- Paperback: 384 pages
- Publisher: Phoenix; New ed of 2 Revised ed edition (11 Nov 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1841880272
- ISBN-13: 978-1841880273
- Product Dimensions: 27.8 x 21.4 x 2.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
277,377 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #31 in Books > History > Other Historical Subjects > Historians > Fraser, Antonia
- #32 in Books > Biography > Historical > Britain > Norman to Medieval: 1001-1500
- #39 in Books > Biography > Historical > 1001-1500
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
Illustrated in a sweep of colourful episodes, this volume contains the stories of England's monarchs, spanning ten great dynasties, from the invading Normans of 1066 to the House of Windsor. Antonia Fraser introduces this pageant of royalty, and eight contributors examine the complex characters of both well-loved figures such as Victoria and little-known sovereigns such as Richard III. Accompanying the text are 150 contemporary illustrations and colour drawings of the royal coats of arms, whose origin and significance are explained by J.P. Brooke-Little, the Richmond Herald of Arms.
About the Author
Antonia Fraser is the author of many widely acclaimed historical works, including the biographies MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS (a 40th anniversary edition was published in May 2009), CROMWELL: OUR CHIEF OF MEN, KING CHARLES II and THE GUNPOWDER PLOT (CWA Non-Fiction Gold Dagger; St Louis Literary Award). She has written five highly praised books which focus on women in history, THE WEAKER VESSEL: WOMEN'S LOT IN SEVENTEENTH CENTURY ENGLAND (Wolfson Award for History, 1984), THE WARRIOR QUEENS: BOADICEA'S CHARIOT, THE SIX WIVES OF HENRY VIII, MARIE ANTOINETTE: THE JOURNEY (Franco-British Literary Prize 2001), which was made into a film by Sofia Coppola in 2006 and most recently LOVE AND LOUIS XIV: THE WOMEN IN THE LIFE OF THE SUN KING. She was awarded the Norton Medlicott Medal by the Historical Association in 2000. Antonia Fraser was made DBE in 2011 for her services to literature. Her most recent book is MUST YOU GO?, celebrating her life with Harold Pinter, who died on Christmas Eve 2008. She lives in London.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is great
I have read many books on Kings and Queens but this has to be the best.
Each monarch has about 2 pages dedicated to them. In thses 2 pages you will find out alot about each monarch their goodside and badside. There is also a large selection of pictures. Unlike most others, this book offers personal pictures of each of the monarchs.
This great book is a MUST READ for those interested in Britains royal heritage.
I have read many books on Kings and Queens but this has to be the best.
Each monarch has about 2 pages dedicated to them. In thses 2 pages you will find out alot about each monarch their goodside and badside. There is also a large selection of pictures. Unlike most others, this book offers personal pictures of each of the monarchs.
This great book is a MUST READ for those interested in Britains royal heritage.
27 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Antonia Fraser's 'The Lives of the Kings and Queens of England' has long been one of my favourite books (since my childhood, really), because it has both breadth and brevity simultaneously, a rare feat. Lady Fraser's style is evident here, a non-imposing and non-technical style, that is nonetheless satisfying to all but the most rigourous of academic historians.
Fraser's account begins with the Norman invasion; like many books on royal history, scant attention is paid to pre-Norman figures. Fraser groups the monarchs into categories:
Normans
Angevins
Plantagenets
House of Lancaster
House of York
Tudors
Stuarts
House of Hanover
House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
House of Windsor
Putting together the genealogical tables is a fun exercise--beware here, however, that lesser historical figures are left off the charts (thus, Queen Anne's bevy of children are not represented on the genealogy as none lived to assume the crown or perpetuate the line). Each monarch is given an article about 10-15 pages in length (a good bedtime reading length, I've found). Pictures and paintings help place visually the stories, together with the interspersed essays on coats-of-arms and other topics.
Fraser likes to find the humourous aspects whenever possible. Writing on William IV's distaste for the young Victoria's mother:' 'In 1836 the Duchess of Kent took over a large suite of rooms in Kensington Palace without the King's permission. William was furious. If he died now, Victoria would not be old enough to rule without her mother as Regent. At a public dinner, attended by more than a hundred guests, William said that he hoped his life would be spared long enough to prevent such a calamity.'
His wish was granted.
An ideal gift for anyone, child to adult, who has an interest in the history of the British royals, and a good ready-reference for students, this book is first-rate.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I had been looking for a high quality survey of the history and development of the English monarchy - and I found it here. Trying to cover such a complex subject and long period of time within the constraints of a relatively small volume inevitably means that the accounts cannot be too detailed. Nevertheless, the depth of the material covered, both personal and political, is impressive, as is the crisp writing and the obviously thorough research and editing. Whatever you may think of the monarchy and its future (if it has one), this book is informative, entertaining proof that it has one helluva a past.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Fraser's Guide
As guides go, Antonia Fraser is as good as they come for kings and queens; not quite a coffee table book, it would certainly do for a breakfast in bed setting! Read more
Published 8 months ago by RR Waller
Interesting but wordy
Worthy overview of this tangled topic, although some variation (or even relief) from the narrator's voice, by means of some sort of occasional dialogue or dramatisation, would have... Read more
Published 9 months ago by M. P. Campbell
A Household Must
This wonderful book is a must-have for any family library. Gone are the days when complicated lives in your favorite historical novels get mixed up and how interesting to just go... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Queen
Somewhat poor
The subject is vast and it is interlinked with the history of England and Britain; so in this format it would be hard for anyone to come up with a good enough book. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Adriano
V. easy to deal with and attentive to detail
My dealings with this supplier were very cordial, and my wife liked the product.
I would certainly use them again.
I would certainly use them again.
Published 16 months ago by PaulS
A permanent part of my reference library
This book has long been a permanent part of my library. I had a very well thumbed pocket-sized edition which I bought 30 years ago and I reluctantly had to replace it when it... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Scott F. Hannigan
The Lives of the Kings and Queens of England.
This is an excellent consice history of the Kings and Queens of England..an ideal aid to school history lessons. Read more
Published on 20 Oct 2009 by Mazza
fascinating
a fascinating look at the lives of some of the most bonkers, deluded, pampered and egotistical people ever to have lived. Read more
Published on 10 Jan 2008 by Hambletta-Maud
Royal portraits
Antonia Fraser's 'The Lives of the Kings and Queens of England' has long been one of my favourite books (since my childhood, really), because it has both breadth and... Read more
Published on 23 Dec 2005 by Kurt Messick
Royal portraits
Antonia Fraser's 'The Lives of the Kings and Queens of England' has long been one of my favourite books (since my childhood, really), because it has both breadth and... Read more
Published on 23 Dec 2005 by Kurt Messick
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