Royalty History

Join Stephen Fry as he delves in to the secrets of one of the most extraordinary monarchs in one of our most extraordinary eras in English history. A woman in a man’s world. And not just any woman – but Elizabeth I, one of the greatest and most secretive monarchs of all time. This queen realised that her sex, far from being a weakness, could be deployed as a strength. It’s not an overstatement to say that England’s politics, religion, and culture have all been shaped by what she did and said. And what she kept secret. This wasn’t just a time of poets, playwrights and poachers.

This magnificent biography of Henry VIII is set against the cultural, social and political background of his court - the most spectacular court ever seen in England - and the splendour of his many sumptuous palaces. An entertaining narrative packed with colourful description and a wealth of anecdotal evidence, but also a comprehensive analytical study of the development of both monarch and court during a crucial period in English history.

Do you want to learn more about the great military leader Napoleon Bonaparte, but don’t have time to read huge, long biographies? Then let The History Journals take you on an hourly history tour of his life. Since the beginning of time there have always been leaders to emerge from the masses...

Was macht die Größe eines Herrschers aus? Was macht den einen zu einer herausragenden Persönlichkeit, den anderen aber zu einem gefürchteten und gehassten Despoten...

Elisabeth I. galt als Bastard, musste Hass und Intrigen über sich ergehen lassen und landete sogar im Tower...

The definitive biography of the father and son who reshaped the ancient world. “Brings to life the full drama of ancient history.” —Wall Street Journal Alexander the Great's conquests staggered the world. He led his army across thousands of miles, overthrowing the greatest empires of his...

It's 1966 and Queen Elizabeth II is touring the Caribbean aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia. Her schedule is measured in ten-minute increments for five weeks, and nothing can afford to go wrong. But something does. Early in the trip, the Queen's new diary secretary, Pamela Sinclair, is found dead...

Few personalities from classical antiquity are more famous - yet more poorly understood - than Cleopatra VII, queen of Egypt. In this major biography, Duane Roller reveals that Cleopatra was in fact a learned and visionary leader whose overarching goal was always the preservation of her dynasty and kingdom. Roller's authoritative account is the first to be based solely on primary materials from the Greco-Roman period: literary sources, Egyptian documents (Cleopatra's own writings), and representations in art and coinage produced while she was alive.

Dive into the fierce struggle for power and dynastic survival that defined a thousand years of British history. Witness the dramatic evolution of the crown from the brutal battlefields of medieval warrior kings to the heavily scrutinized palaces of today’s modern figureheads. Whether you are...

A BBC HISTORY MAGAZINE BOOK OF THE YEAR 2025 'A breath-taking history of female sovereignty' -- Alison Weir 'Gripping and beautifully crafted' -- Tracy Borman 'Filled with fascinating figures from history' -- Gareth Russell These are the stories of the female kings: women who risked everything...

As the world's attention traces the reluctant social advances in the Middle East, Princess Sultana and her female friends and family have stepped forward to rescue young women in the region who are cruelly mistreated by their husbands, their fathers, and the brutish ISIS soldiers who kidnap them. But inside the Princess' lavish Saudi Arabian palace, sparks of anger and bolts of fear crackle because of the secrets kept to forward her efforts to help women and children.

A Sunday Times Book of the Year Queen Of Our Times, read by the author, is the definitive biography of Queen Elizabeth II by one of Britain’s leading royal authorities, Robert Hardman. This commemorative edition includes an epilogue reflecting upon Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, her passing...

Power shaped the world. Passion shaped the powerful. From the opulent palaces of imperial Russia to the burning sands of ancient Egypt, Passions of Power reveals the secret love lives that changed the course of history. Dive into the seductive and volatile romances of iconic rulers, Cleopatra...

'Arthur’s experience in the role is unparalleled and this is a truly captivating memoir of an extraordinary career, told by the man the royals themselves seek out in the crowd.' Emily Nash. ‘Arthur Edwards is one of the greatest newspaper photographers in history and a man whose...

Who was the real Diana? What was it like to be so privileged yet so anguished, so beloved yet so self-loathing, so spoiled yet so despairing? The Princess of Wales was all these things--far more complicated, conflicted, and intriguing a person than the wildly disparate saint or lunatic she is...

“Superb....Augustus is a first-rate popular biography by a skilled and knowing hand.” (Washington Post) Caesar Augustus created the Roman Empire and forever associated the name Caesar with power. Heir to Julius Caesar, he thrust himself into the middle of Roman politics at its most violent...

Do you want to learn more about Princess Diana, but don’t have time to read huge, long biographies? Then let The History Journals take you on an hourly history tour of her life. In fairy tales, dreams do come true...little girls can grow up to marry handsome princes, and live happily ever...

The definitive history of the self-destruction of the autocratic Romanov dynasty. “Filled with revelations and fresh insights and rich with observations.” —The Wall Street Journal In 1917, Imperial Russia faced a series of overlapping crises, from war to social unrest, that culminated in...

Read by the authors and Will Damron. "A technically rich, warmly patriotic account.” - Kirkus Reviews One of Town & Country’s Best Books of the Fall On a hazy July night in 1999, John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife Carolyn, and her sister Lauren vanished over the waters off Martha’s...

Bloomsbury presents Sophia by Anita Anand, read by Tania Rodrigues. **By the presenter of the hit podcast EMPIRE** 'Sophia is the sort of remarkable, almost unbelievable untold true story that every writer dreams of chancing upon. A wonderful debut, written with real spirit and gusto. Anita...