Sophia: Mother of Kings: The Finest Queen Britain Never Had

by Catherine Curzon

Sophia, Electress of Hanover, was born to greatness. Granddaughter of James I and mother to George I, she was perhaps the finest queen that Britain never had.

As daughter of Frederick V of the Palatinate and Elizabeth Stuart, Sophia emerged from an impoverished, exiled childhood as the Winter Princess, a young woman of sparky intelligence, cutting wit and admirable determination. Once courted by Charles II, Sophia eventually gave her heart to Ernest Augustus, at whose side she became the first Electress of Hanover and the mother of the first Georgian king of Great Britain.

Sophia: Mother of Kings, brings this remarkable woman and her tumultuous era vividly to life. In a world where battles raged across the continent and courtiers fought behind closed doors, Sophia kept the home fires burning. Through personal tragedy and public triumph, Sophia raised a family, survived illness, miscarriage, and accusations of conspiracy, and missed out on the British throne by a matter of weeks.

Sophia of Hanover became the mother of one of the most glittering dynasties the world has ever known. From the House of Stuart to the House of Hanover, this is the story of her remarkable life.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Royalty, Biography Memoir

193 pages, Hardcover

Published December 27, 2019

About the author

Catherine Curzon writes books about old Hollywood and even older royals. She writes WW2 sagas for Orion as Ellie Curzon.

Catherine’s work has been featured on the official website of BBC History Magazine, and in publications such as The Daily Telegraph, All About History, Who Do You Think You Are?, and Jane Austen’s Regency World. Further afield, she has appeared in the pages of publications including The Washington Post, Town & Country, Elle Australia, Der Bund, La Vanguardia and Metrópole.

She has spoken at venues including Kenwood House, Wellington College, the Royal Pavilion, the National Maritime Museum and Dr Johnson’s House. Her first play, Being Mr Wickham, premiered to sell-out audiences in 2019. It was streamed worldwide in 2021, followed by a nationwide tour of the UK.

Catherine holds a Master’s degree in Film and when not dodging the furies of the guillotine, can be found by following the distant sound of Dino. She lives in Yorkshire atop a ludicrously steep hill with a rakish gent, a relaxed cat, and an excitable dog.

Reviews

[Beata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some time ago I watched a documentary that mentioned Sophia Electress of Hanover as the gueen Great Britain never had. Sophia was the woman who 'enabled' the transition of the British crown from the Stuarts to the Hanoverians as she was the grand-daughter of Charles I and the mother of George I. She was expected to rule Great Britain after Queen Anne's death, unfortunately she died earlier, so her right to the throne was handed over to ther son.
This non-fiction is a fascinating and easily readable account of her life that I highly recommend to anyone interested in the period who would like to learn more about this woman who was intelligent and well-educated, and whose name is often too rarely when the Hanoverians are mentioned.
*Many thanks to Catherine Curzon, Pen & Sword and Netgalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*

[Maroel San · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Short yet informative. This is the first book I have ever read about the life of Sophia, the electress of Hanover and mother to George I (and therefore ancestress to all British monarchs henceforth). I found the author's approach in narration a bit too casual and less scholarly which is not at all a problem but is simply not to my liking. Overall, this is a somewhat satisfactory primer about the life of Sophia but I'd imagine there are plenty other resources that offer a more comprehensive retelling.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

First sentence: ‘The princess SOPHIA, who was a daughter and mother of a king, was herself mistress of every qualification requisite to adorn a crown. [Sophia was] the most accomplished lady in Europe.’

Premise/plot: This biography is divided—for better or worse—into three acts. Each act covers a role in her incredible life: princess, duchess, and electress. So who was Sophia? She was the daughter of Frederick V, Elector Palatine of the Rhine, and Princess Elizabeth Stuart, daughter of King James I of England. She was their twelfth child, seemingly unimportant to the politics of the nations. But by the end of her life, oh how things would change! For she and her offspring would enter into the succession. Sophia was the mother of the first Hanoverian king of England, George I. This book covers ALL her life and the other key players of the times.

My thoughts: I loved, loved, loved this one. I would say it was far from dry and boring. I might even dare to say it was a thrilling read. Might. I think for those that—like me—love history OR love the royal family OR both it will be a compelling read. Usually I complain when a book has lengthy chapters. I do. I need potential stopping places—lots of them. But the lack of chapters did not bother me. I sped through the first two acts. I was getting caught up in the story, talking about it with my mom, keeping her updated with all the twists and turns, tuning out distractions. I was INTO the book. It read like a real life soap opera. It used a lot of quotes from Sophia’s own diary or autobiography. So it felt personal. I will say that the book began to drag a bit towards the end. There comes a point when it’s less soap opera and more obituary column. But when it’s good, it’s GOOD.

