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  • Experts

Royalty

Most Recommended Books

The Diana Chronicles by Tina Brown

“Tina’s book captures Diana with such raciness, charm and insight. The book is based on incredible research. One of Tina’s strengths is that she is a great British journalist, who has been living in America for many years. So she embodies that slightly bemused and admiring attitude of America towards the British monarchy. I think some Americans almost wish they had a monarchy—and, of course, they do. The American president gets selected by an arduous and ludicrously expensive and drawn-out electoral process. Then he—not yet she—is promptly turned into a monarch, complete with a First Family and all the trappings of empire. If you happen to be called Kennedy or Bush you are treated as part of a royal dynasty, and you are entitled to be considered for future succession.”

Robert Lacey, Biographer

Read more

King George V by Kenneth Rose

“My principal reason for putting Rose’s study of George V on my list is that I consider it the best royal biography ever written. It is a classic which is full of insight and humanity, along with dry wit and revelation. There had previously been an official biography of George V by Harold Nicolson, and Kenneth Rose was able to get hold of the Nicolson papers, where he discovered quite a lot of material that Nicolson had diplomatically left out.”

Robert Lacey, Biographer

Read more

    The best books on Life in the Tudor Era, recommended by Ian Mortimer

  • Read
    The best books on Life in the Tudor Era - Before the Mast: Life and Death Aboard the Mary Rose

    1

    Before the Mast: Life and Death Aboard the Mary Rose

  • Read
    The best books on Life in the Tudor Era - Plenti and Grase by Mark Dawson

    2

    Plenti and Grase
    by Mark Dawson

  • Read
    The best books on Life in the Tudor Era - Shakespeare: A Compact Documentary Life by Samuel Schoenbaum

    3

    Shakespeare: A Compact Documentary Life
    by Samuel Schoenbaum

  • Read
    The best books on Life in the Tudor Era - Shogun by James Clavell

    4

    Shogun
    by James Clavell

  • Read
    The best books on Life in the Tudor Era - A Traveller in Time by Alison Uttley

    5

    A Traveller in Time
    by Alison Uttley

  • The best books on Life in the Tudor Era - Before the Mast: Life and Death Aboard the Mary Rose
  • The best books on Life in the Tudor Era - Plenti and Grase by Mark Dawson
  • The best books on Life in the Tudor Era - Shakespeare: A Compact Documentary Life by Samuel Schoenbaum
  • The best books on Life in the Tudor Era - Shogun by James Clavell
  • The best books on Life in the Tudor Era - A Traveller in Time by Alison Uttley

The best books on Life in the Tudor Era, recommended by Ian Mortimer

History is not about understanding the past for the sake of it, it’s about understanding human nature, says the historian and novelist Ian Mortimer.

The best books on Life in the Tudor Era, recommended by Ian Mortimer

    The best books on The Queen, recommended by Robert Lacey

  • Read
    The best books on The Queen - The English Constitution by Walter Bagehot

    1

    The English Constitution
    by Walter Bagehot

  • Read
    The best books on The Queen - King George V by Kenneth Rose

    2

    King George V
    by Kenneth Rose

  • Read
    The best books on The Queen - Edward VIII by Frances Donaldson

    3

    Edward VIII
    by Frances Donaldson

  • Read
    The best books on The Queen - Crown and People by Philip Ziegler

    4

    Crown and People
    by Philip Ziegler

  • Read
    The best books on The Queen - The Diana Chronicles by Tina Brown

    5

    The Diana Chronicles
    by Tina Brown

  • The best books on The Queen - The English Constitution by Walter Bagehot
  • The best books on The Queen - King George V by Kenneth Rose
  • The best books on The Queen - Edward VIII by Frances Donaldson
  • The best books on The Queen - Crown and People by Philip Ziegler
  • The best books on The Queen - The Diana Chronicles by Tina Brown

The best books on The Queen, recommended by Robert Lacey

She became the heir to the British throne because her uncle had resigned and became Queen Elizabeth II aged just 25, after her father’s early death in 1952. The royal biographer Robert Lacey considers Elizabeth Windsor (1926-2022),  her family history, her legacy and what made her so successful as Britain’s titular head of state.

The best books on The Queen, recommended by Robert Lacey

    The best books on Strong Women in Bad Marriages, recommended by Nancy Goldstone

  • Read
    The best books on Strong Women in Bad Marriages - Eleanor of Aquitaine by Alison Weir

    1

    Eleanor of Aquitaine
    by Alison Weir

  • Read
    The best books on Strong Women in Bad Marriages - The Serpent and the Moon by Her Royal Highness Princess Michael of Kent

    2

    The Serpent and the Moon
    by Her Royal Highness Princess Michael of Kent

  • Read
    The best books on Strong Women in Bad Marriages - The Heptameron by Marguerite de Navarre

    3

    The Heptameron
    by Marguerite de Navarre

  • Read
    The best books on Strong Women in Bad Marriages - Murder of a Medici Princess by Caroline P Murphy

    4

    Murder of a Medici Princess
    by Caroline P Murphy

  • Read
    The best books on Strong Women in Bad Marriages - Wedlock by Wendy Moore

    5

    Wedlock
    by Wendy Moore

  • The best books on Strong Women in Bad Marriages - Eleanor of Aquitaine by Alison Weir
  • The best books on Strong Women in Bad Marriages - The Serpent and the Moon by Her Royal Highness Princess Michael of Kent
  • The best books on Strong Women in Bad Marriages - The Heptameron by Marguerite de Navarre
  • The best books on Strong Women in Bad Marriages - Murder of a Medici Princess by Caroline P Murphy
  • The best books on Strong Women in Bad Marriages - Wedlock by Wendy Moore

The best books on Strong Women in Bad Marriages, recommended by Nancy Goldstone

The author of The Maid and the Queen takes us on an enjoyable ride through European history, looking at well-connected women who outwitted their husbands or asserted their independence.

