modern nationhood. -- Helen Hackett * TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT *Lisa Hilton's radical new biography of Queen Bess, employs new research from a variety of sources to look at Elizabeth's personal life and self-image. * CHOICE *While this is not an exhaustive history of Elizabeth's life and reign, Hilton provides us with an accomplished evocation of a remarkable ruler. Her book is as elegantly fashioned and ingeniously contrived as those pieces of Renaissance jewellery that Elizabeth loved to wear. -- Anne Somerset * MAIL ON SUNDAY *Lisa Hilton presents Elizabeth as a Machiavellian 'Renaissance Prince' who self-consciously fashioned herself as 'male' -- Anna Whitelock * LITERARY REVIEW *A superbly innovative and beautifully written investigation of Elizabeth 1 - focusing on her as a Renaissance Prince. New scholarship, searing insight and Hilton's sharp eye for detail make this a must-read. -- Kate Williams * THE LIST *

Read more less

Book SynopsisHistory as it should be written' Alison Weir, bestselling author of the Six Tudor Queens seriesA groundbreaking and fascinating biography of England''s most famous queen, viewed through the women who influenced her life.Elizabeth I is often portrayed as a ruthless ''man''s woman'', who derided her own sex I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman'' and loved to flirt with the young men at her court. Yet she was born into a world of women and it is her relationships with these women that provide the most fascinating insight into the character of this remarkable monarch. As a child Elizabeth was raised by her mother, governesses and stepmothers, while as an adult she was clothed, bathed and watched by her ladies of the bedchamber and her maids of honour. With them she was jealous, spiteful and cruel, as well as loyal, kind and protective. Among her family it was her female relations who had the greatest influence on her life: froTrade ReviewHistory as it should be written -- Alison WeirOverall this is an enthralling picture of female empowerment and woman's place in this most testosterone fuelled of epochs. It is a thrilling and carefully written book which should grace any history lover's bookshelves -- Roderick Graham * Scotland on Sunday *The idea behind her book is genuinely inspired -- John Guy * Sunday Times *A warm and readable account... irresistible stuff -- Kathryn Hughes * The Guardian *Innovative, full of rich, too often neglected female characters -- Antonia Fraser

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn intensely moving account of George III's doomed attempt to create a happy, harmonious family, written with astonishing emotional force by a stunning new history writer.George III came to the throne in 1760 as a man with a mission. He was determined to break with the extraordinarily dysfunctional home lives of his Hanoverian predecessors. He was sure that as a faithful husband and a loving father, he would be not just a happier man but a better ruler as well.During the early part of his reign it seemed as if, against all the odds, his great family project was succeeding. His wife, Queen Charlotte, shared his sense of moral purpose, and together they raised their fifteen children in a climate of loving attention. But as the children grew older, and their wishes and desires developed away from those of their father, it became harder to maintain the illusion of domestic harmony.The Strangest Family' is an epic, sprawling family drama, filled with intensely realised characters who leap off the page as we are led deep inside the private lives of the Hanoverians. Written with astonishing emotional force by a stunning new voice in history writing, it is both a window on another world and a universal story that will resonate powerfully with modern readers.Trade Review‘A masterpiece. Beautifully written, impeccably researched, this heartbreaking narrative of family dysfunction and royal sacrifice is an absolute page-turner’ Amanda Foreman, author of ‘Georgiana’ ‘Enthralling … you know you are in the hands of a master narrator as well as a profoundly perceptive historian. And like all great historical writing, the book transcends its immediate story – gripping and moving though that is – to be a timeless reflection on the human condition’ Simon Schama ‘Colourful and brilliantly narrated … excellent both in her narrative skill and her scholarship … Hadlow has produced a perceptive, lively and wonderfully enjoyable book’ Miranda Seymour, Sunday Times ‘Fascinating … in this densely detailed yet fast-paced book, as drama follows drama, the interest never flags … Hadlow is adept at the telling phrase and makes splendid use of the period's vivid letters, diaries and memoirs’ Jenny