Crown & Sceptre: A New History of the British Monarchy, from William the Conqueror to Elizabeth II

by Tracy Borman

Since William the Conqueror, duke of Normandy, crossed the English Channel in 1066 to defeat King Harold II and unite England's various kingdoms, forty-one kings and queens have sat on Britain's throne: "shining examples of royal power and majesty alongside a rogue's gallery of weak, lazy, or evil monarchs," as Tracy Borman evocatively describes them in her sparkling chronicle, Crown & Sceptre. Ironically, during very few of these 955 years has the throne's occupant been unambiguously English--whether Norman French, the Welsh-born Tudors, the Scottish Stuarts, and the Hanoverians and their German successors to the present day.Acknowledging the intrinsic fascination with British royalty, Borman lifts the veil to reveal the remarkable characters and personalities who have ruled and, since the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660, more ceremonially reigned--a crucial distinction explaining the staying power of the monarchy as the royal family has evolved and adapted to the needs and opinions of its people, avoiding the storms of rebellion that brought many of Europe's royals to an abrupt end. Richard II; Henry VIII; Elizabeth I; George III; Victoria; Elizabeth II: their names evoke eras and the dramatic events Borman recounts. She is equally attuned to the fabric of monarchy: royal palaces; the way monarchs have been portrayed in art, on coins, in the media; the ceremony and pageantry surrounding the crown.

In 2024, Elizabeth II would eclipse France's Louis XIV as the longest reigning monarch in history. Crown & Sceptre is a fitting tribute to her remarkable longevity and that of the magnificent institution she represents.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, British Literature, Royalty, Historical, European History

576 pages, Hardcover

First published November 18, 2021

About the author

Tracy Borman, PhD, FRHistS, FSA is a historian and author from Scothern, United Kingdom. She is most widely known as the author of Elizabeth's Women.

Borman was born and brought up in the village of Scothern, England near Lincoln. She was educated at Scothern Primary School (now Ellison Boulters School), William Farr School, Welton, and Yarborough School, Lincoln. She taught history at the University of Hull, where she was awarded a Ph.D in 1997. Elizabeth's Women was serialized and became a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week in September 2009. Tracy Borman appeared on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour, also in September 2009

Reviews

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently the The Anglo-Saxons A History of the Beginnings of England: 400–1066 which covers British history up to the coming of William the Conqueror. I felt the need for a similar overview going forward. I’ve read bios and period histories and felt the need for something to pull it all together.

I read through the Normans, Plantagenet’s, the Lancaster-York;s and the Hanoverian's. I skimmed the Tudors and Stuarts and skipped Windsors where I am well steeped.

This is a handy and helpful survey.

My biggest takeaway is how fragile this throne has been. Most of these monarchs were challenged by family members (some successfully), parliamentarians and pretenders. You have to hand it to the Tudors for navigating the turf and staying in power. The other European thrones of greater historic stability have disappeared while the British monarch lives on.

This is recommended as a survey. I found it useful as a guide and may consult it in the future.

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

This book says “from William the Conquerer” but it actually briefly discusses the Anglo Saxon kings. Not much obviously since there isn’t as much known about them, but they are brought up

[Maja - BibliophiliaDK ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A WELL EXECUTED, CONDENCED HISTORY OF THE KINGS OF BRITAIN

I have always been fascinated by the British Monarchy. I know the list of monarch from Ecbert to Elizabeth II by heart. So when this gem of a book fell into my lap I gobbled it up. While you'd think there was little knew to say about the British monarchy, Borman still finds a way to enlighten. I was especially fascinated by her inclusion of many of the queen consorts and the roles they played in the administration of the country and their husbands' lives. That was something I had felt lacking in previous studies of English kings. The subject of how queenship mirrors and supports kingship is, however, too broad for the scope of this book and Borman only scratches the surface. But if she ever feels the need to turn it into a study of its own, she will have my support. I also really liked Borman's notes and views on how each king shaped the idea of kingship. They each did something, decided something or refrained from doing something that had an impact on the office of kingship up until this day.

ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

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[Melisende · Rating 2 out of 5]

Again, I am very wary when it comes to books with the title "new" in them as I invariably find nothing new. And again there was really nothing new here for me. I am going to preface this review, however, by stating that I read only up to the reign of Anne for beyond that was not really within my purview - therefore whether there was anything "new" or not to be gleaned I will leave in the capable hands of another reader.

Borman compartmentalizes the book according to familial term designated for each ruler and their dynasty (ie: Stuarts, Normans, Plantagenets, Tudors, etc). As such, it is broken down as follows (making it easier to chose where you want to start).

