Tag: England

Book Review: “Queen James: A New History About the Life and Loves of Britain’s First King, James Stuart” by Gareth Russell

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We all know the story of the last Tudor monarch, Queen Elizabeth I, who often viewed herself as a female king and who remained a virgin for her entire life. With her death, the Tudor dynasty ended, and a brand new dynasty made its mark on English history. It was a dynasty in England that the son of Elizabeth started I’s rival, Mary Queen of Scots, King James VI of Scotland. King James was not just a king, but a man in love with numerous lovers, and when he fell in love, he fell hard. Gareth Russell explores the life of King James VI/I, who ruled two nations while searching for true love in his latest book, “Queen James: A New History About the Life and Loves of Britain’s First King, James Stuart.”

I am a big fan of Gareth Russell’s books, and so when I heard that he was writing a new biography, I jumped at the chance to read it. I didn’t know much about King James VI/I, especially when it comes to his reign in England or his love life, so I was excited to learn more. Plus, I liked the title of this particular edition of this book.

Like any good biography, we have to start at the beginning, or in James’ case, when his mother was still pregnant with him. Even before he was born, some wanted to see James dead, including those who killed David Riccio in front of his mother, Mary Queen of Scots. James would never know his father, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, as he was killed at Kirk O’Field when James was very young. Mary Queen of Scots would flee to England, making James King of Scotland. James was raised to be a Protestant king who would navigate plenty of plots against his life. He was not interested in marriage, but he would marry Anna of Denmark, a vivacious queen who brought her love of theater and arts to James’ life, as well as Catholicism and seven children, including Charles I and Elizabeth Stuart, “The Winter Queen” of Bohemia.

When Queen Elizabeth I died in 1603, James took the opportunity and became King of England. James had to deal with the affairs of two nations, try to come up with a brand new translation of the Bible, as well as the witch hunts that were becoming more prevalent during this time. Add to James’ troubles were European politics and the constant fighting between Catholics and Protestants, and you start to understand why he relied so heavily on his favorites, specifically Alexander “Sandy” Lindsay, Robert Carr, 1st Earl of Somerset, and George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham. James’s favorites were his lovers, and they provided him with the love that he was looking for all of his life.

No one writes nonfiction the way Gareth Russell does with such care and an engaging writing style. This is another triumph as he shows that although there were rivalries in love, plots a plenty, and religious ruckus, at the heart of the Jacobean reign was a complex man who had his heart on his sleeve and fell in love quickly and hard. If you want a fabulous biography about a king and the ones he loved the most, I highly recommend you read “Queen James: A New History About the Life and Loves of Britain’s First King, James Stuart” by Gareth Russell.

Book Review: “Charles II’s Portuguese Queen: The Legacy of Catherine of Braganza” by Susan Abernethy

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Throughout English history, a colorful cast of queens has left their marks in their distinct ways. While the Plantagenet and Tudor queens are more well-known, the Stuart queens and the mistresses of the Stuart kings were dynamic in their unique ways. One of the lesser-known queens was the wife of King Charles II. Though Charles II is known for his numerous mistresses, his wife Catherine of Braganza is not discussed much in England, but in her native Portugal, she is famous. So who was Catherine of Braganza, and what is her legacy in England and Portugal? Susan Abernethy tells the story of this almost forgotten queen in her book, “Charles II’s Portuguese Queen: The Legacy of Catherine of Braganza.”

I would like to thank Pen and Sword Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book. I am someone who is dipping her toes into the Stuart dynasty, so I wanted to explore a story about someone new to me. When I saw the title and subject of this book, it piqued my curiosity because I have heard of Catherine of Braganza, but I know nothing about her.

Before we dive into the actual life of Catherine of Braganza, Abernethy takes the time to explore the relationship between Portugal and England, which culminated in the union of King Charles II and Catherine. I didn’t know much about the history of Portugal except for the aspect that is included during the life of John of Gaunt, so I was excited to learn more about how Portugal became a trading and exploration powerhouse. It was the rise of the House of Braganza that propelled Catherine into a position to marry the King of England.

As the daughter of King John IV of Portugal and Queen Luisa de Guzman, Catherine was destined to marry a member of royalty, but the issue was a matter of faith. Catherine was a devout Roman Catholic, whereas Charles II was a Protestant who was trying to restore his kingdom after the reign of the Protector Oliver Cromwell. Catherine also had to deal with the numerous mistresses of Charles II, like Barbara Villiers, Lucy Walter, Louise de Keroualle, and Nell Gwyn, who were able to give Charles children while Catherine remained barren. Throw in a few anti-Catholic plots, and you can start to understand the strain Catherine was under while living in England. Eventually, after the death of Charles II, Catherine decided to return to her native Portugal, where her life took an unexpected twist with the War of the Spanish Succession until she died in 1705.

