Royalty & Religion Biographies

A TLS, TIMES, PROSPECT AND WATERSTONES BOOK OF THE YEAR A groundbreaking examination of how the marriage of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn sent shockwaves across a continent and changed England forever. 'In many places, where once we had speculation, we now have certainty. This book is at once an education and a joy to read' LITERARY REVIEW 'Combines meticulously...

New from the bestselling author of Backstairs Billy: The Life of William Tallon, the Queen Mother's Most Devoted Servant and Kensington Palace: An Intimate Memoir from Queen Mary to Meghan Markle. For as long as the British royal family has existed, royal children have been brought up in ways that seem bizarre and eccentric to the rest of us. The...

The words and example of Gautama (often known by the title, 'Buddha') have affected billions of people. But what do we really know about him? While there is much we cannot say for certain about the historical Gautama, this persuasive new biography provides the fullest and most plausible account yet. Weaving ancient sources and modern understanding into an engaging narrative,...

'Never before had the world seen four such giants co-existing. Sometimes friends, more often enemies, always rivals, these four men together held Europe in the hollow of their hands.' Four Princes explores the lives of four great princes—Henry VIII of England, Francis I of France, Charles V of Spain and Suleiman the Magnificent—who were born within a single decade. Each...

I felt that Mary was there, pulling at my sleeve, willing me to appreciate the artistry, wanting me to understand the dazzle of the material world that shaped her. At her execution Mary, Queen of Scots wore red. Widely known as the colour of strength and passion, it was in fact worn by Mary as the Catholic symbol of martyrdom....

Telling the story of their lives from children to modern day, this fascinating and revelatory new book examines the fraught relationship and fiery rivalry between King Charles and Prince Andrew. Raised for vastly different futures, one burdened with the responsibility of becoming the future king and the other destined to live in his shadow, Charles and Andrew have spent their...

The book that inspired the major documentary Edward vs George: The Windsors at War Power and Glory begins with the fallout from the revelation of the Duke of Windsor's wartime treachery and ends with the Coronation of Elizabeth II on 2 June 1953. In between, it depicts a monarchy—and a country—struggling to cope with the aftermath of World War Two,...

An astonishing account... — The Daily Mail ... an extraordinary new portrait of the former King, his recollections and feelings. — The Telegraph Tippett has made a remarkable archival discovery...the most consequential book to appear on Edward VIII since Ziegler's official biography thirty years ago. — Ted Powell, author of King Edward VIII: An American Life ... an insightful blend...

The British monarchy is at a turning point. Concise and engaging, A Brief History of the British Monarchy charts the very beginnings of British reign through to the longest serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, and looks forward to the reign of King Charles III. Much more than a linear history, this is the intertwined story of royalty and state, of...

'A riveting take on an extraordinary relationship' - Richard Eden, Daily Mail 'A fresh and original approach' - Hugo Vickers, Royal Biographer She was 'sugar pink' innocence; he was a handsome war hero. Both had royal blood coursing through their veins. The marriage of Britain's Princess Elizabeth to Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten in November 1947 is remembered as the beginning of...

Fully revised and updated. Queen Elizabeth II was the longest-serving monarch in British history, with a reign even longer than Queen Victoria. Her extraordinary life is expertly portrayed by Jennie Bond, former BBC royal correspondent, in this magnificent visually led biography. On February 6, 1952, Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh, became Queen on the death of her father, King George...

A compelling new biography of Camilla, Queen Consort, that reveals how she transformed her role and established herself as one of the key members of the royal family. For many years, Camilla was portrayed in a poor light, blamed by the public for the break-up of the marriage between Prince Charles and Lady Diana. Initially, the Queen refused to see...

The astonishing, true account of one man's quest to immerse himself in nature and live with wild deer for seven years. 'Haunting, remarkable and ultimately very moving' Sunday Times 'A story of extraordinary power and tenderness' Charles Foster 'A startling portrait of an animal that is both familiar to us and yet shockingly misunderstood' Guardian Geoffroy Delorme never felt he...

FEATURING A BRAND NEW CHAPTER ON KING CHARLES III AND HIS CORONATION 'Fascinating' The Times 'Tantalising' Telegraph The gripping account of how the royal family really operates. Valentine Low, royal correspondent for The Times, asks the important questions: who really runs the show and, with Charles now crowned as King, what will happen next? Today, as ever, a vast team...

Cleopatra's Daughter focuses on the intriguing life of Cleopatra Selene, the daughter of Cleopatra VII of Egypt and Mark Antony. She emerges as the only member of the Ptolemaic dynasty to survive the defeat of her parents by the future Roman emperor Augustus at the Battle of Actium. Captured and paraded as a prisoner during a Roman triumph, Cleopatra Selene...

