Brytyjska monarchia od kuchni

by Adrian Tinniswood, Grażyna Waluga (Translator)

Wiadomości z życia brytyjskiej rodziny królewskiej wciąż podbijają media, miliony osób na całym świecie codziennie śledzą z zaciekawieniem wszystkie doniesienia zza bram Buckingham Palace.

Monarchowie nie gotują. Nie ubierają się samodzielnie, nie nalewają sobie picia ani nie ścielą łóżka. Podobno przyszły władca Królestwa, jego posiadłości i terytoriów, nawet nie wyciska sobie sam z tubki pasty do zębów, gdyż zadanie to należy do jednego z czterech jego kamerdynerów, który nakłada pastę na królewską szczoteczkę ze zdobionego srebrnego dozownika. Oficjalnie zdementowano za to inną słynną legendę o „rozpieszczaniu członków rodziny królewskiej”, zgodnie z którą każdego ranka przed księciem Walii stawiano siedem gotowanych jaj uszeregowanych według ich twardości, każde opatrzone cyfrą oznaczającą liczbę minut gotowania, tak aby mógł każdego spróbować i wybrać najbardziej mu odpowiadające.

Szczodrze sponsorowany przez swoich poddanych brytyjski dwór zatrudniał rzesze kucharzy, pokojówek, lokajów, mamek, nianiek, ogrodników, sekretarzy i urzędników. Pielęgnowane przez stulecia rytuały dworskie miały na celu utrwalenie wizji monarchy jako osoby wyjątkowej, ważniejszej niż prezydenci czy milionerzy. A jak lepiej to osiągnąć, niż udowadniając, że przyziemne czynności nie przystoją monarsze. Na usługach królowej przez długi czas była choćby pomocnica, która podawała monarchini wachlarz w sypialni, nalewała wodę do mycia rąk i zdejmowała rękawiczki. Ale już wkładanie monarchini obuwia i zdejmowanie go było domeną paziów. Tak było przez wieki, tak jest również dziś.

Nawet obecnie tysiące osób czuwają codziennie nad maksymalnym komfortem zaledwie kilkorga osób z rodziny królewskiej. Co ciekawe, z czasem liczba pracowników rosła – dwór Elżbiety II zatrudnia dziś bowiem blisko 1200 osób, podczas gdy jej babka, królowa Wiktoria miała ich „zaledwie” 921.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Royalty, Historical, Audiobook, British Literature, Research

520 pages, Hardcover

First published September 27, 2018

About the author

Adrian John Tinniswood OBE FSA (born 11 October 1954) is an English writer and historian. He is currently Professor of English Social History at the University of Buckingham.

Tinniswood studied English and Philosophy at Southampton University and was awarded an MPhil at Leicester University.

Tinniswood has often acted as a consultant to the National Trust, and has lectured at several universities including the University of Oxford and the University of California, Berkeley.

He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).

Reviews

[Beata · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Adrian Tinniswood's book on the Verney family and since that moment I have become a great fan of the Author. And his latest book does not disappoint readers who are interested in history and who have already gained some knowledge but would like to learn something about the details which are usually, but not always, left behind in the context of battles, fights for the crown and other historic developments. Adrian Tinniswood's takes a magnifying glass and looks for details which may not have influenced the history, but which definitely played part in the lives of the rulers of Great Britain. The reader is given the opportunity to gain access into the daily routines of those in power.
The amount of research done into the subject matter is overwhelming and the panorama of each period splendid. So, if you want to learn about facts which are not so well-known, this book is a must for you.
I enjoyed reading this particular book immensly and already look forward to Mr Tinniswood's next book.

I would like to thank Perseus Books, Basic Books and Netgalley for issuing me with the copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Emma Deplores Goodreads Censorship · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a mildly interesting but overall unremarkable book, with a title that doesn’t quite describe its content. While the book is billed as covering the workings of the British royal household over several centuries – from Elizabeth I to II – it seems to spend more time on the personal lives of the monarchs and royal families themselves. Also, the narrative seems to be determined by just whatever information is most available about each reign, which means it doesn’t trace consistent subjects through time. I did find the stories included interesting, but I also came in not knowing much about the history of the British royal family. There’s some interesting stuff about the workings of the household too, though I think this book is best read for general interest rather than any kind of focused research purposes. The writing style is smooth and it makes for easy reading.