[Shoshana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a student of British history since 1966, majored in it in college, and read a great deal of history to this day. In all of that time I can honestly say that I never gave Sophia, the Electress of Hanover much of a thought. By the time she figures into British history as it is usually taught, she was elderly, ill, and useful only to the British as the closest Protestant heir to the throne. This sprightly biography rectifies all of that.

Sophia’s claim to the British throne was through her mother, Elizabeth Stuart, the daughter of James I and his wife, Anne of Denmark. For those keeping score, Elizabeth was the sister of Charles I, and the aunt of Charles II and James II. Elizabeth married Frederick, the Elector Palatine, and the two of them were briefly the monarchs of Bohemia, leading to the sobriquets of the Winter King and Queen. Sophia was their twelfth child. (Better Elizabeth than me.)

After the Glorious Revolution, King William and Queen Mary had no children, and her poor sister, Queen Anne, went through numerous pregnancies only to lose her children to an early death or through miscarriage. The Protestant establishment of England did not want a Catholic monarch, which the waiting Stewarts were, so they reached back into the Protestant bloodline and came up with Sophia, who had married the Elector of Hanover, and had Protestant offspring.

In the event, Queen Anne outlived her great-aunt Sophia, and it was Sophia’s son George, the Elector of Hanover, who became the first of the Hanoverian monarchs. This biography makes clear how unfortunate this was; Sophia was educated, Interesting, intelligent, and would have made a good queen. Her son George was dour, uninteresting, and difficult.

This properly footnoted (I am an inveterate reader of footnotes) biography was a pleasure to read, and I can recommend it to any student of British history.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions are my own.

[Alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another look at a historical English figure. A look at how she fits into the English monarchy. Gives some primary quotes and images. Does gives good information.

[Moniek Bloks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sophia of Hanover would have been Queen of Great Britain if she had lived just a few months longer. In the end, she died only two months before Queen Anne, and it was Sophia's eldest son who became King George I of Great Britain. The youngest daughter of the famous Winter Queen, Elizabeth Stuart, and thus a granddaughter of King James VI and I, it hardly seemed likely that Sophia would one day rule in her own right. Yet, as the Stuart line died out or was exiled for being Catholic and Sophia's elder siblings were excluded for being Catholics, the succession was vested in Sophia's Hanoverian line.

Sophia married the future Ernest Augustus, Elector of Hanover at the age of 28 - rather late for the time. They went on to have seven children who lived to adulthood. Her daughter Sophia Charlotte became Queen of Prussia. 

Catherine Curzon traces the life of the would-be Queen from her childhood days in exile to her married life. Sophia: Mother of King's is well-researched and easy to read, even if you are not well-read on the subject. It's a must-read if you're interested in the Hanoverian dynasty - Sophia certainly would have made a formidable Queen. The only negative point for me - which is a matter of taste - is the cover. It just doesn't do her justice at all.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-researched, well-written and engaging biography of Sophia, Electress of Hanover, who, if she hadn’t been outlived by Queen Anne, would have become Queen of England. And it appears that she would have made a good Queen. This is an accessible and very readable biography with a good balance between serious history and lighter moments, and the author manages to make Sophia come alive on the page.

[Donna Pingry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written. Heavily researched. I enjoyed reading this narrative of a little known historical figure who seems well respected by many of her friends and family.

[ConstantReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophia, Electress of Hanover, is a little known historical figure or at least was to me when I started reading this book. I had no idea that such a person existed. Sophia could have been queen of England in her own right – and she would have been the oldest person to ascend the British throne.
Sophia was born as a daughter of Elizabeth Stuart, Queen of Bohemia so she was the granddaughter of James I of England. She married Ernest Augustus, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg who in 1692 became the first Elector of Hanover.
If Sophia hadn’t been outlived by Queen Anne, she would have become Queen of England. Her son George became the first Hanover King of England.
I enjoyed reading this well-researched book because it concentrates on a little known personage who had a long and eventful life. Highly recommended to history enthusiasts.

[Samantha Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn’t an era that I would usually read about – I tend to find myself stuck in the Italian Renaissance or the Crusades – but I found myself intrigued by this title. So when Pen and Sword kindly offered me a copy to review, I happily agreed. I certainly was NOT disappointed.

