CROWN & SCEPTRE

An impressive synthesis of more than 1,000 years of the British monarchy, combining personal stories, geopolitical context, and historical background to reveal the essence of royal power through the ages.

Prolific British historian Borman outdoes herself in this expansive survey. Writing with a fluidity and grace matched by her authority on the subject, the author makes the stories of each monarch, from the incompetent to the sadistic to the praiseworthy, interesting and memorable. Despite more than 500 pages and countless kings and queens, she keeps the pages turning, providing adequate context and vivid and personal portraits of her subjects. The author highlights the particular dilemmas of women rulers—not just the indomitable Elizabeth I, but also Queen Anne (1665-1714), who suffered multiple miscarriages, found refuge in lesbian affairs, and “exploited one power that Parliament could never touch: the almost supernatural aura that had long surrounded the crown.” Readers will learn that shocking royal behavior is nothing new. Today’s House of Windsor is a staid group compared to its predecessors: Henry I (1100-1135), for example, “was addicted to women and had as many as twenty-four bastards by his numerous mistresses—more than any other English king.” Borman shows that the monarchy often hung by the slenderest of threads and was preserved at a terrible cost: murders, executions, assassinations, carnage on the battlefield. She traces the ancient sources of royal rituals still in use today and exposes the darker roots of power—numerous kings and queens grew wealthy from the international slave trade until it was abolished in the 19th century. Today’s monarchy has survived wars, religious turmoil, plagues, disease, fires, and invasions. Will it endure? It’s an open question, but Borman observes that the British monarchy has prevailed because it understands that its power is largely symbolic, shaping and supporting British culture and an enormous tourism industry. After reading this splendid book, readers may bet on its survival, at least in this century.

A superb synthesis of historical analysis, politics, and top-notch royal gossip.