I like how the author covers events from a different perspective and with different interpretations from others I’ve read. After going through the life events of each king, the author then covers each king’s legacy through the centuries, starting with shortly after their deaths, through the Reformation and Victorian Era, up until recent times in books and films. It’s fascinating to see how the kings’ reputations and legacies have changed as the times have changed.
NetGalley, Carren Joye

As the title suggests, this volume offers a sketch of the first thirty years of Charles II's life. A wonderful benefit of limiting the scope of the subject is that readers are offered a chance to more fully immerse themselves in the details surrounding the monarch’s childhood and early adult life. The book also works as a quick overview of the English Civil War and really allows the reader to get a sense of what motivated this conflict, how and why Charles I erred, and how the young Charles II navigated those precarious times. My favorite anecdote was perhaps the exploration of Charles’ early affinity for a piece of wood who became his constant companion and the resulting musings over what this might signify. Another highlight was the discussion of Christabella Wyndham. I think in my other reading about Charles II, she has somehow been overshadowed by some of his later relationships, but the information presented about her was very interesting! Hobson’s writing is concise and accessible,.. Read more
NetGalley, Nicholas Artrip

[b]Rating[/b]: 5 out of 5 stars A well-researched in-depth analysis of the various facets related to Anne Boleyn’s life. This narrative addresses the royal biases around Anne and the way media has rewritten pivotal facts. This is a deep dive into the truest accounts to this date that we know of related to Anne. A narrative that demystifies centuries of rumors and a King’s attempt to write Anne out of history. Genuinely interesting read for those interested in the Tudors. Each essay focuses on a central aspect related to Annes life or the way Anne’s life has been portrayed through various medias. Considerations are made for missing information, cultural context, and the current artifacts that remain from Anne’s reign as Queen. This is a great example of a non-fiction narrative that pulls the passion from their fingertips in riveting essays.
NetGalley, Mariah F.

[b]Rating[/b]: 5 out of 5 stars Royal Favourites of Medieval England is my first work by Taylor and something that I feel compelled to point out is that I absolutely love this writer’s sense of humor. As I started reading, I must admit that I was expecting something a bit drier, but the author manages to work in some amusing observations and subtle sarcasm that gives the text a little bit of extra flavor, which I found to be a nice thing. Taylor’s style is straightforward, and a lot of information is thrown at the reader, but in a very digestible way. Through the period covered, the author provides a biography of each monarch highlighting memorable moments of their reigns followed by shorter biographies of those courtiers to whom they gave their trust and favor. This volume is an excellent overview of English history during the medieval period and offers great, quick insights into each king from William the Conqueror to Richard III. A lot of interesting and figures emerge in the book,.. Read more
NetGalley, Nicholas Artrip

In [i]Prince Rupert of the Rhine[/i], Mark Turnbull offers an impressively detailed and long-overdue reappraisal of one of the most fascinating figures of the English Civil Wars. Drawing on a vast array of primary sources, including fascinating newly-discovered research of his own, Turnbull presents a richly nuanced portrait of Prince Rupert. His biography cuts through centuries of myth-making, political propaganda, and selective misquotation to challenge the enduring image of Rupert as merely a swashbuckling cavalier. Turnbull’s achievement brings fresh clarity and scholarly balance to Rupert’s life and career. Far from the one-dimensional Royalist warlord of popular legend, Turnbull’s Rupert emerges as a complex, often contradictory figure: intellectually curious, scientifically minded, loyal to a fault, and yet frequently at odds with his own cause. This is no hagiography, though the author’s sympathies are occasionally evident. Rather, it is a scrupulously researched and persuasive.. Read more
Elizabeth St.John, Author - The Lydiard Chronicles