It got a bit weird at the end when the author started sneering about the unwashed masses daring to sully the royals with interest in and opinions about their personal lives, with particular venom for those former staff who wrote memoirs describing the royals’ personal lives. He then quotes those very memoirs for basically all of the information he provides about Elizabeth II and her family – which, she gave him some kind of award so best be careful I guess. And he conveniently ignores that this book itself is basically 450 years of gossip about the royals and those around them. Seems a little hypocritical to condemn the very interest that produces your own book sales.

For those interested in this sort of thing, I found The Courtiers better; it has a stronger narrative because it’s more focused on a particular time period (George I and II), and there’s a little more focus on the people around the royals than on the royals themselves. There are definitely a bunch of interesting tidbits and anecdotes in this one too, but Behind the Throne doesn’t add up to more than the sum of its parts.

[E · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as the WSJ review made it out to be. I was expecting more on the actual logistics of running the royal household. There was some of that, to be sure, and it was interesting. But there was also a lot about backbiting, jealous courtiers that was far less interesting. Tinniswood chose to narrative the book chronologically (from Elizabeth to Elizabeth), but it seems like it would have been better to organize the material topically. His treatment did at least provide good summaries of the royal successions over the years. Britain has been blessed with good monarchs the last two centuries (it helped a lot that the Georges reigned a lot longer than the Edwards in the 20th cent.).

The book I am looking for is probably waiting to be written.

[Debbie · Rating 1 out of 5]

So I am making an assumption here that most people who will pick this book up are interested in British history and/or the monarchy. If you are, like me, then don't bother with this because you will learn nothing you don't already know. Mad King George and his bouts of insanity? Princess Margaret and Peter Townsend? Charles and Diana? Queen Victoria and the men in her life after Philip? All stuff that probably most people know if they were alive in the 90's, watch The Queen, or have seen a movie about any of the kings or queens of England.

I was expecting more behind the scenes of what the servants, ministers, staff do to run the palaces, manage the schedules, put on events, traveling with various members of the monarchy...etc...

It really had little to do with that -most was a rehash of family squabbles and royal scandals. I don't even know why I finished reading it.

[Moniek Bloks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Behind the Throne: A Domestic History of the British Royal Household takes a look at the workings of the royal household, above and below stairs. We begin with Queen Elizabeth I and end with the second Elizabeth 500 years later. I enjoyed the first parts of the book but as it also focusses heavily on the timeline and major events, which most will be familiar with, it can become rather repetitive. It became less and less about the workings of the households and more about the Kings and Queens involved. Despite this, you can certainly tell that a lot of research has gone into this and I cannot deny that the writing style is quite good.

[Henry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun and informative read, although was thematically and structurally scattered. Each chapter supposedly covers the following Royal's house life and the lives of servants, workers and administrators, however, the author mainly talks about whatever stories they think were interesting or gossipy for that monarch's reign. Sometimes the lives of the domestic workers intersect with the main points in each chapter. Other times the "domestic" aspect of the history feels shoehorned into the piece. Despite this, I enjoyed learning more about a large swathe of historical characters from one Elizabeth to the next.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent narration. I expected more “behind the scenes” information, given the title of the book, but large portions of the narrative were consumed by tales of the monarchs themselves. Interesting, no doubt, but not what was advertised on the tin, so to speak. Still I do recommend for fans of British history and gossip.

[Phoebe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is rather groundbreaking for what it attempts to do: provide snapshots of daily life as a royal through the centuries. When I started the book I thought it would focus on the lives and activities of the staff, so found myself wondering at the many digressions into the activities of the monarchs themselves. Tinniswood offers us a peek into these grand households and their inner workings. There could have been more photographs, but overall a detailed, significant contribution to the shelves. Adult.

[Allie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read for royal enthusiasts and those interested how things work behind the scenes. The author examines the courts from Elizabeth I to Elizabeth II.

[Stephanie Kline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many thanks to Basic Books for sending me a copy of Adrian Tinniswood's most recently-published book (it hit shelves October 2nd). As always, I was thrilled for the chance to read and review another new "royal" book, which incorporates some of my favorite history.