I found Catherine of Braganza such a fascinating figure. She did so much in her lifetime, and it is a shame that Catherine does not get more attention. Abernethy does an excellent job of telling the story of this queen who is often in the shadow of more boisterous figures of the age and integrating the history of Portugal into this book. If you want to learn more about a Stuart queen who is often forgotten and her impact on two nations, I highly recommend you read “Charles II’s Portuguese Queen: The Legacy of Catherine of Braganza” by Susan Abernethy.

Book Review: “Crown and Sceptre: A New History of the British Monarchy from William the Conqueror to Elizabeth II” by Tracy Borman

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England’s history is centuries old, full of colorful characters and change galore. What truly defines the history of England is the monarchy, which has lasted over a thousand years. Over 40 kings and queens left their distinct marks on the history of this proud island nation. While some could maintain the crown with no issues, others had to fight to earn the crown, and a few even died for the crown. While there has been a plethora of books and novels written about individual monarchs and their impacts on the history of England, only a select few have chosen to take the arduous task of telling the story of the British Monarchy from its origins to the modern-day. One such historian who has chosen the latter is Tracy Borman in her book, “Crown and Sceptre: A New History of the British Monarchy from William the Conqueror to Elizabeth II.”

I have been a fan of Tracy Borman and her writing for many years now. She has a way of making history come alive, so when I heard about this book, it was something I knew I wanted to read. I usually don’t read books like this because in the past, I have not been interested in the Stuarts and Hanoverians, but as I have begun to dive more into the Stuarts, I think it was the perfect time to read this book.

Borman begins with a brief introduction to the early kings of England, the Anglo-Saxon kings, to show how different it was from the Norman kings. She has divided the book into sections to highlight the different dynasties; Norman, Plantagenet, Lancaster, York, Tudor, Stuart, Hanoverian, and Windsor. Within each section is a mini-biography of each ruler during that dynasty. While there is not a whole lot of new information, it does give the reader a taste of what each reign was like.

As someone who usually reads about the Normans, Plantagenets, and Tudors, it was a nice review of the basic facts of the kings and queens during this span of history. Reading about the Stuarts, Hanoverians, and Windsors was something different for me and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It made me interested in studying the Stuarts and the Windsors, but I am on the fence about the Hanoverians. What is remarkable about the story is that the monarchy of England could have toppled at any point and did for a few years before it was restored, and continues to this day for over a thousand years.

Overall, I found this an interesting introductory read into the different dynasties that have shaped the English monarchy and the history of England. If you want new research about the individual monarchs, this might not be the book for you. However, if you want a great introductory book on the history of the British monarchy, I highly suggest you read, “Crown and Sceptre: A New History of the British Monarchy from William the Conqueror to Elizabeth II” by Tracy Borman.

Book Review: “The Secrets of the Rose” by Nicola Cornick

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Have you ever researched one person from the past for an assignment and found yourself gravitating toward another historical figure from a different era? Hannah Armstrong knows this feeling very well. She returns to her home in Bamburgh to write a biography about Grace Darling but is instead pulled towards an equally fascinating story of a Jacobite rebel. Dorothy Forster is a young woman who is trying to keep her family together as the world around her changes drastically. Can Dorothy protect her loved ones while fighting for her country and can Hannah find the truth hidden for far too long before it’s too late? Two tales of courage, strength, and love are told in Nicola Cornick’s latest novel, “The Secrets of the Rose.”

I want to thank Boldwood Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this novel. I have been enjoying Nicola Cornick’s blend of modern-day and stories of the past to create thrilling novels, so when I heard that she had a new one coming out this year, I knew I wanted to read it. When I saw that it took place during the Jacobite Rebellion, it intrigued me because it is a period of English history that I am not familiar with and I wanted to learn more.