The massive bestselling life story of Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt - 350,000 hardbacks sold in 22 weeks on New York Times List. Cleopatra's palace shimmered with onyx and gold but was richer still in political and sexual intrigue. Though her life spanned fewer than forty years, it reshaped the contours of the ancient world. Famous long before she was notorious,...

A The Week Book of the Week 'Hugo Vickers brings tremendous authority to this life of one of the most significant and intriguing political wives of the last century. The integrity of his scholarship and his deep personal knowledge of his subject make this a compelling and definitive work.' - Professor Simon Heffer 'A vivid portrayal of a remarkable and...

'One of the great love stories of history, in a league with Napoleon and Josephine, and Antony and Cleopatra ... Excellent, with dazzling mastery of detail and literary flair' Economist It was history's most successful political partnership— as sensual and fiery as it was creative and visionary. Catherine the Great was a woman of notorious passion and imperial ambition. Prince...

Ruth Burrows is a Carmelite nun, and the author of three outstanding books on prayer - Essence of Prayer, Guidelines for Mystical Prayer and Interior Castle Explored (all published by Continuum). Before the Living God is her autobiography - the account of a life empty of outward incident after her early years, but rich with her own spiritual growth. She...

'A pleasure to read... a timely reminder of the need for service' -- The Daily Telegraph 'The voices and reminiscence of family and friends merge seamlessly, giving the impression of gathering round the fire on a winter evening' -- The Oldie 'A remarkable memoir penned by the Duke of Kent, whose entire life has been dedicated to Queen and country......

On a hot and dusty December day in 1980, the bodies of four American women—three of them Catholic nuns—were pulled from a hastily dug grave in a field outside San Salvador. They had been murdered two nights before by the US-trained El Salvadoran military. News of the killing shocked the American public and set off a decade of debate over...

‘Lovely... delivers the warmest of glows’ - Telegraph ‘Who wouldn't love this chocolate-box delight of insights and snapshots of The Queen... A treasure chest’ - Good Housekeeping A sparkling celebration of our much-loved Queen Elizabeth II, including special writings and illuminating insights around key moments in her 70-year reign, introduced and edited by Joanna Lumley. In 2022, Queen Elizabeth II...

'Lovely... delivers the warmest of glows' - Telegraph 'Who wouldn't love this chocolate-box delight of insights and snapshots of The Queen...A treasure chest' - Good Housekeeping A sparkling celebration of our much-loved Queen Elizabeth II including special writings and illuminating insights around key moments in her 70-year reign, introduced and edited by Joanna Lumley. In 2022 Queen Elizabeth II celebrated...

'Lovely... delivers the warmest of glows' - Telegraph 'Who wouldn't love this chocolate-box delight of insights and snapshots of The Queen...A treasure chest' - Good Housekeeping In 2022, Queen Elizabeth II celebrated seventy years as Queen and Head of the Commonwealth. She was Britain's longest reigning monarch and the very first to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee. A Queen for All...

All The Queen's Corgis offers a delightful exploration of all the dogs owned by our Sovereign throughout her life, highlighting their individual personalities, quirks, and eccentricities, alongside the special relationship she has shared with them. This fun and affectionate book, complete with wonderful photographs, recounts stories of the Queen's cherished companions over the years—her beloved corgis, dorgis, and gundogs. Discover...

A fascinating introduction to the life of King Charles III, in a timely celebration of his coronation, including stunning photographs that capture the event. Discover the extraordinary life of King Charles III, from his birth through the historic celebrations of his coronation. Lively and easy-to-read text make this the perfect introduction for children, along with beautiful colour photographs and fascinating...

Discover the revelatory royal biography of the year. From royal expert and royal butler Grant Harrold comes an unforgettable memoir and portrait of a royal household. This revelatory new biography tells the full story of how a boy who grew up obsessed with the royals ended up at the heart of their household. The relationship between the king and his...

The most scandalous Royal book of the year In a rapidly changing world, the Royal Family owns swathes of the country, most of the seabed, and more money than anyone could ever spend. It is the role of the Chamberlain of the NDAs to keep things that way. From transgressions to successions, travesties to majesties, follow eighteen months in the...

Discover the man behind the movement in this intimate biography of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). In 1965, a seventy-year-old man—soon to be known as Prabhupada—set sail from India to America with a few books in his bag, pennies in his pockets, and a message of love in his heart. He...

Soul Friend is an honest and intimate portrayal of the author's own journey with her wise, spiritual mentor and the warm, life-giving relationship that developed between them during their fifteen years of meeting together. This story is written in the hope that it will inspire many not only to seek out such a spiritual friendship for themselves but also to...