Uglow, Guardian ‘Engrossing … Hadlow, an accomplished storyteller, assembles a picture full of emotional colour and drama which still resonates today’ Lucy Hughes-Hallett, The Times ‘Truly engrossing. George III and his relatives give us the ultimate family saga, and it almost defies belief that these events really happened. A real-life period drama to lose yourself in’ Lucy Worsley ‘Hadlow's achievement is to unite in a single volume an overview of one family's squabbling, thwarted good intentions and petty vindictiveness … in readable prose, with a welter of detail Hadlow succeeds in her considerable task … This is a discursive, leisurely account, enlivened by Hadlow's infectious enthusiasm’ Sunday Telegraph ‘Hadlow’s energetic, richly detailed debut combines personal sympathy for her subjects with a shrewd alertness to wider significances’ Independent on Sunday

Read more less

Book SynopsisElizabeth Wydeville, Queen consort to Edward IV, has traditionally been portrayed as a scheming opportunist. As this extraordinary biography shows, the first queen to bear the name Elizabeth lived a tragedy, love, and loss that no other queen has since endured.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Great, the Pious, the Fair; the Wise, the Lame, the Mad. Imprisoned, deposed, exiled. Excommunicated, assassinated; devout, debauched; loved, loathed — the Middle Ages produced a fascinating array of monarchs. From Britain to Russia, from Scandinavia to Sicily, from the 9th century CE to the completion of the Reconquista of Spain in 1492, Kings & Queens of the Medieval World explores the captivating stories of monarchs from all across Europe. Arranged thematically, the book groups the kings and queens by their achievements – military leaders, law-makers, religious reformers, patrons of the arts. These are stories of monarchs leading their armies into battle to expand or defend their territory, and of kings – and queens – going on crusade – both within Europe and to the Holy Land. These, too, are stories of, on the one hand, countries united by marriage, and, on the other, sons scheming against fathers in an effort to gain – and maintain – power. And yet these are also the stories of the people who constructed beautiful cathedrals, who founded universities and supported artists, of religious kings who were later canonised, of kings who created more just legal systems, established parliaments and permanent armies, and laid the foundations for more modern governments and societies. Featuring the major European dynasties, Kings & Queens of the Medieval World is a lively account of monarchs from Charlemagne to Alexander Nevsky to Ferdinand and Isabella. Illustrated with 180 colour and black-and-white artworks, photographs and maps, this is a colourful, accessible history.Table of ContentsIntroduction MILITARY LEADERS Charlemagne (800-814) – king of the Franks who defeated the Lombards and made incursions into Muslim Spain and campaigned against the Saxons to the East. Uniting most of western Europe for the first time since the Romans, he was crowned Emperor of the Romans by the Pope. Louis the Pious (814–40) – King of Aquitaine and King of the Franks, Son of Charlemagne, reconquered parts of northern Spain from the Muslims, including Barcelona and Pamplona. William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, King of England – Norman invasion of England (1066). Alexander Nevsky (1221–63) – rose to legendary status in Kievan Russia on account of his military victories over German and Swedish invaders while agreeing to pay tribute to the powerful Golden Horde. Casimir the Great (1310–70) – doubled the size of Poland, mostly through wars in what is modern-day Ukraine. Władysław II Jagiełło (r.1386–1434) – Born a pagan in Lithuania, Władysław was the Grand Duke of Lithuania, before becoming King of Poland. The allied Polish–Lithuanian victory against the Teutonic Knights at the Battle of Grunwald in 1410, secured the Polish and Lithuanian borders and marked the emergence of the Polish–Lithuanian alliance as a significant force in Europe. Philip II Augustus of France – broke up the Angevin Empire presided over by the crown of England and defeated a coalition of his rivals (German, Flemish and English) at the Battle of Bouvines in 1214. Robert the Bruce, king of Scots, led Scotland during the First War of Scottish Independence, defeating King Edward II of England at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. Edward III, who transformed the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe, launching the conflict that became known as the Hundred Years’ War to reclaim land in France, and defeating the French at Crécy (1346). Henry IV of England, deposed his cousin Richard II. Richard