This book spans the reigns of Elizabeth I through the current Queen Elizabeth II. The subject of the book focuses on the most intimate details of life "behind the scenes" at the British royal court, and how those roles, responsibilities, and experiences have changed through these 450+ years. We are introduced to many of the people who supported the monarch in various ways, and given close looks at what went on behind closed doors at court. For example, how frugal or extravagant was each monarch in their personal spending and the overall spending of their court? What restrictions were attempted to be put in place to control debt and excess spending? What were relationships between members of the royal household like, and how did they vary from reign to reign? How much money did Elizabeth I spend on her regular progresses around the country, and how did that compare to what James I spent on masques at court?

These questions (and many, many more) are answered in this book, and some of these topics are (as expected) more interesting than others - just as certain kings and queens were understandably more interesting than others. The format of this book was chronological from Elizabeth I to Elizabeth II, so each chapter effectively took on a new topic, as well as a new reign, to consider. This is different from other history books I've read - which often compare the same topics between various kings and queens in one chapter. Such a format is sometimes more effective, in my opinion, as it provides more context into how various topics were handled between different monarchs. In this case, each chapter introduces a new subject of focus, as well as monarch - so comparison is more difficult. However, this format minimizes confusion between reigns, which is also appreciated.

On a personal note, I have to say I tend not to care much for the Georges of England, so the chapters between the late Stuart dynasty and the beginnings of our modern Windsors were somewhat lackluster for me. This is to say nothing of the quality of the writing or research - just my general boredom of the House of Hanover. (I did, however, really enjoy the chapter on Queen Victoria). In addition, I'd always prefer to read about the older monarchs, so I would have loved if this book had extended back even further - passed Henry VIII and possibly even into the lives of the Plantagenet monarchs.

This is a great, intimate look into the private lives of the royals and their closest, most trusted employees. Tinniswood's writing is simple to follow and entertaining enough to make this more than just your average history book. It's an interesting and engaging read for any lover of British history. It's especially interesting to look at how vastly things have changed between the two monarchs that book-end this book - how the image of the monarch and the expectation for them to be "whatever the people want them to be" has changed so greatly. It's the whole point, I think, of the book: while the details have changed enormously over time, the institution of the English monarchy remains today as it always has - perhaps just as fascinating as ever.

In general, I love reading about domestic history, because it tells the stories of those "behind the scenes" details. I like learning about specific people, personalities, and habits of some of the most mysterious and fascinating figures in history. For those reasons, I very much enjoyed this book, and recommend it to any history lover. I guarantee anyone reading it will learn many a new thing about some of royal Britain's most interesting families.

[Les · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that purports to reveal the roles of the people behind the throne. But the first 20% or so seems to be a laundry list of expenses and payments. I guess there aren't a lot of details available about the earliest appointees but it is almost like reading spreadsheets. As more history was recorded and more books printed the details pick up steam.
In addition to the payments we get stories of the roles these people played in the lives of the monarchs. By the Stuarts we are getting the gossipy kind of mud slinging one expects from a book about the royals. By the time we get to the Victorian age we begin to get the same stuff you have seen on Victoria, Mrs. Brown and Victoria & Abdul.

I can't recommend reading it cover to cover it it probably more enjoyable if you read a chapter take a break and pick it up again.

[Jessica Wilhoite · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was extremely interesting. As an American, I had no idea what it took and still takes to run the monarchy behind the scenes, or in this case, behind the throne.

I have such respect for those that have devoted their life to their country to serve as the sovereign because it can't be easy to have so many people around you all the time, to help you dress and, like Henry VIII, someone to watch you go to the bathroom. 3.7 stars.

I voluntarily reviewed this book on Netgalley. #netgalley #behindthethrone

[Emily Moon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting insight into the life and experiences of the monarchs of Great Britain from the perspective of those that served them. However, at times, it seemed to focus too much on the monarchs stories at the expense of the servants themselves who sometimes got lost in the narrative. But, despite this, it was engaging and well written!