Exquisite and sumptuous, immaculately tailored, dignified and, above all, practical. The wardrobe of Queen Elizabeth II was as distinctive in style as her position in the world was unique. This remarkable book is a fond reflection of the days when Her Majesty led the field in fashion, showcasing some of the world's best designers. At every appearance, as the world...

A SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER Stunning, photographic King Charles III memorabilia gift for royal fans. As the nation celebrates the coronation of a new monarch, The Sun looks back on 100 moments in the life of the man who would be king. The longest heir apparent in British history, King Charles has lived a remarkable life during his 70-year wait to...

A breathtakingly beautiful photo-narrative biography of the incredible life of Princess Ira von Fürstenberg – half Austro-Hungarian Princess, half Agnelli: model, actress, princess, socialite, heiress, mother, and jewellery designer. Bursting onto front-page news in 1955 at the age of 15 in a jewel-laden gondola-wedding in the last great assembly of European nobility, Princess Ira von Fürstenberg swung into the spotlight...

As he did for Abraham Lincoln and John Quincy Adams, award-winning biographer Fred Kaplan offers a fresh, illuminating look at the life of Thomas Jefferson and his contributions as a writer. In this unique biography, Fred Kaplan emphasises Thomas Jefferson’s genius with language and his ability to use the power of words to inspire and shape a nation. A man...

Sarah Gristwood celebrates the legacy of Queen Elizabeth II and her enduring popularity among her many supporters. The twists and turns of her life are chronicled, beginning with her teenage years during the war, marrying the Duke of Edinburgh, and her ascension to the throne. An internationally admired figure, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was the most high-profile monarch in...

The definitive history of coronations and the Royal Family, from acclaimed writer Roy Strong. ‘What is the finest sight in the world? A Coronation.What do people talk most about? A Coronation.What is delightful to have passed? A Coronation.’— Horace Walpole, 1761 As a boy of sixteen, Roy Strong watched the grand procession carrying Queen Elizabeth II to her coronation. The...

Entitled is the first joint biography of Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson by renowned royal biographer and literary agent, Andrew Lownie. Packed full of extraordinary revelations, Entitled reveals the extent to which Andrew and Fergie’s lives are still deeply entwined. Drawing on four years of research, numerous FOI requests and interviews with over a hundred people who have...

When Queen Victoria died in 1901, she had ruled for nearly sixty-four years. She was mother of nine and grandmother of forty-two, and the matriarch of Royal Europe, through the marriages of her children. To many, Queen Victoria is a ruler shrouded in myth and mystique—an aging, stiff widow, paraded as the figurehead to an all-male imperial enterprise. But in...

Enter a world of ancient secrets, old money, new ambitions and the discovery of priceless treasure in this revelatory new biography. Between November 1922 and spring 1923, a door to the ancient Egyptian world was opened. The discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun would be the most astonishing archaeological find of the century, revealing not only the boy pharaoh’s preserved...

The American Duchess by Anna Pasternak draws startling parallels with Meghan … Both were 34 when they met their princes, both are adored children of strong, single mothers, both have a pared-down style and an electric presence and both are evidently worshipped by their Royal partners. — S Magazine This is the intimate biography of one of the most misunderstood...

For more than 70 years, Prince Philip was the Queen's constant companion and support, but his vital role in the monarchy has too often gone largely unnoticed. Now, in Ingrid Seward's superb biography of the Duke of Edinburgh, we get the chance to read the full story of his remarkable life and achievements. Born into the Greek and Danish royal...

A leading journalist's intense, riveting and personal investigation into the worlds and minds of cults At a new age festival in Byron Bay, journalist Anke Richter is finding her spiritual awakening when she meets a woman—a survivor of the Auckland cult Centrepoint—who will change the course of her life and career. Over the next ten years, Anke pursues a labyrinthine...

December 1936. The King of England, Edward VIII, has given up his Crown, foregoing his duty for the love of Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee. Their courtship has been dogged by controversy and scandal, but with Edward's abdication, they can live happily ever after. But do they? Beginning his astonishing biography at the moment most turn away, bestselling historian Andrew...

In the long run, we're all dead. But for some of the most influential figures in history, death marked the start of a new adventure. The famous deceased have been stolen, burned, sold, pickled, frozen, stuffed, impersonated, and even filed away in a lawyer's office. Their fingers, teeth, toes, arms, legs, skulls, hearts, lungs, and nether regions have embarked on...

The untold story of the people, the books, the lectures, and ultimately the God who formed and shaped the life of the late Timothy Keller. Millions have read books and listened to sermons by Timothy Keller. But who impacted his own thinking, and what shaped his spiritual growth and ministry priorities? With full access to Keller's personal notes and sermons—as...

