Crowns in a Changing World: British and European Monarchies 1901-36 by John Van Der Kiste

by John van der Kiste

205 pages, 68 photos, describes lives and politics of individual rulers throughout Europe, with family trees showing how they were all related through queen Victoria.

Genres: History, Royalty, Nonfiction

205 pages, Hardcover

First published March 31, 2013

About the author

John Van der Kiste, British author, was born in Wendover, Buckinghamshire, on September 15, 1954, son of Wing Commander Guy Van der Kiste (1912–99). He was educated at Blundell's School, Tiverton, where he briefly formed a rock band Cobweb with fellow pupil Miles Tredinnick, later vocalist with new wave band London and subsequently playwright and scriptwriter, and read Librarianship at Ealing Technical College, where he edited the librarians’ student magazine.
He has worked for several years in public and academic libraries, but is best known as a writer. His first book, Frederick III, appeared in 1981, and since then he has published over twenty historical biographies, as well as books on local history, true crime, rock music, a novel and a play. He is also a contributor to Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Guinness Rockopaedia, and has produced articles on historical, musical and art subjects in national and local journals, including Illustrated London News, Royalty Digest, European Royal History Journal, Best of British, BBC History Magazine, Record Collector, Antique Collector, This England, The Independent, and Gibbons Stamp Monthly. He has reviewed books and records for the press, written CD booklet notes, and between 1991 and 1996 edited the 70s rock fanzine Keep on Rockin.
In 2002 he was a consultant for the BBC TV documentary 'The King, the Kaiser and the Tsar', first screened in January 2003.
He married professional musician and teacher Kim Graham (née Geldard) in 2003 and lives in Devon.

Reviews

[BAM doesn’t answer to her real name · Rating 3 out of 5]

ROYALTY READS PROJECT 2023

10/3 if I’m thinking correctly George V offered asylum to Nicholas II and the Russian imperial family, but then parliament was against that plan of safety, and of course, we all know what occurred from that one action. Hampton Court is a dinosaur of a royal palace-ancient in American years, massive in size, impressive when seen, and tons of empty rooms because for whatever reason it was apparently approved to allow other Russian members of the royal family to book it to England with very little and start a new life, or at least put the pieces of the old life back together again. I’ll never understand that. So cruel to take one’s boot and stomp all hope into the ground.

10/3b ok I feel a bit better. There was a not quite justifiable reason parliament reneged. Tragic, just senseless. I think the Tsar felt so much guilt over those events that he stepped up his game to get anyone else out immediately. One of the worst events of world history.

[Colleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

How many different books on European royalty around World War I do you really need? I'll let you know when I run out. Yes, it covers the same ground as several other books, but it's always interesting to see what each author deems important enough to cover and what to gloss over. Every crowned head of the time gets at least one mention, with a bit more focus on Windsor - Habsburg relations.

[Michael Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The generation that passed between the death of Victoria and the accession of her son, Edward VII, in 1901 and the death of Edward’s son, George V, in 1936 was one of great change not only in the British monarchy but in kingdoms and empires throughout Europe. Edward’s personal power was subject to the close limitations of the unwritten English constitution, but his cosmopolitan personality and astute knowledge of international affairs gave him great informal authority, especially since the emperors of Germany and Russia were his close relations. George, though likeable, shared neither his father’s eminence abroad nor his extroverted style, and was much more subordinate to his ministers — and during the early part of his reign, as a result of the Great War, the empires of Germany, Russia, and Austria ceased to exist. The author of this well-researched study, who has written a number of other books and articles on modern European royalty (many of them incouded here), follows the complex interconnections among the royal houses of Europe during this period, pointing out just how much diplomacy depended before the War on personal relationships between monarchs, and also just how little such things came to matter during the subsequent Age of Dictators. He includes a great many photographs and illustrations, many of which are new to me, as well as a (necessary) genealogical chart and table of accession dates.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love John van der Kiste's books - they're usually on the smaller side, but always informative, enjoyable and impecably researched. "Crowns in a Changing World" is no exception.

The book discusses how Europe and its royal houses changed from 1901 (the year Queen Victoria passed away) until 1936 (when her grandson George V died). It analyzes the relationship between monarchs who were siblings, uncles and aunts, nephews and nieces and how those ties influenced international relations (especially in the case of King Edward VII, who was "his own Foreign Minister").

Of course for a monarchist like me the book gets increasingly depressing towards its end as the First World War ends and monarchy after monarchy colapses, often ending in tragedy such as the brutal murders of the Romanovs. But anyways, I really enjoyed the author's insights and the book was extremely interesting as well as entertaining. Highly recommended.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

These were all starting to flow together.

Monarchies at the beginning of the 20th century was not a good time. They all seemed rather building straw houses while waiting for the wolves.

Everyone was sad, no one was happy, and this book had nothing new. It's not bad, but I think everyone is better served if they just read specific books about the specific countries rather than depending on this book.

These books do a good job of filling in the cracks of my knowledge, but you may want more from a book than intellectual spackle.

[Kellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good summary of events occurring within all the royal families of Europe from 1901-1936 using the British royal family archives mostly. Very good, and very concise so you are able to follow it well without getting lost among all the names and places. Very well written and as with all of JOhn Van Der Kiste's books it didn't drag on, he keeps you turning the pages and included lots of corresponding photographs.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent look at European monarchies during one of the most challenging times to be a monarch. The family relations between various countries and rulers, the surge of republicanism, the mad behavior of Wilhelm II and the diplomacy of Edward VIII and more is covered by this book. A wealth of information written in an easy reading manner without sacrificing accuracy is so rare to find, but Van der Kiste delivers every time! Excellent read!