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt the information presented was not quite satisfactory. There was history about the royals and some overview of the staff but I was hoping for more staff and less royals. I can read about royals anywhere, but there isn't much available focusing on the people who made the royal spectacles possible.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Behind the Throne by Adrian Tinniswood gives the reader a glimpse into the massive world of “employees” or courtiers holding up the working sides of the royal household. Beginning with Queen Elizabeth I to the present day Queen Elizabeth, this book details how the needs and wants of the ruling families have been helped and sometimes hindered. I loved the anecdotal style of this book. It has interesting “behind the scenes” stories that help to bring the history alive.
Thank you to Basic Books and Netgalley for the advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[ags · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bardzo solidna, bardzo mi się podobała, miło było wrócić do czasów, kiedy strasznie dużo czytałam na ten temat

[Gayla Bassham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not really what I had hoped -- I wanted to read about royal servants but this is really a collection of anecdotes about the private lives of the British royal family. And a lot of the anecdotes are entertaining, but on the other hand many of them were already familiar to me. (If you saw The Favourite, feel free to skip the Queen Anne chapter.) Probably a better book if you consume less media about the Stuarts and Mountbatten-Windsors than I do.

[Mgb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book primarily because of the “upstairs/downstairs” description. As I read, however, I found that the royal household is more of an upstairs, downstairs, sub-basement system. This book focuses on the downstairs—the lords and ladies with titles that sound like they work but really the people that do the work are, for the most part, unnamed, unknown, and unmentioned in this book. The book is well written, and I did enjoy some of the stories presented. The best part was learning about bouge.
Oh, and that in one year 600,000 gallons of beer and ale were carted to the court of Elizabeth I.

[Meg · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this might be along the lines of Robert Hardman's work looking at the evolution of the modern court, but the author often got sidetracked by history happening before the throne. The upside is that I got the best overview I've had to date of the Commonwealth and the Stuarts which is where my knowledge in British royal history has a blank space. The downside is that it overall it wasn't quite what I'd expected and that was disappointing.

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Some of the information was interesting, but overall, the book was very dry and dull. The information wasn't presented in any logical order, either chronological or topical that I could tell, so, I just couldn't get into it.

[Countess of Frogmere · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring.

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A behind the scenes look at those who serve the British monarchy from the time of Elizabeth I through Elizabeth II. Not surprising, the early years have limited information with the nobles that filled specific offices with hundreds of unnamed servants that provided the royal family with nearly every type of support that can be thought of. From cooks and bakers, grooms and masters of the hounds, carriage drivers and boatmen and chauffeurs, body servants and maids and dressers and valets, housekeepers with butlers and footmen and gardeners, governesses and nursemaids and nannys, caretakers and falconers and secretaries and more and more and more. During some reigns there were anywhere from 900 to over 1200 employees providing comfort and an array of services.

Literally, the various royal palaces were more than cluttered with people. A noble assigned to a position would be assigned lodgings within the royal residence and would bring his wife, children, servants and all would be provided with shelter and food. Of course, this was before they were given actual wages. Several times, in an attempt to save money, the monarchy would try to cut back but it would only be a temporary solution. Victoria and Albert were allotted a certain budget that was overspent each year as the Queen continued to have children.

Then there is the the divisions of duties that just chaotic especially since no one was willing to give up a shred of traditional authority or responsibility. One example was why some rooms were so cold - the lord steward's staff would lay a fire within a fireplace while it took a member of the lord chamberlain's staff to light the fire. Excessive micromanaging that didn't see any actual changes until 1845.

The book ends with a chapter on the modern 'exposes' and memoirs of staff either fired or having quit. Some would wait until the royal they served was dead but with today's fascination and belief the public has a right to every aspect of the royal life, writers are finding loopholes to work around the clause that appeared in all employment contracts after 1955 that prohibits publishing or commenting to the media any personal information regarding a member of the royal family be it spoken or written. Due to the flood of books in the past 40 years, that hasn't stopped anyone for long.

It is definitely a enjoyable view behind the scenes. The only stumbling blocks would be the readers unfamiliarity with some of the older terms for various positions but those are easily looked up in a dictionary or on the web.

