More than just a single-minded warrior-king, Henry V comes to life in this fresh account as a gifted ruler acutely conscious of spiritual matters and his subjects’ welfareShakespeare’s centuries-old portrayal of Henry V established the king’s reputation as a warmongering monarch, a perception that has persisted ever since. But in this exciting, thoroughly researched volume a different view of Henry emerges: a multidimensional ruler of great piety, a hands-on govern...

The concept of a Northern European 'Renaissance' in the arts, in thought, and in more general culture north of the Alps often evokes the idea of a cultural transplant which was not indigenous to, or rooted in, the society from which it emerged. Classic definitions of the European 'Renaissance' during the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries have often seen it as an Italian import of, for example, humanism and classical learning into the Gothic North.There were certainly differences betwee...

She was described as the most dangerous woman in Europe by Adolf Hitler; Noel Coward said people who spent any time with her were always reduced to 'gibbering worshippers'; she adored Margaret Thatcher and disliked Germans; she found the French comical and hankered for the old days of Empire and Commonwealth. Above all, though, she was loved by the nation and in this affectionate and often hilarious inside story of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, her former equerry Major Coli...

If you want to learn about one of history's greatest military commanders and uncover some of his secrets of drive—drive that enabled him and his small army to first subdue all of Greece and then the mighty Persian Empire—then you want to read this book.Some people like to think that geniuses are so inherently extraordinary that they navigate their journeys with clairvoyant ease.This simply isnt true.Greatness does not come lightly. It requires that you make sacrifices ...

The authorised life story of the king who gave up his throne for love, by one of our most distinguished biographers.In this masterly authorized biography, Philip Ziegler reveals the complex personality of Edward VIII, the only British monarch to have voluntarily renounced the throne.With unique access to the Royal Archives, Ziegler overturns many myths about Edward and tells his side of the story – from his glamorous existence as Prince of Wales to his long decline in semi-...

Packed with fascinating anecdotes, sharp analysis and exclusive photographs by a celebrated royal photographer, this title reveals the secrets of Prince William and Kate Middleton's royal romance.

Elizabeth II is the longest-reigning British monarch. A personally quiet, modest and dutiful person, she is far better-informed about the lives of her subjects than they often realize. She has known every Prime Minister since Winston Churchill and every American President since Eisenhower. Yet what of the woman behind the crown?This book seeks to take a new look at this exhaustively-documented life and show how Queen Elizabeth became the person she is. Who, and what, have been the ...

An interesting account of the life of perhaps the most famous queen of Ancient Egypt. Chapters include; The Valley Of The Nile; The Ptolemies; Alexandria; Cleopatra's Father; Accession To The Throne; Cleopatra And Caesar; The Alexandrine War; Cleopatra A Queen; The Battle Of Philippi; Cleopatra And Antony; The Battle Of Actium; and, The End Of Cleopatra.

The murder of Rasputin on the night of 16-17 December 1916 has always seemed extraordinary: first he was poisoned, then shot and finally drowned in a frozen river by Russian aristocrats fearful of his influence on Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra. Or was he? Dramatic new evidence from previously unpublished documents, diaries, forensic reports and intelligence records now means the plot takes a remarkable twist.Grigori Rasputin is probably one of the best-kno...

How well do you think you know the real Anne Boleyn? Five hundred years after her death, her legacy is still as strong as ever. Yet she continues to baffle historians. There is no better place to seek the truth about Anne than at her childhood home of Hever Castle. With this book you will unlock the story of Anne's life, her tragic demise, and get a room by room tour of Hever Castle. By the end you will have walked figuratively and possibly even literally in Anne's footsteps and can form y...

Henry IV's conversion to catholicism in 1593 and Papal absolution in 1595 were traversed by multiple problems and difficulties. These religious events were inseparable from concurrent political, diplomatic and military issues. The subject is therefore examined both within its civil war background and the wider, European context. This treatment is original, not least in its comprehensive coverage of the Papal dimension. Until now, the role of the Papacy has been consistently misinterpreted,...