A History of Royals discussion

Welcome everyone! Feel free to introduce yourself here and be sure to let us know who your favorite King or Queen is.

Feel free as well to create your own posts to get this group started off :)

I have always had a fascination with England and it's monarchy, ever since I was a little girl growing up looking at pictures of my parents' trip to London years before I was born.

My favorite royal family is the Tudors and I have many books on them, both fiction and non-fiction. I am an avid member of The Tudor Lovers' group, which I can't recommend highly enough for it's warm and wonderful members and their incredible wealth of knowlege. In addition to the Tudor Lovers Group, there is also a Richard III group, a European Royalty group and many more fantastic groups specific to a certain age or location.

The more I read about the Tudors the more I want to learn about other monarchs and rulers. Through the Tudor Lovers Group, I have realized I am not the only one who shares this multiple interest. Because of that, I have created this group.

I look forward to having fun with this group and learning a lot from it's members as the group grows.

Strangely Jennifer, I have been thinking that we needed a group like this for a while. Glad you took the plunge.

So, I, too have been fascinated by English Royalty ever since I was young. In my case, I think it grew out of my love of Historical Fiction in general. When I was a teen, my mother was going through a Victoria Holt/Jean Plaidy/Phillipa Carr phase and I read a lot of the books that she did. These books got me interested in the history of England in general, and the English royalty in particular.


Through the years, I would read a book here and there, always enjoying the time period. As time went by, I became fascinated by Henry VIII and his various wives, and thus started to gravitate towards the Tudors in particular. My second favorite is the Plantagenets.

After I joined Goodreads, I was looking for historical groups to belong to and happened on the Tudor Lovers Group. I joined that group and since then have fallen in love with the Tudors all over again. It is a great group, but lately our discussions have been branching out, so this group is perfect for me.

Other than the Tudors, I am fascinated by most of the Royals, but the top ones are the Russian Royals, Biblical Royals, the Ali'i of Hawai'i, Llewellyn and Wales, and the Medicis and Borgias, although truthfully, all the Royal families fascinate me.

Hope this group is as fun and the Tudor Lovers. Can't wait to get it up and going.

And I promise all of my posts will not be this long.

Hurray!!!!! Another group to comment on!!! I'm such a huge history fan, but British History appeals to me much more than other histories. I'm really into the Tudors (of course!) but I also am looking into some French royals as well. Marie Antoinette has piqued my interest lately and Napoleon for some reason. Wilhelm the Great in Germany is another person who has sparked my interest (he was the one who started all this Reich business).
My love of history has always been a part of my life, but i didn't branch out internationally until the move The Other Boleyn Girl came out. I wanted to know if it was close to the real story or not (boy was it ever wrong!). From there my love affair with the Tudors began. But you can't discuss the Tudors without discussing the other royals in power at the time. And it has snowballed from there. The majority of my NF and HF books are of the Tudors, but i want to know more!!!!
And Lyn, I'm ok with your posts being long!!

O and my favorite King (so far) is Henry VIII. Predictable? Maybe. he is just really fascinating. and such a dual personality!!

Ya - if you are from the TL group, you are probably used to long posts.

Yeah!!!! I have just been doing some reading about King Charles II. I would love to read more about some of his mistresses other than Nell Gwyn - as interesting as those are. There is a lot of things that I could learn on this board - thanks for starting it Jennifer!

I have a great love of all historical fiction.
I think it came from my mother and we both also love to travel.
My favourite periods are medieval , biblical , egypt and of course all types of Royalty etc etc etc
I have always been fascinated with the Tudors and really got further into after it reading The Other Boleyn Girl although I read it before I knew the movie was made. (I didn’t like the film adaptation)

I love being part of Tudor History Lovers also but would like to also branch out into other era’s/dynasties/family etc
On the weekend I bought

Mary Tudor The First Queen
Marie Antoinette The Journey
The Lady Elizabeth A Novel
The Tudor Chronicles 1485-1603
Wolf Hall

Im very excited to part of the group and look forward to expanding my TBR and knowledge

I know this will be a great group as Jennifer is a very passionate about this. You will be an awesome moderator

Thanks for the invite to the group, Jennifer. The Tudors are my first historical reads, and I just started that a few months ago. So I'm brand new to this.

Thanks for the invite. I'm very interested in Russian History and Egyptian. I already own several on both topics. Massie writes great novels on Russian royalty. I'm buddy reading Cleopatra. I also like reading about the French revolution and Marie Antoinette. I also have several books on the King Arthur legend.

I'm so glad that you've all joined and are as excited as I am to talk about other royals in addition to our beloved Tudors :)

Please feel free to start a thread under the appropriate folder. If there isn't a folder yet for someone you'd like to discuss let me know and I'll make one for you. In the meantime you can just put your post under general and I'll move it.