Each section provides enough detail on and about each monarch and their reign; however, there are the usual tropes associated with a number of monarchs that I would hesitate in recommending it as an unbiased primer for someone starting. Having said that, there is enough here from which to launch into more detailed or specialised accounts.

Now whilst I mentioned that for me there was nothing new in the bulk of the narrative - there were a couple of little nuggets that I would have loved more detail on, as Borman disappointingly does not follow up with any actual source material. These nuggets are the type of thing that stands out for me - but as no source was / can be provided, it just falls within the realm of whimsical hearsay, and places this book back firmly on the shelf of popularist general history.

Still, there are many who will appreciate the condensed accounts of England's monarchs, spanning a period of some nine hundred odd years.

[Sherry Sharpnack · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very superficial, introductory, text delineating the English monarchs from Egbert the Anglo Saxon to Elizabeth II, written by Tracy Borman, who is Chief Executor of the Heritage Education Trust and curator of royal palaces. I am familiar w/ her from Tudor websites, and eagerly anticipated this book on the history of the English monarchy. I should have expected it to be a cursory introduction only, as it would be difficult to go in-depth on the millennium-plus history of the English monarchy. She tries very hard to be fair to each monarch, even the undeserving ones. I mean, who can be nice about King John?
Borman goes to great pains to show how the monarchy evolved from an absolute, appointed-by-God monarch to the constitutional monarchy that exits now. In the Introduction, Borman states that
"The real power of the crown comes from the almost magical aura with which it is surrounded." p. xviii. She continues "The monarchy's unique survival owes much to the fact that, for all its ancient traditions and protocol, the royal family has been made to evolve and adapt in response to the needs and the opinions of the people." p. xix
The book ends with speculation over the future of the monarchy after Elizabeth II's death, which is surely approaching. There have been scandals throughout its history - as noted in this book - but they piled upon one another w/ the modern family of the Windsors. Longer may Queen Elizabeth reign, b/c we surely do not know what will happen next!
4 stars b/c as already mentioned, the book is a very superficial introduction, and spent far too long on the current batch of Windsors, IMHO, descending into gossip and speculation.

[Eleanor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tracy Borman is quickly becoming my favourite historian. Her writing is succinct and sophisticated and so easily consumable. This was such a comprehensive overview of the monarchy and was interesting regardless of whether I had prior knowledge of a monarch or not. This serves well both for an introductory reader of history and a well versed one, in my opinion. Moreover, I flew through this book due to the chapters being the perfect length to read in the evenings,and just keep you wanting more.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very comprehensive, sometimes to the point of detracting from the readability of the book. I texted Cait when I got the Stuarts saying that I felt like celebrating for having made it that far. If you are interested in the subject and don't know a lot about the older monarchs, I do think this is worth reading, but if you'd like a more fun presentation of the subject, you should check out the podcast Rex Factor. Glad I got this one done before the coronation in May.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

This is a wonderful book. It gives a brief history of all the Kings and Queens since before the invasion of William the Conqueror in 1066 all the way through to the present. It also provides brief vignettes of their consorts (or, in some cases co-rulers). It gives a clear and unbiased textual treatment of these individuals. Some were good, some were bad. A few were very bad.

I learned new information in this book as well. For example, I did not realize that King George V was such a good man. I had the opinion that he was uncaring and very stern with his children.

This book is well written in a linear fashion. It is easy to read and accessible to everyone. I highly recommend this book to everyone who is interested in the British monarchy or British history. Ms. Borman is a wonderful historian and has done extensive research on her subjects. I can always count on her to give a clear-headed view of her subject.

I want to thank NetGalley and Grove Atlantic/Atlantic Monthly Press for forwarding to me a copy of this absolutely great and informative book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed here are solely my own.

[Russell · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Crown and Sceptre" covers the history of England's rulers from the few pre-Norman sovereigns through the current Queen Elizabeth II. Stories of the early kings can be sparse and seem remote, due to the little known about them. The book really catches its stride with the Tudors, bulking up the narrative with longer histories and presenting more personal details. While I gave the book a 3 rating, the first third I'd rate lower - if you persevere you'll be rewarded.

[Infosifter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful overview, very accessible

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC from Netgalley.com.

First line: The mass of people expect a King or Queen to look and play the part.

Summary: A concise but short history of the kings and queens of England.

My Thoughts: This is my first book by Tracy Borman but I have been following her work through podcasts, articles and social media for years. She is someone I admire because she basically has my dream job. I really enjoyed this because it helped me understand different parts of English history especially the reasons behind the Hanoverian line in the succession.