Let’s start with our friend from the past, Dorothy Forster. She was the daughter of Sir William Forster, the sister of Thomas and Nicholas Forster, and the niece of Lord Crewe. Dorothy is a strong independent young lady who does not want to get married and instead help her ailing father. It was a peaceful life until Earl Derwentwater convinced her brothers Thomas and Nicholas to the Jacobean cause to return Prince James Stuart to the throne, culminating in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715. To top it all off, Dorothy finds out that her family, primarily the women in her family, are the Keepers of the Rose, a mythical talisman that both sides believe will make sure their victory is assured. When Dorothy’s brothers are taken prisoner, she must choose whether to leave her father and her beloved blacksmith John Armstrong, and travel to London or stay where it is safe.

Flash forward to the modern-day with Hannah Armstrong, a historian who came back home to study her latest subject, Grace Darling, a Victorian woman who saved her family and others from a shipwreck. It’s been many years since Hannah has been home and there is a lot of tension once she arrives. Her step-mother Diana is hiding both medical and personal secrets from Hannah and her friends Alice and Aaron welcomes Hannah back with open arms. However, her estranged brother Brandon lurks in the shadows, searching for a particular portrait of Dorothy Forster and the Rose. Hannah has to piece the clues together while balancing her crazy social and romantic life before it is too late.

I found this a rather enjoyable novel and it was so fascinating to learn about not only Dorothy Forster and the Jacobite Rebellion but Grace Darling and her daring rescue. It was a thrilling romantic read full of twists, turns, and callbacks to Cornick’s previous novels. I hope that this novel will inspire more authors to explore the Jacobite Rebellion. If you want a novel that explores a moment in English history that does not get much attention with dynamic characters, I suggest you read, “The Secrets of the Rose” by Nicola Cornick.

Book Review: “When Christ and His Saints Slept” by Sharon Kay Penman

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When we consider the issue of succession, we often imagine the crown being passed to the next legitimate heir, regardless of gender, but that was not always the case. We think about the struggles that women like Mary I and Elizabeth I endured to secure and stay on the throne, but one woman came before them so close to becoming England’s first ruling queen. She was the daughter of King Henry I and the next in line to the throne after her brother tragically died, but after her father passed away, it was her cousin Stephen who usurped the throne. The war for the crown which would last decades would be known as The Anarchy is the primary focus for Sharon Kay Penman’s novel, “When Christ and His Saints Slept.”

I found this particular novel when I was going used book shopping and after so many people said that it was their favorite novel by Penman after “The Sunne in Splendour,” I knew that I wanted to buy and read it. I have been a fan of books about the struggle between Empress Matilda and King Stephen and the birth of the Plantagenet dynasty, so I wanted to see what kind of spin Penman would give to this story.

Penman begins her novel with a flashback to the last time Stephen saw his father before he went on Crusade in 1101, which was an influential moment in his young life. We then jump forward to Barfleur, Normandy in November 1120, which is where the legitimate male heir of Henry I, William, boarded the White Ship on a voyage he would not survive. The only legitimate child of Henry I, because the man had quite a few illegitimate children, was Empress Matilda (Maude). Her 1st husband, the Holy Roman Emperor died and since they did not have any children, Henry decides that she needs to remarry and his choice for her next husband is Geoffrey of Anjou. To say their relationship was tempestuous would be an understatement, but they were able to have a large family including Henry Plantagenet, the future King Henry II.

It seemed like all Matilda (known as Maude in this novel) had to do in order to secure the crown was sail to England for her coronation. But that’s not what happened. Instead, her dear cousin Stephen and his wife Matilda, stole her crown. If you think Maude is going to let Stephen do what he wants with her inheritance left to her by her father, you thought wrong because instead Maude decides to fight for her rights in the conflict known as the Anarchy. It was a bloody couple of decades for England full of betrayals and sieges. It will soon turn to not only a fight between Maude and Stephen but between their sons Henry and Eustace. This was not just a battle between nobility but, as we see with one of my favorite characters Ranulf Fitz Roy (a fictional character), it was a battle between barons and the illegitimate children of the old king for the future of England.

This was another absolutely brilliant book by Penman. The way she was able to craft such believable characters based on the historical records is nothing but awe-inspiring. It was a mammoth tome but it needed every single page to develop this rich story that I did not want to end. If you are like me and you crave a thrillingly vivid historical fiction novel, you must check out “When Christ and His Saints Slept” by Sharon Kay Penman.