The best books on Strong Women in Bad Marriages, recommended by Nancy Goldstone

    The best books on Queens and Power, recommended by Helen Castor

  • Read
    The best books on Queens and Power - The Empress Matilda by Helen Castor & Marjorie Chibnall

    1

    The Empress Matilda
    by Helen Castor & Marjorie Chibnall

  • Read
    The best books on Queens and Power - My Heart Is My Own by John Guy

    2

    My Heart Is My Own
    by John Guy

  • Read
    The best books on Queens and Power - The Weaker Vessel by Antonia Fraser

    3

    The Weaker Vessel
    by Antonia Fraser

  • Read
    The best books on Queens and Power - Monuments and Maidens by Marina Warner

    4

    Monuments and Maidens
    by Marina Warner

  • Read
    The best books on Queens and Power - The King’s Two Bodies by Ernst Kantorowicz

    5

    The King’s Two Bodies
    by Ernst Kantorowicz

  • The best books on Queens and Power - The Empress Matilda by Helen Castor & Marjorie Chibnall
  • The best books on Queens and Power - My Heart Is My Own by John Guy
  • The best books on Queens and Power - The Weaker Vessel by Antonia Fraser
  • The best books on Queens and Power - Monuments and Maidens by Marina Warner
  • The best books on Queens and Power - The King’s Two Bodies by Ernst Kantorowicz

The best books on Queens and Power, recommended by Helen Castor

Women’s historical role in politics wasn’t always as limited as we might assume. Medieval historian Helen Castor tells us about powerful women in British history and how they were constrained or conspired against.

The best books on Queens and Power, recommended by Helen Castor

    The Best Royal Biographies, recommended by Hugo Vickers

  • Read
    The Best Royal Biographies - Queen Mary by James Pope-Hennessy

    1

    Queen Mary
    by James Pope-Hennessy

  • Read
    The Best Royal Biographies - King George V by Kenneth Rose

    2

    King George V
    by Kenneth Rose

  • Read
    The Best Royal Biographies - The Memoirs of Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester by Princess Alice

    3

    The Memoirs of Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester
    by Princess Alice

  • Read
    The Best Royal Biographies - Ask Sir James by Michaela Reid

    4

    Ask Sir James
    by Michaela Reid

  • Read
    The Best Royal Biographies - Chips: The Diaries of Sir Henry Channon by Sir Henry Channon

    5

    Chips: The Diaries of Sir Henry Channon
    by Sir Henry Channon

  • The Best Royal Biographies - Queen Mary by James Pope-Hennessy
  • The Best Royal Biographies - King George V by Kenneth Rose
  • The Best Royal Biographies - The Memoirs of Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester by Princess Alice
  • The Best Royal Biographies - Ask Sir James by Michaela Reid
  • The Best Royal Biographies - Chips: The Diaries of Sir Henry Channon by Sir Henry Channon

The Best Royal Biographies, recommended by Hugo Vickers

Hugo Vickers talks about what makes a good royal biography, and how he helped Helena Bonham Carter prepare for her film role as the Queen Mother

The Best Royal Biographies, recommended by Hugo Vickers

    The best books on British Royalty, recommended by Andrew Morton

  • Read
    The best books on British Royalty - George VI by Sarah Bradford

    1

    George VI
    by Sarah Bradford

  • Read
    The best books on British Royalty - The Queen: Elizabeth II and the Monarchy by Ben Pimlott

    2

    The Queen: Elizabeth II and the Monarchy
    by Ben Pimlott

  • Read
    The best books on British Royalty - The Diana Chronicles by Tina Brown

    3

    The Diana Chronicles
    by Tina Brown

  • Read
    The best books on British Royalty - Shadows of a Princess by Patrick Jephson

    4

    Shadows of a Princess
    by Patrick Jephson

  • Read
    The best books on British Royalty - England Under the Tudors by G R Elton

    5

    England Under the Tudors
    by G R Elton

  • The best books on British Royalty - George VI by Sarah Bradford
  • The best books on British Royalty - The Queen: Elizabeth II and the Monarchy by Ben Pimlott
  • The best books on British Royalty - The Diana Chronicles by Tina Brown
  • The best books on British Royalty - Shadows of a Princess by Patrick Jephson
  • The best books on British Royalty - England Under the Tudors by G R Elton

The best books on British Royalty, recommended by Andrew Morton

Bestselling celebrity biographer Andrew Morton recommends the best books on the British royal family and the publishing of his own book, Diana, Her True Story—In Her Own Words, viewed by many as the definitive book on Princess Diana.

The best books on British Royalty, recommended by Andrew Morton

About

We ask experts to recommend the five best books in their subject and explain their selection in an interview.

This site has an archive of more than one thousand seven hundred interviews, or eight thousand book recommendations. We publish at least two new interviews per week.

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