'James comes alive in full flamboyance … Russell expertly weaves the bedchamber gossip into the tapestry of a tumultuous reign' SUNDAY TIMES 'Brings the backbiting and power struggles of the Jacobean court to life with wit and vigour' OBSERVER ‘A warts and all story told with compassion’ PHILIPPA GREGORY _______________________________ ‘Elizabeth was king, Then James was queen.’ – English author...

Making Matters celebrates the joy of the handmade in all of its wonderful variety. In a fast-paced world, it is a timely and beautiful exploration of making traditions. I loved it! Kate Strasdin, author of The Dress Diary of Mrs Anne Sykes As children, we made things: snowmen, paper boats, eccentrically costumed plays. That making fired our minds and imaginations...

An exciting new telling of the life of Anne Boleyn, using new archival research to reveal the woman behind the myth, from the acclaimed historian Dr Estelle Paranque. A queen on the edge. Anne Boleyn has mesmerised the English public for centuries. Her tragic execution, orchestrated by her own husband, never ceases to intrigue. How did this courtier's daughter become...

The riveting and definitive biography of the Islamic world's most famous military hero. Superbly researched and enormously entertaining... One of the outstanding books of the year - The Times An epic story of empire-building and bloody conflict, this ground-breaking biography of one of history's most venerated military and religious heroes opens a window on the Islamic and Christian worlds' complex...

Prince of the Church is the first biography of Cardinal Moran. Moran and his conflict-ridden worlds come alive as Philip Ayres exploits sixty-one years of unpublished diaries. He reveals a man of contradictions—self-contained, private, hard of access, yet forceful and determined in pursuit of his ends; pious and devout, yet proud, ambitious, and ruthless with his enemies. As the first...

Engrossing ... Carlisle has pulled off the feat of writing a truly Kierkegaardian biography of Kierkegaard (Julian Baggini, Financial Times) Søren Kierkegaard is now celebrated as the father of existentialism, yet his contemporaries described him as a philosopher of the heart. In the 1840s and 1850s, writings poured from his pen analysing love and suffering, courage and anxiety, religious longing...

A sweeping history of the Capetian monarchs One of the great epics of Europe's history, the story of the rise and rise of the Capetian dynasty dominates the Middle Ages. Starting in the tenth century from an insecure foothold around Paris, the Capetians built a nation that stretched from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean and from the Rhône to the...

As Queen, Elizabeth II has been the cornerstone of both Britain and the Commonwealth for half a century, her enduring and stately presence a source of comfort to many through changing times. But few of us understand or know the woman behind the public image. Respected historian Sarah Bradford uncovers the Windsor family's secrets to reveal how the Queen was...

Twenty-five years after her tragic death, James Patterson tells the heartbreaking true story of Princess Diana's life as a mother and a global icon in Diana, William and Harry. At the age of thirteen, she became Lady Diana Spencer. At twenty, Princess of Wales. At twenty-one, she earned her most important title—Mother. As she fell in love, first with Prince...

A relaxed chat with the Buddha tells us what he thought about impermanence, karma, mindfulness, compassion, love, and everything else that leads us toward a true understanding of ourselves and the cosmos. We know him as the Buddha, the "Awakened One". Born Siddhartha Gautama 2,500 years ago in northern India, he became one of the world's greatest spiritual leaders. He...

‘One of the great love stories of the twentieth century’ Daily Mail Sir Seretse Khama, the first President of Botswana and heir apparent to the kingship of the Bangwato people, brought independence and great prosperity to his nation after colonial rule. But for six long years from 1950, Seretse had been forced into exile in England, banned from his own...

A thrilling and highly-acclaimed joint biography of Elizabeth I and Catherine de Medici, uncovering how their complex 30-year relationship shaped their dynasties, perfect for fans of Alison Weir and Tracy Borman. 'A story told with verve and passion' The Times, Book of the Week 'An alternative and engaging biography...accessible and unpretentious' The Telegraph 'A stunning portrayal of two of the...

Alison Weir investigates one of the most enduring murder mysteries in English history – the death of the lost Princes in the tower, nephews of Richard III, whose body has recently been discovered. Includes a new foreword by the author The story of the death, under sinister circumstances, of the boy-king Edward V and his younger brother Richard, Duke of...

A seriously FUNNY, seriously CLEVER history of our early kings and queens by one of our favourite comedians and cultural commentators. This will be the most refreshing, entertaining history of England you'll have ever read. Certainly, the funniest. Because David Mitchell will explain how it is not all names, dates, or ungraspable historical headwinds, but instead show how it's really...

Spectator Books of the Year 2020 Sunday Times Favourite Paperbacks of 2020 Lady in Waiting by Anne Glenconner offers a rare and enchanting glimpse into the world of British aristocracy and the often unseen lives of those who serve the royal family. This extraordinary memoir recounts Lady Glenconner's own remarkable journey, from her childhood amidst the grandeur of one of...