This book, written by historian and author Catherine Curzon, tells the story of Sophia of Hanover, daughter of the the exiled King and Queen of Bohemia and grandaughter of the executed Charles I of England. This woman is often overlooked in history and eclipsed by her far more famous relatives – but she certainly shouldn’t have been. Upon reading this book it quickly becomes clear that Sophia had a very important part to play and, had she lived just a little longer, could well have been Queen of England. Thanks to the fact that Queen Anne of England had no living children, her Hanoverian relatives were placed firmly in the order of succession, in order to avoid having another Catholic monarch on the throne. Queen Anne outlived her Great-Aunt and so, upon her death, the crown of England passed to Sophia’s son George, Elector of Hannover.

The writing style of this work really impressed me – oftentimes books on this era can be incredibly dry, but Curzon made it exciting and interesting. Her chatty narrative pulled me in from the first page and just made me want to keep reading to find out what the heroine, Sophia, would get up to next. You can tell as you read that the author has heavily researched Sophia’s life and this is only made clearer by the fantastic referencing. Though it must be said that this book does not read as an academic piece – which in my opinion, makes it all the better. Whilst I love many academic works there are times when they are dry and boring – this book is the furthest thing from that. Rather it is well written and chatty, perfect for both those who know about the era and those who don’t. I certainly learned a lot from reading this book and thoroughly enjoyed it – it has shone a light on a woman who for so long has been stuck in the background and this fantastic book has introduced her to a wider audience with it’s heavily researched yet witty narrative.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

***I was granted an ARC of this via Netgalley from the publisher.***

Key to writing any good biography is to have an interesting subject and an author that can bring their subject to life on the page. In the book, Sophia: Mother of Kings by Catherine Curzon, a royal historian, both elements are present in this enjoyable biography of Sophia of Hanover. Curzon walks us through the life of Sophia, starting first with a little background of her parents, the Frederick V and Elisabeth Stuart, the unfortunate exiled king and queen of Bohemia, all the way though Sophia’s death at the ripe old age of 83 in 1714. Along the way we see Sophia navigate life at the various courts she resides and still maintain her vibrant personality in a world where powerplays and politicking, and unhappy households were the norm. The reader can’t help but root for Sophia as she grows from a young woman looking for a suitable match to stateswoman beside her husband who later becomes an Elector in the Holy Roman Empire. Due to some succession changes and untimely deaths and her mother’s connection to the English throne, she becomes heir to the throne of Great Britain, with her son eventually becoming the king of England. Even though one may assume that a rich noblewoman like Sophia had an easy life it is far from the truth. From losing her father at a young age, a busybody mother, a jealous husband and crafty mistresses, and deaths of children, we get a picture of a woman who meets every challenge head on with determination of spirit. Using Sophia’s own memoirs and other contemporary sources, Curzon paints for us a near complete picture of what life was like for Sophia and by extension many other noble women of the time. The author also does an excellent job at making this biography accessible to someone who may not know much about times Sophia lived in and keeps the writing from being dry and boring. For someone who likes a more academic style of writing, this may not be your cup of tea (the author for example stresses multiple times that Sophia simply has to put up with the presence of mistress, which for a more academic audience is a given but may not be for a more casual reader). However, this did not take away from my enjoyment of the book and I found myself rooting for Sophia along the way. In fact, by the end of the book, the reader will be left to wonder what kind of Queen of England Sophia would have been had she lived long enough. If you are interested in a good biography of a noble woman from this period of European history, then this “tale of perhaps the finest queen that Great Britain never had” is right up your alley.

Rating: 4 stars. Would recommend to a friend.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author clearly has extensive knowledge of her subject and a fluent writing style that often veers into an almost chatty (gossipy) tone of voice. I’m not a great fan of the latter, as I think that type of writing style more suited to a magazine or fictionalized retelling. The author’s admiration for Sophie shines through, and though probably well-founded, it colors her judgment somewhat.

Throughout the book I was a bit bothered by how little information the author gives about her sources (apart from the impressive bibliography at the end) and the storytelling style she uses, where she paraphrases a lot of the information she has researched instead of working with direct quotes more. I’d have preferred a more academic approach and the reader doesn’t get much opportunity to make his own judgment on the validity or subjectivity of the quoted source.

There is a great focus on all the family drama and power plays and while there was definitely drama to spare and I really liked the way the author shows these grand personages of yore as flesh and blood people with all their foibles and quirks, I don’t feel as if I’ve learned all that much about the era from a point of view of culture, philosophy, politics or economics. It wasn’t clear to me from this book how closely, or not, Sophia was involved in the actual raising of her children, her plan for their education, if she had any, or what a typical day would have looked like.

