The Monarchy of Britain

by Josephine Ross

This illustrated history of the rulers of England and Scotland, from the Norman Conquest to the present, provides accounts of each monarch's life and reign, with family trees and lists of major dates and events

192 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1982

About the author

As a finalist in Vogue talent contest, Ross won a job on Vogue and joined the magazine after graduating from London University.
She left the magazine two years later to write full time, and her publications include a biography of The Winter Queen (1979) and Beaton in Vogue (1986).
She is married to medieval historian and writer James Chambers; and her interests include history and fencing. She lives in London.

Reviews

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautifully written and beautifully illustrated coffee table book is both an entertaining read and serves as a biographical dictionary and is packed with timelines, family trees and a historical tour guide of Britain.

It sheds a light on the characters and lives of the Kings and Queens of England and Scotland for beginners. Those with a more detailed knowledge of the British monarchs will ant to look elsewhere. Read about the strong and capable William I (The Conqueror), who, after defeating conquering England and defeating Saxon King Harold, built many cathedrals and castles including the Tower of London and commissioned the Doomsday book, England's first census; King Richard I (The Lionheart) who knew no English and spent all his time on foreign campaigns and crusades; the irresponsible and selfish King John; it teaches us of both the wise and magnanimous Henry VII, and those capable of deliberate cruelty such as Henry I (who allowed his own little grandaughters to be blinded and mutilated), Edward I (who ruthlessly hammered Cornwall and Wales into the English crown and cruelly ravaged Scotland), Richard III and Henry VII (who had two of his young wives beheaded along with hundreds of others who crossed his path).
The book mentions the speculation and probability that Richard III did order the murder of his two little nephews imprisoned in the Tower of London.
You can learn of the religious conflicts and different religious loyalties of different monarchs such as the fanatically Catholic Queen Mary I.
It is interesting to note that at least five English kings were reputed to have been homosexuals, William II (Rufus), Richard I (The Lionheart), Edward II, James I and William III.
Readers of this compendium can read of those who rallied the nation together in times of war such as Elizabeth I and George VI, the unpopular Hanoverian German kings George I, II and III, and the popular and flamboyant Charles II, known as the Merry Monarch.
Some of the facts are well known and others are more obscure.

[Jennifer Canaveral · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive, detailed timeline of the British monarchy, starting from William the Conqueror's conquest in 1066 to Queen Elizabeth II's reign. The book was published in 1982 so events of the past 43 years are not included but are not necessary to appreciate the text. Drawings and photographs of various British historical figures and landmarks help visualize the monarchy's progression throughout the centuries.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

An informative and interesting read on the monarchs of Britain. I am descended from the kings of old, like most people of British ancestry, and I liked reading about the foibles and successes of those gone before me.

[saranimals · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully concise, condensed, easy-to-digest overview of the nearly thousand-year history of the English monarchy. A good introduction for those like myself who had not known a lot of the history.