Each king or queen was covered in several pages highlighting the main points of their reign. The writing was easy to read and informative. I have wanted to pick up several other books by Borman and now I will definitely prioritize them more.

FYI: Great for anyone interested in British history.

[Paul Godwin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not at all sure who this book is for. I cannot conceive of anyone interested in the subject who hasn’t already acquired the information shared in the book.

This is a Ladybird Book of monarchs without the charm or the brevity.

Little insight and a huge disappointment.

[Jacob Stelling · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book from Borman - it does what it says on the cover and offers a strong history of the Kings and Queens of the country.

However this is where I was disappointed: this reads more like a succession of biographies than I’d hoped for, with more focus on how the institution of monarchy changed (this was discussed, just not as much as I’d hoped). I did also note that Borman only offered slight critique of these monarchs, at times failing to discuss some of the more problematic aspects of their reigns.

On the whole though, an excellent summary of the monarchs, even if I felt at times it offered little that was new from past reads.

[Graham Catt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wars, scandals, beheadings, rebellions and much, much more. The 1000 year history of British monarchy reads like Game of Thrones without the dragons.

Tracy Borman’s book is fascinating, compelling reading. A fabulous achievement.

[Mitch Karunaratne · Rating 4 out of 5]

An expansive survey which has helped me link knowledge and fill in gaps! I’m in awe of Bormann’s vast knowledge and her ability to pull out the salient and at the same time engaging parts of each monarchs complex social, familial and political context. It’s done a great job at directing where I’d like to go next in terms of digging deeper around specific times / issues.

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book could have easily been another 400 pages and I would have ate it up.

If you want a book that will send you down countless rabbit holes, this is it. Borman provides her readers with what is essentially the cliff notes version of the reign of all the British monarchs starting with William the Conqueror. It's an excellent primer and Borman's analysis of each ruler's reign is enlightening.

[Cait · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took me a long time to figure out how to summarise my feelings of this book, but I've landed on: would love to know the logic that means Edward VIII's section is longer than Anne's?

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introduction to the English Monarchy. Really brings up bigger complex questions about the evolution of the monarchy itself.

[Shawn Thrasher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Textbook adjacent, but because Tracy Borman is such a good writer and knows her stuff, quite interesting. She starts with distant antiquity, the Saxon kings of England, who are lumped together under “The Early Kings of England” (most books about the whole sweep of the English monarchy do this, likely because there is such little written records about those early kings). Starting with William the Conqueror, each King and Queen - the good, the bad, and the ugly - get their own chapter. This is a quick read - for as much as the book looks like a brick - and a great introduction if you’ve watched The Crown and want to learn more about the “who, what, when, where and why”s of the Windsors.

[Lois · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 Stars rounded up
This is a very brief but interesting look at a lot of Monarchs.
There's really nothing new here at the same time the author manages to keep the info fresh-ish and moving.
I removed a star because the author engages in the traditional sexism, etc that characterizes most of these type of biographies.

[Suanne Laqueur · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good, but not as good as I thought it was going to be.

[Tyler Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful collection of mini-biographies of every monarch England has had. A must read for anyone who is fascinated by the monarchy or loves European history in general.

[Steven Hoffman · Rating 3 out of 5]

"ALWAYS CHANGING AND ALWAYS THE SAME"

Ironically, I had just started reading this history when Elizabeth II passed into it. A retired history teacher who has taught a lot of world history survey courses, I never really grasped all the complexities within the line of succession in the British monarchy and have always wanted to understand it better. In about 500 pages, Borman gives us, perhaps, the most succinct accounting of more than one thousand years of British history to date.

Do I now have a thorough understanding of the line of succession? Certainly not. That would take a concentrated study, not a casual reading of this book, but if I cared to put forth the effort, Borman gives me an easy to comprehend resource by which to do it.

If you're not a history geek like me, you will probably find this book a bit laborious. It does, at times, read like your textbook from a dull history class. Mostly, however, it does an excellent job at explaining the twists and turns in British monarchial rule down to the present day putting the monarchy now (and really since the nineteenth century) at figurehead status. Borman's scholarship is evident and well documented and again, you would be hard pressed to digest this amount of historical information in proper context in one single source.

