I refuse to stop talking about Women’s History Month, and of course, I’m here to share another book from a fantastic female author. In terms of non-fiction history books, many books are still authored by male historians. That is not to say that they do not write strong books, but female historians are still given the same platforms. If you are looking for a beautiful and interesting history of palaces in the United Kingdom, you must read The Royal Palaces by Kate Williams!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Royal Palaces: Secrets and Scandals, Kate Williams
Royal expert and TV historian Kate Williams opens the doors to 30 palaces, castles and houses that have been connected with the British royals over the centuries.
Well known for her expert insights in the media and on countless royal documentaries, Kate takes you on a tour of the UK’s most fascinating palaces, past and present, to unveil the scandalous and little-known stories hidden between their walls.
Included in the book are such famous royal residences as Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, but also lesser-known locations such as Falkland Palace and Beaumaris Castle. Covering the breadth of British history, there are tales from the Medieval era to the present.
Among the palaces included are:
Hatfield House, where young Elizabeth I held court before finding out she would become queen
Whitehall Palace and Banqueting Hall, home to Charles II’s secret laboratory, where he tried to create an elixir of youth using human skulls
Glamis Castle, the inspiration for Shakespeare’s Macbeth
Greenwich Palace, where Elizabeth I survived an assassination attempt when poison was placed in her saddle
Frogmore House, a long-time royal residence used by Queen Charlotte, King George V and Princess Alexandra
Osborne House, designed by Prince Albert in the style of an Italian Renaissance palazzo
Windsor Castle, the famous residence of Queen Elizabeth II before her death
Revel in the glory and glamour of royal life, as well as the salacious scandals that defined these palaces. The book is vividly brought to life by numerous beautiful illustrations by James Oses, and will be irresistible to anyone interested in British royalty and the history of Great Britain.
Why You Should Read This….
This book has been one of my favourite discoveries of this year. It’s a quick moving book- you get five to six pages on each castle with info on who designed it or had it built, which royals lived there, and major historical moments that happened there. I enjoyed that the book not only covers the official palaces and residences of the British monarch but also several others that are connected in other ways. Nowadays, the British Royal Family typically stays in one of a handful of their regular homes (in a fairly predictable pattern/ schedule) but historically they have spent time at many palaces, castles, and stately homes- it is wonderful to dive into those other spaces where often very important moments took place.
This book’s biggest strength is its illustrations, though- they are simply gorgeous. James Oses’ work captures the spirit of these immense buildings with his own distinct style. And I will admit, I am often guilty of quickly flipping past pictures and images in history books in order to keep reading. These beautiful illustrations actually had me stopping and spending several moments enjoying each, which made for a particularly peaceful reading experience. I will absolutely be buying this book in hard copy!
Is The Royal Palaces by Kate Williams on your to-read list?
Cheers,
The Historian
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