2020-219

[Plainsboro Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Behind the Throne: A Domestic History of the British Royal Household by Adrian Tinniswood is a fascinating dive into the lesser-known details of British royal history, though it doesn't entirely live up to its title. Instead of just focusing on the household staff and their workings, the book spends a lot of time on the personal lives of monarchs from Elizabeth I to Queen Elizabeth II. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but if you’re hoping for a deep look into the behind-the-scenes mechanics of royal life, this might not completely satisfy you. Tinniswood’s writing is smooth and engaging, making it easy to get through even for people who aren’t history experts. The author clearly put in a ton of research, and it shows in the rich details and anecdotes. For example, you’ll learn all kinds of quirky facts about royal routines and habits that you’d never find in a traditional history book. Still, the way the information is presented can feel a bit random, as the book jumps between whatever stories seem most accessible for each monarch instead of sticking to a consistent theme. One of the most bizarre parts of the book is near the end when Tinniswood lambasts the public for being too curious about the royals' personal lives. It feels a bit strange since his own book has spent hundreds of pages feeding that curiosity, which did make the ending feel a little off. Overall, Behind the Throne is great if you're just looking for an interesting and fun read about royal history. But if you are looking for something more in-depth, with a more focused take on either side, then you're better off with books such as The Courtiers. Still, it's a very packed book with quite a number of fascinating stories showing a glimpse into the lives of Britain's most famous rulers, so I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in history.

Behind the Throne: A Domestic History of the British Royal Household by Adrian Tinniswood offers engaging and well-researched anecdotes about the personal lives of British monarchs but strays from its focus on the workings of the royal household. While the writing is smooth and filled with fascinating details, the narrative can feel disorganized, and the author’s criticism of public curiosity about the royals feels hypocritical given the book's content. Overall, it’s an enjoyable read for general history fans but lacks depth for those seeking a more focused exploration.

Tithi Mehta, Grade 10

[Anne Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adrian Tinniswood's Behind the Throne explores the lives of English royalty from Queen Elizabeth I to Queen Elizabeth II through the eyes of those who served them. In a light, conversational style of writing, Tinniswood examines how costly Elizabeth I's 'visiting' her nobility was and the incredible lengths nobles needed to go in order to house and entertain her- not only in a way fit for royalty, but also in a way fit to recommend them to Elizabeth the next time she had a gift to bestow. It is hard to imagine the number of residences that have come and gone during this time period, and what one royal thought of as the best of all houses the next might hate and ignore.

Much of the book looks at the inevitable balancing act of how a king (or queen) should be seen to live like royalty, while at the same time trying (or not) to keep in some kind of budget. Throne has an uneven amount of behind the scenes stories to tell, and often instead of newly discovered research into the daily life of English royalty and those who serve them, we read the same stories we've heard in any history. While I didn't learn anything new about the Prince Regent (George IV)'s living habits, there were many good glimpses behind how Elizabeth I and King James I lived. George V and the more modern royals become more known and accessible and we see the harbingers of the modern day paparazzi and the new balancing act between private lives and what the public wants to know.

From what has changed to what hasn't, Behind the Throne gives an entertaining, and highly readable, account of 500 years of history and the lives of English royalty and those who surround them. A good read for history lovers and those who think they don't like history, but always enjoy a good bit of royal gossip.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

[Maura Heaphy Dutton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautifully presented, but a bit superficial, flitting from topic to topic that could be described as "royal personal life" like a distracted May fly. I felt that Tinniswood's decision to deal with his material chronologically was a big mistake -- Elizabeth I is represented by a chapter on "Royal Progresses," and the chapter on Charles II goes into great detail on his mistresses, and, unavoidably, the focus on George III is largely on his episodes of "madness," so later references to royal travels, and complicated royal relationships (er, Edward VII ... hello?) and royal health and how it was handled seem to be lacking context.

And there seemed to be great gaps in a book claiming to be a domestic history: for example, I would have liked to know more about the care and upbringing of the royal children. Like their subjects, the various Royal Families had to suffer the heartbreak of outliving their children, whether it was Queen Anne's 17 miscarriages and still births, or the sudden death of James I's son and original heir, Henry, Prince of Wales, of a fever at age 16. There are all referenced, of course, but in passing.