The e-book version has no pictures or maps which was disappointing, as it helps so much to picture the people and places.

Overall, I’m still happy to have read this book, as it shines a deserved spotlight on an important woman, interesting in her own right and not just as the mother of…

[Amy McElroy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of the life of Sophia, Electress of Hanover.
Sophia was the granddaughter of James I and mother of George I.

As a child she lived in exile following the actions of her father Frederick V and Elizabeth Stuart. She was known as a Winter Princess.

Sophia married Ernest Augustus and spent her life devoted to him even whilst his own brother attempted to woo her before marrying himself. Her new sister in law caused much strife for Sophia but she battled through it.

Sophia was heir to the English throne but unfortunately passed away before her chance to become Queen of England arose.

I hadn't read anything about Sophia prior to this and find her such a strong individual. She provided strength to her family through heartbreak and disaster, a truly inspirational lady.

It seems a shame she never got her chance to become Queen.

For those with an interest in history I'd recommend this.

[Lucy-Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read about "the finest queen that Britain never had". As a lover of British history, particularly relating to the history of the Royal Family & those who were close to it, I had heard of Sophia of Hanover & knew that her descendants give us today's Royal Family, however I knew nothing of the woman, the politics or even the lineage that came with her. She seems like a formidable woman, who had Stuart blood & used it well!
Overall, I learnt a lot from the book yet it wasn't a difficult academic read.It is written in quite a chatty style, with phrases like "Frederick's father, helpfully named Frederick IV (get ready for a lot of not at all unique names like this)". There is some confusion around names but you can work out who is who eventually!

Disclosure: I received an advance reader copy of this book free via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Rebecca Batley · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a history teacher obviously I love reading about history and was thrilled to get a copy of this to read. The first thing that strikes you is how well researched this book is, I found it fascinating and felt I learnt a lot about Sophia, a character who has always intrigued me.
The presentation was fun as well and I raced through this.
Absolutely brilliant book I’ll be recommending To everyone.

[Trick Wiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book and learned so much more on the history of this woman and what this woman had to face to keep everything going! You will learn to love her and the people who surround this historical woman! Very good plot,believable in every sense! You will think about this book after you finish. Net Galley let me read this !! A lot of time went in to research of this time and story!!

[Jennifer Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love historical biographies so I was looking forward to reading Sophia: Mother of Kings. I was not disappointed! Catherine Curzon's book is well researched and detailed but also engaging and witty. I enjoyed every page!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Heather Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophia:Mother of Kings is a fascinating historical biography. It is well written and researched. A very interesting book.

[Doris Raines · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LIKE THIS BOOK.

[Andrea Di Bernardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book I am presenting to you today is an interesting look at one of the most fascinating royal figures in history.
The writer and historian Catherine Curzon who has an enormous passion and competence to face the dangers of dynastic connections in eighteenth-century (and in our case also seventeenth-century) Europe introduces us to the court of Sophia, Electress of Hanover .
This extraordinary figure of a reigning woman, had a life that to define adventurous is little, even if obviously everything must be seen through the sensitivity of the time, from the point of view of a noble woman in the Europe of the late 1600s.
Sophia of the Palatinate was the daughter of a Stuart, Elizabeth, in turn the daughter of the first Stuart reigning on the throne of the United Kingdom James I. Her father was the unfortunate "Winter King" Frederick V of the Palatinate as well as King of Bohemia. Precisely this King and his situation in the context of religious conflicts of the 17th century led to the bloody Thirty Years War. Sophia's life in exile, due to the defeat of the Protestant forces (of which her father was the champion) in the Battle of the White Mountain, marked the first years of this young noble.
It is beyond the scope of this review to summarize all Sophia's youth events, but Curzon manages to make the story of this ruler's formation exciting. Short chapters with titles that summarize the content are an agile and extremely captivating way to tell the vicissitudes of a court in exile, with conflicts, alliances and enmities. It is not easy to navigate between various similar names, but Curzon provides the reader with an excellent "dramatis personae" at the end of the book (perhaps a family tree would also have been useful) to identify who was the son of whom.
Sophia of the Palatinate marries one of the rulers of the small duchy of Brunswick-Luneburg, Ernest Augustus, but in reality she was initially promised to her older brother George William, who will still be a constant and often unwelcome presence (as a repentant suitor ) through most of Sophia's life.
These few lines would already serve as a plot for a good novel, but other figures enter the court scene, including lovers, court parvenus, brothers' daughters and other subjects.
Important is precisely the relationship of Sophia with her children, whose eldest son will later become King George I of Great Britain, with her daughter Sophia Charlotte called Figuelotte( who will become Queen of Prussia) and with the other children who will die before her. This aspect will mark her last years with a veil of sadness which, however, will not take away the desire to be that dynamic force at court.
An important friend was her niece Liselotte, with whom she maintained a close correspondence.
Another important and tragic figure was Sophia of Celle, daughter of her brother-in-law George William, and wife of her son George, who is the subject of another book by Curzon, which I will review shortly.
An important part in the human and political story of Sophia was also played by the elevation of Brunswick to an electorate based in Hanover (the Electors were those German sovereigns who had the power to decide the Emperor) as well as, far from there the events that led to the Glorious Revolution of 1688, with the removal of the Stuarts and the choice of the Orange as the new ruling house. Later with the Act of Settlement of 1701, Sophia and her son George were designated as successors to Queen Anne.
In this book Catherine Curzon outlines the figure of an extraordinary woman and ruler, who was able to interpret the court life of the late 1600s well. Her initial misfortunes (with exile and historical events in Europe and Great Britain) were transformed into a life made of revenge and happy moments conquered with great resilience. The last few years were certainly marred by the disappearance of his children, including those who died in combat and the unfortunate Figuelotte. the story of Sophia of Celle and the other losses of brothers, sisters and brothers-in-law. Curzon draws on the great correspondence of a very sharp and intelligent woman who was the paradigm of the woman of power of the 17th and early 18th centuries, cultured, politically shrewd (with the weaving of marriage alliances) and philosophically forward-looking in history. She was unable to return to Britain and be queen, but she left her mark on history.
I greatly appreciated this human tale for the freshness with which Catherine Curzon tells the story of Sophia, Electress of Hanover, and I am sure that anyone who reads it will be passionate about a woman who is at the basis of one of the most brilliant periods in British history, the Georgian Era.

[Acantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look at an often overlooked figure, the reason the Hanover became Kings of the United Kingdom.

I knew almost nothing of Sophia before reading the book, and enjoyed the look through her life, as princess, duchess, electress and heir to the throne of England. I had also never really stopped to wonder why the United Kingdom had actually come to be - I knew the Act of Accord in Queen Anne's time, but not the reasons behind it - so I enjoyed that.

The book itself is an easy read, the style more novel and fictional, despite its very historical and real facts. The author often chooses to refer to Sophia as "our heroine" and such lines as "but this is Frederick we're talking about and bad luck stuck to him like treacle" creates a gossipy tone which fits well with the dramatic life Sophia endured.

The kindle version I read however was something of a mess, with chapters starting mid page, instead of a new page. A few typos and other errors spoilt the overall enjoyment.

[Stuart Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

An informally written biography of Sophia, Electress of Hanover who was the granddaughter of King James I and mother of King George I. If the author's research is accurate, Sophia's life rivals the outrageous of reality TV shows, complete with incompetent royalty, mistresses galore, neglected children, poor health and a host of other dramatic and not-so-dramatic goings-on. The author obviously admires Sophia and her sympathetic portrayal paints a vivid picture of 17th century German courts and their many less-than-admirable rulers. Probably best suited for hardcore royalists.

[LisA Larson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can’t Agree With the Title

I just finished reading this book and, sadly, nothing stands out about her, in regards to the title. There was so much of her life that she wasn’t in control of, as such for women at the time. I suspect that part of it was the way this book was written, very oddly I must say. Several passages didn’t quite make any sense. On the other hand, I am glad that I read this book. As much as I’ve read about Queen Victoria, I have never read about how her Hanoverian relatives fit into the line of succession. Now I do.

[Rebeca Núñez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for provide me with a digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
Recomendado si disfrutan de la historia, de las biografías o son seguidores de las familias reales europeas. Me resulto informativo e interesante.

[Alexandra Rose · Rating 1 out of 5]

Really odd.

Found the style of writing really off putting. Quite unnecessary exclamation marks and italic emphasis plus a jocular non serious approach to the persons in the history. A great shame. Can not recommend this version of the life of an extraordinary woman.

[Mary Ellen Barringer · Rating 4 out of 5]

An academic review of the life of Sophia, a woman nearly crowned the Queen of England.

This book gives insight to the convoluted lives of the royal families in Europe.

I did not know of Sophia and was only slightly aware of the Hanover family. A rather dry, yet interesting read.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing style in this wasn't what I usually see in a biography, which isn't necessarily a bad thing but it was notable. Sophia was really a very interesting person!

[Gordon Kwok · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for those who want to learn about Sophia of Hanover and her important role in British history. Great book to the collection for those who like royal history.