But this is a rogues’ gallery of people who other then through winning the lottery of birth would never have been remembered for anything of consequence. Again the book focuses on just her rather than spending too much time on world events, but, whereas earlier the book criticized monarchs, here we start to see a do-no-wrong attitude, with no comment on how bad she was at parenting and how that ended up having a real impact on the world stage. When Boudica's determination to rule enrages the Romans, the sisters find themselves in the midst of a frightening military campaign, beginning to question the Queen's very humanity. Your selection was perfect for our children and what really made the difference was your ability to engage with each child, discuss their interests and help them to choose a suitable book based on your extensive knowledge of the books you were selling.

A thoughtful parent also shouldn’t fail to note, how often strong (to the point of overbearing) fathers produce weak, and at times even effeminate sons (William II from William I, Edward II from Edward I, Edward VIII and George VI from George V), some of whom manage to rise above their oppressive legacy (George VI, most famously), while others of course do not. They are lively tales - complete with Viking raids, family betrayals and a rich history of Norwegian influences upon the growing country. Bronnie is so lovely with the boys and we also felt that having a man enthusing about the books set a great example. They did avoid a lot of controversy and tried to see both good and bad in some reigns which I think is just too unbiased. This enthralling story of 1,000 years of English history is told through the lives and deeds of kings and queens who ruled the English isle, from the Normans to the Windsors.

Includes a foreword by Michele Clapton, costume designer for series one of Netflix's The Crown, giving a peek behind the scenes at the recreation some of the Queen's most famous outfits. This book serves up bite-sized portions, describing each of the 59 British rulers dating back to Alfred the Great in 871 and continuing on through most of Queen Elizabeth II's reign. The biographical information on each monarch is much less detailed than in the book reviewed here, but it does include some additional tidbits that these authors overlooked, and overall it is more extensive in its presentation: pre-Norman history all the way back to ancient times, the Scottish royal house, notable castles, palaces and residences, etc.

The big names are of course especially fascinating subjects, of whom there are too many among such a lineage to even begin commenting upon.I bought it after I started watching The Tudors as I needed to understand the dyansties and relationships of all the people at Court. There is a small piece missing from the top of the spine, and there is a tear and creasing with some loss at the top of the rear cover. The club of royal families of Europe that continually intermarried obviously made for some thorough genetic mixing.