later died in prison, possibly of starvation. Henry went on to defeat the Welsh uprising led by Owain Glyndwr. Henry V of England and his defeat of the French at Agincourt (1415), bringing him close to conquering France. English civil conflict: The Wars of the Roses – Edward IV, Richard III and Henry Tudor (Henry VII) Ivan III ‘The Great’ of Russia (1462–1505) tripled the territory of his state, ended the dominance of the Golden Horde over the Rus. CRUSADERS, PERSECUTORS AND RELIGIOUS REFORMERS Monarchs on crusade: Richard I (the Lionheart) of England, Philip II of France, Frederick I Barbarossa, Holy Roman Emperor led the Third Crusade. Louis IX took part in the Seventh and Eighth Crusades, dying on the latter. Louis’ son, Philip III, later died on the Aragonese Crusade. Sigismund von Luxembourg, Holy Roman Emperor, led the last West European Crusade – the Crusade of Nicopolis of 1396 against the Turks. The crusaders, with forces from across Europe, were defeated in a single day. In attempting to reform England’s relationship with the Roman Catholic Church, Henry II of England (1154–89) came into conflict with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket. Becket was later murdered by followers of the king. Jews: In 1182, Philip II of France expelled all Jews from his lands; John I, Duke of Brittany drove them out of his duchy in 1239; and in the late 1240s Louis IX of France expelled the Jews from the royal demesne. In 1306, Philip IV ‘the Fair’ expelled the Jews from France. Edward I of England first exploited Jews, taxing them; in 1279, in the context of a crack-down on coin-clippers, he had 300 of them executed and finally expelled remaining Jews from the country in 1290. In contrast, Casimir the Great of Poland (1310–70) encouraged Jews to settle in his country. Devoutly religious, Louis IX of France (1226–70) punished blasphemy, gambling, interest-bearing loans and prostitution. Philip IV of France’s (1285–1314) persecution and execution of the Knights Templar. Władysław II Jagiełło (r.1386–1434) – the Pagan duke of Lithuania became a Christian and subsequently converted Lithuania to Christianity. Ferdinand and Isabella and the Spanish Inquisition QUEENS Following the death of Henry I of England, Empress Matilda, his only surviving child, fought his nephew, Stephen of Blois, for control of England in a war that lasted, on and off, for 20 years (1135–54). When her son, Henry II, became king in 1154, she settled in Rouen, was in charge of the administration of Normandy for her son and founded Cistercian monasteries. Eleanor of Aquitaine, first married Louis VII of France, but their marriage was annulled on grounds of consanguinity. Later she married Henry II of England, making her Queen of France (1137–1152) and then of England (1154–1189). She led armies several times in her life, including taking part in the Second Crusade (1147–1149). Blanche of Castile, mother of Louis IX (1226-70), reigned in the first years of her son’s reign until he reached maturity. She brought an end to the 20-year-long Albigensian Crusade against the Cathars. Isabella of France (1308–27) – estranged from her husband, King Edward II of England, Isabella began an affair with noble Roger Mortimer and led an army against Edward, deposing him. She may also have been responsible for Edward’s death. She then acted as regent to her 14-year-old son, Edward. Four years later, Edward led a coup against Mortimer, killing him and becoming King Edward III. No longer politically active, Isabella lived out the remaining decades of her life in style. Joanna I of Naples (1343–82) – who sided with the Avignon Papacy and was assassinated. Margaret I of Denmark (1387–1412), who was also monarch of Sweden and Norway. Isabella I of Castile (1474 –1504) – married Ferdinand II of Aragon and formed the basis for the later political unification of Spain under their grandson, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. She reorganized the governmental system, brought the crime rate to the lowest it had been in years, and unburdened the kingdom of the enormous debt her brother had left behind. Ferdinand and Isabella completed the Reconquista of Spain, forcing the conversion to Christianity or expulsion of Jews and Muslims. They also financed Christopher Columbus’s exploratory voyage that led to the opening to the New World. PATRONS & BUILDERS Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, founded the University of Naples, and is author of the first treatise on the subject of falconry. Edward the Confessor (r. 1042 – 5 January 1066) built an early Westminster Abbey, which was rebuilt in the 13th century by Henry III. Richard II finished Westminster Hall in the late 14th century. Philip II Augustus (1180–1223) played a significant role in one of the greatest centuries of innovation in construction and education in France. With Paris as his capital, he had the main thoroughfares paved, built a central market, Les Halles, continued the construction begun in 1163 of Notre-Dame de Paris, constructed the Louvre as a fortress, and gave a charter to the University of Paris in 1200. Roger II of Sicily (1130–54) – developed Norman-Arab-Byzantine culture, architecture, map-making. Louis IX of France (1226–70), having bought presumed relics of Christ, built Sainte- Chapelle. In response to the Mongol invasions, Bela IV of Hungary (1235-70) promoted the development of fortified towns, allowing the barons and the prelates to erect stone fortresses and to set up their private armed forces. Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor (1346–78), made Prague his capital. His patronage of the city led to the building of the first Charles Bridge, Charles University, Prague Castle and the Cathedral of Saint Vitus. Casimir the Great of Poland (1310–70) built extensively, including Wawel Castle in Krakow. Henry VI of England founded King’s College, Cambridge in the 15th century. Philip the Good of Burgundy (1419–67) was a great patron of Flemish musicians and artists, including Jan van Eyck. Ivan III of Russia renovated the Moscow Kremlin in the late 15th century. LAW-MAKERS & SOCIAL REFORMERS Philip II (1179-1223) transformed France from a small feudal state into the most prosperous and powerful country in Europe. He checked the power of the nobles and helped the towns to free themselves from seigniorial authority, granting privileges and liberties to the emergent bourgeoisie. King John of England agreed to the limitations of royal power in Magna Carta. Frederick I Barbarossa, Holy Roman Emperor, re-established Roman law, which counterbalanced the papal power that had dominated the German states since the conclusion of the Investiture Controversy earlier in the 12th century. Louis IX of France (1227-70) – Saint Louis – developed French royal justice, in which the king is the supreme judge to whom anyone is able to appeal to seek the amendment of a judgment. He banned trials by ordeal, tried to prevent the private wars that were plaguing the country and introduced the presumption of innocence in criminal procedure. Edward I of England (1272–1307) established Parliament as a permanent institution and thereby also a functional system for raising taxes. Known as the ‘Polish Justinian’, Casimir the Great (1310–70) reformed Polish law. John III of France (1350–64) created the Franc in an effort to stabilise the country’s currency. Charles V of France (1364–80) established the first permanent army paid with regular wages, which liberated the French populace from the companies of routiers who regularly plundered the country when not employed. Louis XI of France (1461–83) brought France out of the Middle Ages, establishing the modern structure of government that lasted until the French Revolution. George of Poděbrady, King of Bohemia between 1458 and 1471, a Hussite, attempted to spread a Message of Peace across Christendom by uniting the states in what can be regarded as an early idea of the European Union. It would have a Parliament and member states would pledge to settle all differences by exclusively peaceful means. He sent a member of his court on a European tour with a draft treaty, but the idea wasn’t taken up. In the late 15th century, Ivan III of Russia laid the foundations of what later became called the Russian state. Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis“Gripping . . . a highly readable tour de force that brings Queen Isabella vividly to life.”—The Washington Post Book World An “insightful and compelling” (USA Today) biography of Isabella of England, one of history’s most notorious and charismatic queens, from the New York Times bestselling author hailed as “the finest historian of English monarchical succession writing” (The Boston Globe) Isabella arrived in London in 1308, the spirited twelve-year-old daughter of King Philip IV of France. Her marriage to the heir to England’s throne was designed to heal old political wounds between the two countries, and in the years that followed, she would become an important figure, a determined and clever woman whose influence would come to last centuries. But Queen Isabella’s political machinations led generations of historians to malign her, earning her a reputation as a ruthless schemer and an odious nickname, “the She-Wolf of France.”The newly wed Isabella was denied the attentions of Edward II, a weak, sexually ambiguous monarch with scant taste for his royal duties. As their marriage progressed, Isabella was neglected by