Like me, you may well currently be stockpiling some nice new books to read over the Christmas holidays, so here are some suggestions.
I’ve read and enjoyed each of these over the last few months. Yes, the list has an eccentrically royal flavour because I’ve been working on a TV project about the history of the monarchy, and have had my nose to the grindstone.
But there are some novels lower down.
- Chris Skidmore, Edward VI, The Lost King of England
Fullest and most modern trade bio of a little boy who’s often underestimated
- Anna Whitelock, Mary Tudor, England’s First Queen
Pleasantly revisionist account, may well change your mind about poor old Mary!
- Charles Carlton, Charles I, The Personal Monarch
Enjoyed reading his ‘psychological’ take while at college, still stands the test of time
- Anne Somerset, Queen Anne: The Politics of Passion
The fullest, latest word on Anne. Definitive
- Kate Williams, Becoming Queen
Fun romp through early lives of Princesses Charlotte and Victoria
Clever new angle on Victoria’s later reign
- Matthew Dennison, The Last Princess (about Victoria’s daughter Beatrice)
Again, lots of mourning, really makes you pity Victoria’s kids
- Jane Ridley, Bertie, A Life of Edward VII
As revisionist as the subject allows, good access to sources, good fun too!
- Miranda Carter, Three Emperors
Ambitious, covers lots of ground, v. readable (for me, the same author’s book on Anthony Blunt was a brilliant holiday read the year it came out)
- Kenneth Rose, King George V
Thorough. Even better is David Cannadine’s essay on it in London Review of Books
- Philip Ziegler, King Edward VIII
A Rolls-Royce biographer. This saw me through an Xmas holiday some years ago
- Robert Hardman, Our Queen
A light read but with some really unexpected insights
- Andrew Marr, The Diamond Queen
Absolutely required reading this year
- David Starkey, Monarchy
Concise, incisive re-cap of the theoretical background to monarchy
I get my suggestions for novel-reading by following Daisy Goodwin on Twitter. Nearly everything she recommends goes straight onto my Kindle and I’ve never yet been disappointed.
- Ian McEwan, Sweet Tooth
I sort-of guessed that we had an unreliable narrator, but still a great denouement
- Harriet Lane, Alys, Always
Lapped this up, clever, malicious, sharp, brilliant
- Maggie Shipstead, Seating Arrangements
Made me want to go to Martha’s Vineyard
- Gillian Flynn, Gone Girl
Tailed off a bit towards the end but what a concept!
Lucy
Many thanks for suggestions will buy a few of your suggestions have just stared winston Churchill boer war very readable really appreciate your blogs in 2012 have a fab Xmas mark
Edward VII is always an interesting subject to delve into so will definitely try and get hold of that book.
Alys, Always does sound VERY good so thank you for that recc too.
Have a very merry christmas, bring on 2013 and hopefully see you at a talk in Sussex!
x
Just love your reading list
Some years ago, Chris Skidmore and his then girlfriend came into my studio on a chilly December afternoon, both of them luminous with youth and the cold outside. We started talking about the work I did and then I asked him what he did, and he said he was at University. Slightly patronisingly, I shamefully admit, I said ‘what do you want to do after?’ and he said ‘Be a writer’. Again, from the heights of my experience (blush) I said nonchalantly ‘Oh, what kind of writing?’ and he said very modestly ‘Oh, I already have a book accepted by a publisher’. It was this book! Of course when it came out I got a copy at once, and you’re quite right, it’s a very good read!
I went to a talk by Helen Rappaport just after the book came out – really good – as was the Radio 4 programme about Prince Albert at about the same time. The book is still sitting on my to read pile though – hardbacks take a long time for me to get around to as they’re so much less practical than paperbacks/the Kindle.
I have always thought of Mary Tudor as “Bloody Mary” ever since I was taught history at school. I read Anna Whitelock’s book and I have to say now I think she was just a woman of her time. Or should I say a Queen of her time. Have a lovley Christmas.
How to be idle by tom hodgkinson is a good book.
I forgot to say I have to agree with the comment Naomi made. You have a great reading list.