Kings and Queens (Collins Gem)

by Neil Grant

Book Overview

A copiously illustrated guide to the monarchs of the British Isles and Ireland from pre-Saxon times to the present, complete with concise genealogical charts and details of key historical events. The book is divided into five sections, together with a Compendium at the end. Part One, presents information about Pre-Saxon rule, including details about ancient British chiefs, Roman rulers and the Roman Conquest. Part Two provides information about Scotland,...

Customer Reviews

Good Things Come in Small Packages

One of my favourites, and will surely become yours! Colour-coded sections cover 1. Pre-Saxon Rule; 2. Scotland, Ireland, and Wales; 3. Saxons, Normans and Plantagenets; 4. Tudors and Stuarts; 5. Hanover to Windsor. The Compendium (part 6) includes Crown Jewels, Nicknames, and Genealogical Charts. It is particularly good on ancient British chiefs and Celtic tribes, rarely covered in other guides. A short two-page overview of each monarch is preceded by a summary box containing birth and death dates and places, parentage, accession to the throne, coronation, authority (i.e. status and titles), death date and burial details. The major public and personal events of each reign are outlined. Also, there are features on such events as the Roman Conquest, the Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms, Wars of the Roses, the Gunpowder Plot, Home Rule and the British Empire. Contemporary illustrations, e.g. the Bayeux Tapestry for the Norman Conquest, lend period flavour.A perfect introduction, overview, or review. It's a useful first source before proceeding to longer royal histories or individual biographies. Essential.