Behind the Crown: 15 First-Class Books About Royalty

Historian Tracy Borman has written over half a dozen nonfiction accounts about various rulers, to say nothing of her historical fiction novels. Now, she returns with her most ambitious undertaking yet: a comprehensive study of the British monarchy, from William the Conqueror’s famous victory over King Harold II in 1066 to Queen Elizabeth II’s lengthy and unprecedented rule. 

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Borman dissects the evolution of the British crown over time, from the staunch and imposing rulers of yesteryear to today’s largely ceremonial reign, as well as the royal family’s changing image in the media and in pop culture. Along the way, the 41 kings and queens who have sat atop the English throne come to life with all their foibles, flaws, and ingenuity. Called “a superb synthesis of historical analysis, politics, and top-notch royal gossip,” this highly anticipated new book is not one to be missed (Kirkus Reviews, starred review).

This engrossing history about the fall of the Kingdom of Hawaii sheds light on “an important chapter in our national history, one that most Americans don’t know but should” (The New York Times Book Review). Born in 1838, Lili‘uokalani, the last queen of Hawaii, witnessed a dramatic shift in her home islands. As colonization took root, sugar plantations transformed Hawaii’s landscape, economy, and traditional way of life. Reduced to a figurehead, Lili‘uokalani fought to restore her power but was outmaneuvered by the United States in its efforts to annex her kingdom.

A member of the British aristocracy, Margaret Rhodes was the first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. They grew up together as playmates and were later bridesmaids in each other’s weddings. As an adult, Rhodes worked in intelligence gathering during World War II and served as Woman of the Bedchamber to her aunt, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. Her “surprisingly addictive memoir” (New Zealand Herald) offers unique insight into the royal family, from what Elizabeth II was like as a child to their teen years during the Second World War through the modern global challenges that arose during the 21st century.

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Rather than profile the Tudor rulers themselves, Suzannah Lipcomb uses a more architectural lens to examine their 118-year reign. From Hampton Court Palace—one of Henry VIII’s favorite haunts—to Anne Boleyn’s childhood home at Hever Castle, her book leads us through the violent and compelling stories of Tudor England by exploring the major homes, castles, and prisons that housed the era’s most iconic figures. 

Want a taste of Lipcomb's book before downloading? Read our excerpt of A Journey Through Tudor England here. 

Mary, Queen of Scots is one of the most complex figures in royal history: Born Mary Stuart, she was just six days old when she ascended the throne. She had several different husbands throughout her life—including the 4th Earl of Bothwell, who was suspected of murdering the husband before him. Then, of course, there's her unfortunate beheading in 1587… John Guy covers it all in his book, portraying his subject as a formidable woman on equal footing with her famous rival, Queen Elizabeth I. With new research, he illuminates the fiercely intelligent, diplomatic, and sometimes ruthless monarch that she was.

In 1867, Japan was a splintered empire, staunchly xenophobic, and utterly cut off from the outside world. Emperor Meiji was the first emperor ever to meet a European and adopt a constitution that would transform Japan into a modern, industrialized state. 

Although lengthy and highly influential, Meiji’s reign has been strangely obscured by history. Until now, a full account of his childhood, behavior in court, marriage, consort relationships, maturation into a “Confucian” sovereign, and struggle to reconcile his personal commitment to peace with his nation’s increasingly militarized experience of modernization had not been told. Keene utilizes the available evidence to paint a rich portrait in sparkling prose of the complexity of Emperor Meiji as both a man and a ruler. 

Though the early queens of England were known as “consorts”—wives of ruling monarchs but not ruling monarchs themselves—this multi-biography reveals that their lives were just as fascinating as their husbands’. Moreover, they played pivotal roles in governing their countries despite their relative lack of power. With profiles of the infamous Eleanor of Aquitaine, Matilda of Scotland, and others, Lisa Hilton reveals that behind every great king was an equally great queen.

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The story of Queen Elizabeth I’s right-hand man, Sir Francis Walsingham, comes to life in this thrilling book by John Cooper. When Elizabeth I came to the throne, all sorts of different people wanted her dead. Using his intelligence and quick wit—basically the 16th century version of espionage—he protected the Queen from bitter and violent rivals (including the aforementioned Mary Stuart). In the end, Sir Francis ran a complex spy network that operated throughout Europe, which allowed him to successfully foil assassination plots and gather intelligence on threats waged against England itself.

Today, the Windsors sit on the British throne, but it wasn’t always this way. The Queen’s House examines their history—including their rise to power—by studying the place that has been their private residence since 1761: Buckingham Palace. Written with the blessing and guidance of the royal family, Edna Headey shows how the evolution of the palace reflects the family that lives within it and the United Kingdoms’ changing attitude toward the monarchy.

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Predecessor of his son, Ramesses the Great, Pharaoh Seti inherited the title when his father, a military officer who was named pharaoh when the heirless Horemheb died, passed on from old-age after a brief two-year reign. Seti immediately set about rebuilding Egypt after a century of dynastic struggles and religious unrest. 

He reasserted Egypt’s might with a series of campaigns, dispatched expeditions to mine for copper, gold, and stone in the deserts, and lay the foundations for one of the most ambitious building projects of any Egyptian Pharaoh. His reign was marked by the revival of Egyptian military and economic power, cultural and religious life, and brought peace and stability to the empire for years after his death.

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The reign of Nicholas and Alexandra, the last Czar and Czarina of Russia, brought the end of the once-great Romanov empire. In this dual biography by a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, their lives are thrust into the spotlight—from their war with Rasputin to their own personal weaknesses. But was their downfall caused by their belief in the monarchy and resistance to change? Or were they doomed from the very start? Robert K. Massie uncovers the leading factors in Nicholas and Alexandra, which chronicles their journey to destruction.

A truly fascinating piece of history, The Zulu War Journal offers a great telling of Col. Hartford's acquaintance with a Zulu King. The journal offers unprecedented insight into everything Anglo-Zulu War, from the catastrophe at Isandlwana to the hunt for the Zulu King Cetshwayo. This journal not only illuminates an infrequently explored conflict, it also introduces a monarch many American readers may have never heard of before.

Though Marie Antoinette has gone down in history as the woman who said “let them eat cake” in response to the needs of the common people, Antonia Fraser offers a new perspective on the infamous Queen of France. Her biography reminds us that Marie was simply a stranger in a strange land—one who was sent to marry a future king at just 14 years old—and paints an intimate portrait of a woman who faced adversity throughout her brief life.

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Archduke Franz Ferdinand was determined to marry for love, not politics—even though his lover, Sophie, wasn’t “royal enough” to wed the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne. But marry they did, in 1900. But as any good history student remembers, their romance not only led to their 1914 assassinations—it also ignited World War I. Drawing from letters and other rare finds, Greg King and Sue Woolmans relay all the fascinating, romantic, and tragic details in this meticulously researched biography.

Although British readers will be deeply familiar with the English Civil War, American historians are sure to find much to marvel about in this ground-breaking study of King Charles I and his nephew, Prince Rupert. Barratt explores how Rupert, Charles, and other notable commanders led their troops without fear. Lessons on leadership and British history abound.