Book Review: “Thorns, Lust, and Glory: The Betrayal of Anne Boleyn” by Estelle Paranque

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A young woman catches the attention of a king already married to a princess from a faraway kingdom. The king desires the young lady and divorces his wife to marry her. However, there is a catch. The young lady spent some time in the French court of Francis I and Claude of France, whereas the king’s wife was the daughter of the Spanish King and Queen as well as the aunt of the Holy Roman Emperor. The Great Matter of Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, and Catherine of Aragon is considered one of the messiest divorces in English history and rightfully so when you consider the diplomatic consequences that this divorce would have across Europe. Estelle Paranque highlights the connection between Anne Boleyn and the French court in her latest book, “Thorns, Lust, and Glory: The Betrayal of Anne Boleyn.”

I want to thank Hachette Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book. I heard that Estelle Paranque was writing a new book about the 16th century, but when I heard that it dealt with Anne Boleyn’s connections with the French court, I jumped at the chance to read it. While I do know quite a bit about the rise and fall of Anne Boleyn, it is her connection with the French court that I have never really explored in depth.

Paranque begins her book by examining the meeting between King Henry VIII and King Francis I with Anne Boleyn at Calais between October 25th and 27th, 1532. This was a significant meeting as it was right before Henry and Anne married in secret and they desired that Francis would support their side in the Great Matter. But how did they get to this meeting in Calais? This is where this book shines as Paranque takes the time to show her audience what life was like for Anne in the French court and the connections that she forged with women like Louise of Savoy, Claude of France, and Marguerite of Angouleme Queen of Navarre. It was fascinating to see how the Boleyns were able to use their connections to forge alliances with the French court that would prove useful in the future.

Possibly my favorite part of this book was seeing how the diplomatic channels across Europe interacted with one another during the Great Matter, the queenship of Anne Boleyn, and the fall of the Boleyns. I think we so often overlook that there were diplomats who were working on the sidelines to convey messages between kings and emperors to form or strengthen alliances. While many might consider the way Paranque wrote the correspondence and dialogue between diplomats and the monarchy as hard to get used to because she does insert emotions, I believe it adds depth to the story because they were human beings not in a vacuum. They had feelings about what was happening around them, passionate feelings in fact, and that should be displayed to readers.

While the actual events of this book were not new to me, the way that Paranque was able to present the information and show the men behind the scenes was fascinating. It presents the relationship between Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn in a different more complex light. If you want a different angle to the rise and fall of Anne Boleyn, I recommend you read, “Thorns, Lust, and Glory: The Betrayal of Anne Boleyn” by Estelle Paranque.

Book Review: “Queen Bess: A Tudor Comes to Save America” by Maria Vetrano

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Have you ever read about a historical figure and wondered what it would be like to interact with them in the present day? How would they deal with modern problems and technology? Could they function in the 21st century or would they become overwhelmed? And even if they could come to the 21st century, how would it affect their timeline and history? This intriguing premise plays out in Maria Vetrano’s novel, “Queen Bess: A Tudor Comes to Save America,” which sees Queen Elizabeth I coming forward about 400 years in time to become the President of the United States in the 2028 election.

I want to thank Maria Vetrano for sending me a copy of her novel. When I read the description of this novel, it was an intriguing concept to me. I do enjoy a modern tale from time to time and I was interested to see how Queen Elizabeth I of England could become a US President and how she would adjust to life in the modern world.

We begin our adventure with Dakota Wynfred, a self-made billionaire in the cybersecurity field, whose only desire is to go back in time to see her mother one more time and potentially bring her mother back to the year 2027. As Dakota and her mother are discussing matters, she tells her mother that the political environment is a mess thanks to President Robert Vlaskas, who Dakota cannot stand. Dakota believes that there is no one capable in modern time to defeat Vlaskas so a plan is formulated to use Dakota’s time travel machine to go back in time even further to get a leader who she believes can defeat Vlaskas. She has chosen Gloriana herself, Queen Elizabeth I from 1588. While transporting the queen from the Tudor era is easy, acclimating her to the ways of the 21st century proves a challenge, especially knowing that they have a limited window to make sure Elizabeth is ready to run for president.

While I thought the concept of this book was unique, the execution for me is what let this book down. I’ll start with the time travel element. As someone who watched Star Trek and the Librarians, I know there are some rules of time travel like not telling the people in the period of the past you are visiting you are from the future (or giving them a biography about their life), and you don’t bring anyone into the future from the past as there could be consequences to history in general. I wanted to see more of how Elizabeth being in the 21st century would affect the 16th century and the idea of technology not working in the 16th century as it was not invented during that time, but that is not what I got as a reader. When Elizabeth did arrive in the year 2027, we see her getting used to the world of technology, fashion, and popular culture, which did not seem to help with running a political campaign and Elizabeth’s accent in this book bothered me quite a bit. I feel like Vetrano should have done more research into the 16th century and Elizabeth’s reign to make this version of Elizabeth I more believable. Finally, I think the ending is rushed and left me questioning this book and what the point of this novel truly was.