(BTW -- just checked, and Tinniswood is wrong about Queen Anne. He says that none of her pregnancies resulted in a child who "survived infancy." Prince William, Duke of Gloucester, born in 1689, lived to the age of eleven.)

I feel that, in fact, the title is a giveaway -- this is not so much a history of the personal lives of the sovereigns and their families, but of the people "behind the throne" -- the equerries, the secretaries, the ministers -- and Tinniswood is more interested in the evolution of the Royal Household than he is in the specifics of the lives of the monarchs.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a peculiar book which turned out to be not at all what I thought it was going to be. While I will read just about anything with a picture of Queen Elizabeth on the cover, very little of this book was about her reign. I think the most important amount of information I could give anyone looking to read this book is that it’s primarily about the House of Stuart and secondarily about the House of Hanover. There’s also a bit of a rush through Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II at the end and it ultimately stops with Princess Diana’s death.

So, if you have even a passing interest in British royal history… you’ll know that’s QUITE A LOT to cover. This easily could have been three well-researched books and instead what we get is a bit of a mashup of factoids. It’s not that it wasn’t interesting, but it felt disjointed. I would say the most engaging parts to me were right around the transition from House of Stuart to Hanover since I’m not familiar with that era at all. I haven’t read anything about the various Georges, so I felt that this was a good introduction.

I guess this would be good for folks who want “a little bit of everything” as far as the monarchy is concerned, or want to understand how we ended up where we are today, but even then, I think this would be very confusing. And for people who are already well-read on this subject, I don’t imagine you will find anything new here.

See more of my reviews: Blog // Instagram

[Ionia · Rating 4 out of 5]

With a lot of books about Royal History, you really only get to see one side of the operations, that of the Royalty themselves. I liked this book because it shows what it was like to be the Royalty, the lowest man on the totem pole and everything in between. This is a carefully researched and interesting look at daily life and operations in the Royal household. The author does not hold back on the truths she has uncovered in her research and it made for a thoroughly interesting read.

As an author, I am always on the lookout for books that can add the fine details every writer needs when wanting to make their historical works authentic and books like this are wonderful for just such a purpose. I would recommend this book to general readers, but also to other authors, artists or any historian of the age. I was impressed.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

[JayeL]

The purported goal of this book was to tell readers about the staff behind the royal family. The authors starts out that way, but ends up telling the story of the royals with tidbits of their staff thrown in. It was interesting and I have a much better sense of what kind or queen ruled when. I was disappointed that the author lost some focus, though, because I was interested in what various positions did and how they evolved. I was particularly interested in the reign of Queen Elizabeth II and what positions help her now. This section devolved into gossip about Princess Margaret and Princess Diana, rehashing their love lives. I wanted to know if there was still a Lady of the Stool in QE2's time.

Still, I know the problem: lack of primary source material. Staff probably didn't keep diaries or write many letters that were kept until more recent times. I was impressed with the research in general and wonder if the archives of the royal family have a librarian?

[S.C. Skillman · Rating 5 out of 5]

An engaging and highly informative read about the members of the Royal Household who have served our monarchs since the time of Elizabeth I, this book concentrates not on the actions of the great but upon the details of those who have served them and made sure things happened around them on the most basic level. I found this a delightful and often revelatory read, in particular how badly the royal finances have been handled over the centuries, with even Queen Victoria refusing to stop paying people for non-existent jobs, and instead, ordering false economies.

The book is full of surprising anecdotes, some very funny, some almost shocking. This is the reality behind the movers and shakers of our world; the vast numbers of people in low-level jobs who have upheld the institutions of power. Read this book to gain new insights into those who have made history; and to recognise how much is owed to the army of people who have supported them.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for lovers of all things royal but who have ever found themselves wondering while reading something focused on the monarch or their family just who is keeping everything running behind the scenes. Any reader or watcher of the 8 million works about Henry VIII or his children probably noticed the court was forever on the road, wandering about the country on progress. What all was needed to move a whole household? Who coordinated between the court staff and the staff at the homes they visited? And how the heck did they feed all those people? Covering a large swath of history, this book details the inner workings of the royal courts including budget crunches and reforms and even attempts to manage or improve the physical palaces themselves. Very interesting read and a lot of information I’ve never seen presented anywhere else.