her dissolute husband and slighted by his favored male courtiers. Humiliated and deprived of her income, her children, and her liberty, Isabella escaped to France, where she entered into a passionate affair with Edward II’s mortal enemy, Roger Mortimer. Together, they deposed Edward and ruled in his stead as co-regents for Isabella’s young son, Edward III. Fate, however, was soon to catch up with Isabella and her lover.A work of extraordinary original research, Queen Isabella strips away centuries of propaganda, legend, and romantic myth, and gives a groundbreaking new perspective on Isabella, a truly remarkable woman who had a profound influence upon the age in which she lived and the history of western Europe.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe colourful and complex history of the Kings and Queens of Scotland

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE #2 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER A gripping story of human frailty, love, loss, sadness, and tragedy' Daily MailShe is the most public and least understood woman in Britain. Diana called her a Rottweiler. Prince Harry said she was a villain. But spend two minutes with Camilla and you understand why Charles fell for her.The relationship between King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort, is one of the most extraordinary, star-crossed love stories of the past fifty years. It has endured against all the odds, and in the process nearly destroyed the British monarchy.In this compelling biography, Britain's top royal author paints an intimate portrait of the Queen Consort, revealing for the first time why the King went against his mother and risked everything to have Camilla by his side.Previously published as The Duchess.Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR QUEEN CONSORT: ‘Exceptionally well-informed biography’ Daily Telegraph ‘Unflinching biography’ Evening Standard ‘A heartwarming tale’ Times ‘The last untold account of the biggest crisis to hit the royals since the abdication … Explosive biography by Britain’s top royal author … A gripping story of human frailty, love, loss, sadness, and tragedy’ Daily Mail

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis gossipy account of Louis XIV is a clear and fascinating historical biography from Nancy Mitford. WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY STELLA TILLYARDDuring his reign Louis XIV was the most powerful king in Europe. He presided over a golden age of military and artistic achievement in France, and deployed his charm and talents for spin and intrigue to hold his court and country within his absolute control. The Sun King''s universe centred on Versailles, a glittering palace from where Louis conducted his government and complex love affairs. Nancy Mitford describes the daily life of this splendid court in sumptuous detail, recreating the past in vivid colour.Trade ReviewBeautifully evokes the period * Independent on Sunday *Delightfully gossipy...irreverently lifts the skirts of the dolls of Versailles and rummages about underneath, exposing one gem of irresistible detail after another...A glorious tribute to a glorious age * Irish Times *La Mitford plonks the reader amid the seething snobbery and maniacal struggle for High Life that was the Sun King's regime... brilliantly acerbic * Observer *Her style is skilfully succinct; and her wit proceeds from uncommon shrewdness...readers will wish her her book were twice as long * Sunday Times *Highly entertaining...written with her accustomed dash and gaiety, in a manner which frequently suggests one of her delightful novels... Because Miss Mitford is so at home in Versailles, she confers the same feeling of being at home upon a sympathetic modern reader * Sunday Telegraph *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe youngest of William the Conqueror''s sons, Henry I (1100-35) was never meant to be king, but he was destined to become one of the greatest of all medieval monarchs, both through his own ruthlessness and intelligence and through the dynastic legacy of his daughter Matilda, who began the Plantagenet line that would rule England until 1485. A self-consciously diligent and thoughtful king, his rule was looked back on as the real post-invasion re-founding of England as a new realm, integrated into the continent, wealthy and stable.Edmund King''s wonderful portrait of Henry shows him as a strikingly charismatic and thoughtful man. His life was dogged by a single great disaster, the death of his teenage heir William in the White Ship disaster. Despite astonishing numbers of illegitimate sons, Henry was now left with only a daughter. This fact would shape the rest of the 12th century and beyond.

Read more less