Overall, this was a frustrating read for me as I saw the potential for a cool book, but it stumbled so many times. It felt like the Tudor/historical elements were sprinkled in a modern sci-fi/political fantasy novel, which just did not work well for me as a reader. This may not have been the book for me, but if you want a different take on the Tudors, a time travel novel with modern political elements, “Queen Bess: A Tudor Comes to Save America” by Maria Vetrano might be a book for you.

Book Review: “Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart” by John Guy

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Women rulers in the past have either been praised or pushed down. They are either seen as ideal women or power-hungry villains. One such figure who suffered the worst from having her image raked through the mud for centuries was Mary Stuart, known throughout history as Mary, Queen of Scots. The Queen of Scotland who was married three times, was once the Queen of France, the mother of the future King of both England and Scotland, accused of having a hand in her second husband’s murder, plotted to overthrow Elizabeth I, and was executed for treason. Her story is well known, but what does the archival information tell us about Mary Stuart? John Guy scoured the archives to find the truth about this queen and presented his research in his biography, “Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart.”

I have heard about this particular title for a few years, as it inspired the Mary Queen of Scots movie. I have read similar books about Mary Queen of Scots, but this biography is so revered that I wanted to give it a shot. 

Guy begins at the end of Mary’s life, with the day of her execution and the details that made her death legendary. Mary Stuart was the daughter of King James V and Mary of Guise of France. Five days after she was born, her father James V died after the battle of Solway Moss, and the young girl was proclaimed Queen of Scotland; it was solidified nine months later at her coronation. She didn’t have much time to enjoy her youth as she had to deal with the Rough Wooing from England, which was Henry VIII’s attempt to have Mary marry his son Edward VI, which did not end well. Guy shows how Mary’s education began in Scotland before she moved to France, where she would continue to learn how to become a queen before she married Francis II. While in France, Mary started to fight for her claim to the English throne as her father James V was the son of Margaret Tudor. Francis II and Mary would become King and Queen of France for a short time as Francis would tragically die from an ear infection, which meant that Mary had to go back to her native Scotland.

It is in Scotland where we get to see Guy’s research truly shine as he shows how Mary had to navigate her tumultuous court. Mary had to navigate being a queen while searching for her next husband, who ended up being Henry Stuart Lord Darnley. To say their relationship was rocky would be an understatement. Even though Henry was the father of the future James VI/I, he was not the most liked person in court and it ended up costing him his life. Shortly after the death of Darnley, Mary married for a third and final time, to James Hepburn Earl of Bothwell, who was one of the men who allegedly was behind Darnley’s murder. It is the last portion of this book where Guy focuses on the trial, the Casket Letters, and the schemes that led to Mary’s imprisonment and ultimate execution. 

I found this a very rich and well-researched biography. I found myself taking my time reading this book as I wanted to fully understand the points Guy was making about Mary and her reign. If you want an excellent biography about a queen whose reputation has been tarnished for centuries, I highly recommend you read, “Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart” by John Guy.

Book Review: “Son of Prophecy: The Rise of Henry Tudor” by Nathen Amin

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The date is August 22, 1485, and a young man stands in the middle of a battlefield. He has done what seemed nigh impossible, he defeated the last Plantagenet king Richard III to become the new King of England. His heritage makes this man unique and qualified to start a new dynasty. His mother’s family the Beauforts have been explored quite heavily by historians and authors alike. They see this victory as a change in English history whereas his father’s family sees it as a sign of something deeper. To the Tudors and Henry’s fellow Welshmen, it is the fulfillment of a centuries-old prophecy. So who were Henry Tudor’s ancestors and what did it mean for Henry to be the titular Son of Prophecy? Nathen Amin tells the remarkable story of the Tudors and how their struggles and triumphs led to Henry Tudor taking the throne in his latest book, “ Son of Prophecy: The Rise of Henry Tudor.”

I want to thank Amberley Publishing for sending me a copy of this book. I have enjoyed Amin’s previous books, “The House of Beaufort: The Bastard Line that Captured the Crown” and “Henry VII and the Tudor Pretenders: Simnel, Warbeck, and Warwick,” When I heard that he was writing a book about the origins of the Tudors from the Welsh perspective, I knew I had to read it. I don’t know much about Welsh history, so I was looking forward to learning more. 

