The Kings & Queens of England

This compact little volume is a handy resource, especially for readers who like English novels/mysteries/historical fiction. I keep it near my favorite chair to refer to whenever I need to keep straight the identity and era of one of the royals. Thumbnail bios and repros of famous portraits enhance the format. Who knew that King Steven (that usurper!) was crosseyed?

My only real complaint about this book is that Charles I is treated with less than justice here. For a more accurate view of his life and tragic death, I suggest you read Winston Churchill's "History of the English Speaking People." That said, this book by Nicholas Best is a nice brief overview of the Kings and Queens of England from William I (1066-1087) to Elizabeth II (1952-present). It includes a nice photograph of each king and queen as well as brief description of their reign. (Now certainly, this book is not designed for an in depth study.) If that is your intention, you should look at Winston Churchill's book that I have mentioned. Perhaps the greatest thing about this book is the chapter that focuses on King Henry VIII. While he certainly had his faults, he did accomplish a lot for England. (Authorizing the Bible's translation into English, revising and updating Parliament, building up the navy well, and keeping civil order during the dangerous times with no wars breaking out!) As Nicholas Best says in this book: "The country felt an enormous loss when he died." While not the most thorough book, it belongs in the library of any English History buff.

Short but sweet history of the Scottish monarchs is good for historical and genealogical research.

This is a very short and brief book. It gives a little description on all of the Kings and Queens of Scotland and does provide beautiful pictures of them as well. I would only buy this book if you are looking for a brief history of the rulers of Scotland( I mean less than one page on each of them). If you want a comprehensive book I would recommend some other book. But overall this is a quick and easy read which makes it a great reference book. Hope this review is helpful.

My only complaint about this book is that it tells a complete falsehood of the blessed Anglican Martyr Charles Stuart. To put this in a nutshell, Queen Victoria had a grudge against several of her predecessors (including Charles the martyr.) During her reign she fabricated the tale that Charles was a self server. On the other hand she tried to make the monstrously evil Cromwell into a champion of constitution and democracy. (Don't take my word for it. Read Winston Churchill's "History of the English Speaking People" 1955). Otherwise, this book is EXCELLENT. It offers a brief listing of the different houses. It also offers a beautiful photograph of each monarch. For the most part, it offers a brief but accurate passage on each of the monarchs. One thing Best does very well is that he goes beyond common and inaccurate opinions of some famous monarchs (including Henry VIII) and gives a scholarly opinion of their contributions to England.