Throughout most of the narrative Borman remains appropriately neutral on the question of the relevancy of the British crown in the modern era. However, as she moves through the twentieth century, she begins to increasingly bring it up. It has become a frequent subject for debate in British society. There's an economic term (I taught economics as well, lol) called "creative destruction." It means that sometimes to achieve progress, old processes, dare I say institutions, must be abandoned or destroyed to make room for the new, even if they hold sentimental attachment to the many or the few. Borman cites polls over the decades that show the popularity of the monarchy has clearly waxed and waned over time, usually effected negatively by royal scandals. Clearly that's at the heart of the question posed here. Especially during the reign of Elizabeth II, the cost to British taxpayers of maintaining this highly symbolic, but marginally utilitarian institution has been significantly reduced and streamlined. "At the end of the day" (a favorite British colloquialism) however, the monarchy remains with significant cost to the British citizenry and shows no signs of going way any time soon.

Borman's book was published this past February (2022) and she predicts that when Elizabeth II passes, there will be renewed debate on the relevancy of the monarchy in modern day Britain. With the accession of her oldest son, King Charles III, we see that conversation has not (yet) really begun. Clearly, Borman sees no conflict of interest in the advancement of progress for the British Commonwealth, while at the same time, maintaining and protecting the very institution that defines it.

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author took on the task of attempting to provide a 'new' history of the British monarchy and overall, I'd say it was a nice overview of the 1,150 year history. As the Germanic tribes settled the situation amidst themselves to William the Conqueror who attempted to consolidate the entire island under one royal family, Borman continued to hit the high points of the reigns, disputes, wars, uprisings as well as marriage alliances - which in many cases - provided new territories to the attempts of continuing their royal lines - Henry VIII being a notorious example.

Each monarch and their reign was usually covered in less than a dozen pages save the aforementioned Henry VIII, Charles I, George III, Elizabeth I, Victoria, and the current Queen, Elizabeth II.

But this is firmly an overview and Borman provides an extensive bibliography that provides pages upon pages of primary as well as secondary resources for those who wish to investigate further. For the one who has a favorite British royal or royal family, they would likely find these tasty morsels vastly inadequate but for the generalist it is a great review.

2022-136

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore Tracy Borman both as a historian and as an author. I am amazed that she was able to take one thousand years of history and write it in a understandable, brief and concise manner. I adore British history and she was able to provide so many parts that I was not taught in school or have not read about in prior books meaning something about each Monarch, beginning with William the Conqueror through Elizabeth II. I really enjoyed the chapter on Elizabeth II as there is quite a bit of detail about the personal information of the Royal Family. All of the other chapters provide just enough information about each corresponding Monarch to let you decide if you'd like to read or find more detailed histories on them. An excellent read.

[Shoshana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Tracy Borman's books. She is both an excellent historian and an excellent writer, two things that do not necessarily go together. Her new book, "Crown and Sceptre" is no different. What a pleasure it was to read.

In "Crown and Sceptre" we find all of the British monarchs of England, from William the Conqueror to the present Queen Elizabeth II. Some of the entries are longer, some shorter, but all are interesting. For those with more knowledge of British history, this is a welcome review, for those of less knowledge, this is an excellent introduction to a complicated subject.

People have an enduring fascination with the British monarchy. For over 900 years a group of relatives has ruled and reigned over the island realm, making mischief and history. This is a book which can be read straight through, or dipped into at will. Either way, it is a terrific read, and heartily recommended.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Scott Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5 stars) A biographical summary of all the monarchs who wore the crown in England (and associated lands), from William the Conqueror to Elizabeth II. There is some mention of the earlier monarchs, but the author starts with the origins of modern England, post-1066. From there, it follows the ups and downs of the rulers. Some good, some, uh, not.

It is not the end-all, be-all on royal history, but a good teaser that will offer the highlights, especially for the non-UK/Commonwealth reader. Worth a library checkout, but maybe not a purchase.

[J.P. Barton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave me exactly what I was looking for. It was a solid survey of the institution of the British monarchy and its characters through the centuries. It is interesting how it has stood the test of time when so many others have been abolished. Some of my favorites are William the Conqueror, Richard Lionheart, Henry V, Victoria, George VI and of course Elizabeth II. I hope they can continue to recover from the disastrous 80s and 90s (basically Elizabeth’s children) with the coming reign of William.

[Augusto Alvarez Pasquel · Rating 5 out of 5]

There have good kings, bad kings. With some excellent speeches from Elizabeth 1 "I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too". But no speech will ever surpass the first one that Willian IV gave to his privy council "Who's silly Billy now?"

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating book spanning the history of the monarchy, starting with William the Conqueror and ending with the current king. This isn't taught in schools anymore but I wish it was as it provides greater understanding of the UK and the repeating patterns in history. Has inspired me to read more about past monarchs that have faded into obscurity and have been largely forgotten.