Amin begins by explaining that while those who study the life of Henry Tudor know that he was Welsh, they don’t highlight his Welshness as a unique aspect of his life. However, as Amin argues, it is the king’s Welsh heritage that makes his story so fascinating as the Tudor story in Wales spans eight generations and it is the story of warriors and diplomats. We begin with the warrior Ednyfed Fychan, who served Llwelyn ab Iorwerth Prince of Ewynedd during the Welsh War of Independence. Now, for those who are paying attention, you will notice that his surname is not Tudor, but Amin takes the time to explain the origins of the Tudor name as well as how English and Welsh relationships changed over time, starting at the time of the Saxons to the start of the Tudor dynasty. 

What I found fascinating is how the family that would later be known as the Tudors in English history were not afraid to get their hands dirty and be at the forefront of change for Wales. They fought tooth and nail for their Welsh rights and those who considered themselves the Prince of Wales, even if it meant putting their lives at risk. It was the stories of these men who created the foundation for Owen ap Maredudd ap Tudur (Owen Tudor) to leave his native Wales for England, work under Walter Hungerford, fall in love and marry the Dowager Queen Katherine of Valois, and have his sons Edmund and Jasper Tudor. This is the point that most people know as the “origins of the Tudors,” but by going back, Amin is showing his audience the depth of Henry’s Welsh roots and it would be on that battlefield on that August day where that Welsh loyalty would become a defining factor between victory or defeat. 

I was enthralled by this book and the copious amounts of notes that I took while reading. It was so much fun learning about historical events and figures that were unfamiliar to me in the context of the Tudor story. This book will revolutionize how you view the Tudors and how Henry Tudor gained the throne. If you are a Tudor nerd who wants to learn more about the Welsh connections to this dynasty, “Son of Prophecy: The Rise of Henry Tudor” by Nathen Amin is an absolute must-read.

Book Review: “Four Princes: Henry VIII, Francis I, Charles V, Suleiman the Magnificent, and the Obsessions that Forged Modern Europe” by John Julius Norwich

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The 16th century is known to be a century full of powerful women rulers; Mary I, Elizabeth I, Catherine de Medici, and Mary Queen of Scots, just to name a few. However, these rulers were towards the end of the 16th century. For the first half of the 16th century, Europe and the Middle East rulers were predominantly male. Four men truly dominated this period, each with their objectives and desire for glory; Henry VIII of England, Francis I of France, Charles V the Holy Roman Emperor, and Suleiman the Magnificent the ruler of the Ottoman Empire. In his book, “Four Princes: Henry VIII, Francis I, Charles V, Suleiman the Magnificent, and the Obsessions that Forged Modern Europe,” John Julius Norwich hopes to shed some light on the relationships of these men and how they shaped the political landscape of Europe.

This book caught my eye when I was used book shopping one day. The cover was beautiful and then when I saw what the book was about, I knew I wanted to read it. The stories of Henry VIII and Francis I are tales that I know pretty well and I know some facts about Charles V, but when it comes to Suleiman the Magnificent, I know very little about his life.

Essentially this book is four biographies of the princes Henry VIII, Francis I, Charles V, and Suleiman the Magnificent. While Norwich could have broken this book into four parts, focusing on each prince individually, he chose to incorporate their stories into one cohesive book, starting with the birth of Francis I and ending with the death of Suleiman. Each man ruled his kingdom in different ways. Francis was the more Renaissance prince who encouraged education and was a patron of the arts. Henry VIII was the second son who was not destined to rule, but when his eldest brother died, Henry was declared King of England and began to rule with an iron fist. Charles V was full of ambition and was industrial which allowed him to become the Holy Roman Emperor. Finally, Suleiman the Magnificent was the outlier of the group as he was the only Muslim leader who brought forth the golden age of the Ottoman Empire.

Norwich was able to keep a balanced approach to this book, never truly favoring one prince over another. I found his narrative easy to follow and pretty well-researched, even though I think what he had to say about the women in the lives of the four princes was a bit dated compared to modern research. I must say that I did enjoy reading about Charles V and Suleiman the Magnificent whereas I found the points about Henry VIII and Francis I a bit of a review. I think if you want a solid book that explores a different aspect of the 16th century, I would recommend you read, “Four Princes: Henry VIII, Francis I, Charles V, Suleiman the Magnificent, and the Obsessions that Forged Modern Europe” by John Julius Norwich.