If you're reading a royalty thread post that as well under the right folder and maybe you'll get someone else who'd like to read it with you or who already has read it and will discuss. And of course, we're all looking to add more books to our TBR list ;)

I forgot, I'm also interested in Joan of Arc.

Jennifer wrote: "Welcome everyone! Feel free to introduce yourself here and be sure to let us know who your favorite King or Queen is.

Feel free as well to create your own posts to get this group started off :)"


Thanks for the invite Jennifer.
I am sure this group will be great. I recognize a steady trickle of members coming from the Tudor Lovers group...so that can only be a good sign.
As for my interests is a given I like the Tudor time period, but I am also a big history buff and like many other eras.
I am interested to read more on Scotland to learn more of my paternal roots. I also find Egyptian and Biblical history fascinating.

Hi everyone! Thanks for the invite, Jennifer :)
I'm a history (and literature) student, but unfortunately there is a serious lack of module choices that are exclusively about the royals and their scandals. I have to study normal people as well... Ridiculous. So this group should help me get my royals fix! I'm also here from the Tudor Lovers group, and the Tudors are definitely my favourite royal house. As to a favourite King or Queen... well it's pretty hard to choose, and I change my mind quite often. Currently, it's probably Mary I. Looking forward to the discussions!

Hello everyone. Glad you thought of me when developing this group, Jennifer. :)

My favorite family is the Tudors for sure, but I am interested in royalty in general. I also like Marie Antoinette more than others. Next in line, is the Medicis. While the family isn't actually royalty (besides Catherine) they were powerful and played a royal-like role in history. Considering my love of all things Italian, it's not surprising.

P.S. I, of course, am also in both the European Royalty and Tudor Lovers groups.

Thanks to Misfit for inviting me :-)

I have been interested in history for as long as I can remember, ever since I was old enough to wonder where towns and villages got their names and who built castles/stately homes/Roman forts/Iron Age hill forts and so on.

My main historical period is Britain after the end of Roman government and before the Norman Conquest, roughly the 5th to the 11th century or so, though I'm interested in all sorts of other times and places as well.

Favourite monarch: at present it has to be the hero of my novel, Eadwine of Deira and Northumbria, who lived in the early seventh century. He spent years on the run as an outlaw with a price on his head, hunted all over Britain by a rival king who was also his brother-in-law (dysfunctional families are nothing new), was probably the first king to rule over most of what is now England, and a thousand years after his death he was canonised as the patron saint of tramps.

Carla wrote: "Thanks to Misfit for inviting me :-)

I have been interested in history for as long as I can remember, ever since I was old enough to wonder where towns and villages got their names and who built..."

Welcome Carla.
I have not heard of Eadwine of Deira but he sounds interesting. What books would you recommend on this time period?

Thanks for the invitation, Misfit! My favorite monarchs (or, to be more precise, the ones I find most interesting to read and write about) are the late Plantagenets (Edward I onward) and the early Tudors. I also enjoy reading about the Stuarts and the French monarchs. Once we get to the 19th century, my interest in the monarchy drops off precipitously, though.

Carla wrote: "Thanks to Misfit for inviting me :-)

I have been interested in history for as long as I can remember, ever since I was old enough to wonder where towns and villages got their names and who built..."

That sounds amazing Carla! What is the name of your novel?

Welcome to the group! You too Susan! Glad to have you here :)

Hello all,
this certainly looks like an interesting site.

I love history and most often the people who make the biggest impact are people with power, I.E. certain individuals and their family, most often in the form of royal dynasties.

Im not really a fan of the "romantic" aspects of royalty, did so and so really love so and so?

So far my favorite monarch has always been Louis XIV.
He could have done so much more to help France, but he instead used his power to glorify himself. I love his audacity.

Wen wrote: "Welcome Carla.
I have not heard of Eadwine of Deira but he sounds interesting. What books would you recommend on this time period?"

Thanks for the welcome!
Good question, because there aren't very many novels set in the seventh century. Kathleen Herbert's trilogy Bride of the Spear, Ghost in the Sunlight, and Queen of the Lightning are set in the late sixth and early seventh century. I like them very much, but sadly they are out of print - try libraries or secondhand?

Wolf Girl by Theresa Tomlinson is one of my favourites - really excellent adventure/mystery story set in seventh century Northumbria. It's set in the 660s, a couple of generations after Eadwine's death, and his great-niece Hild of Whitby (a remarkable lady) is a major character. In theory it's aimed at a young adult audience but I enjoyed it very much. It's on my shelf on Goodreads.

Flight of the Sparrow by Fay Sampson is about the only other novel I've come across that has Eadwine as a main character. It was published by a small library press in the UK and should be easily available through the UK public library system, but it might be hard to find elsewhere in the world. I found it on the worthy side, as it concentrates heavily on religious guilt, and although I agree that the conversion to Christianity is an interesting aspect of seventh-century Britain I'm not convinced it's the only interesting aspect. But that's just my opinion. More details in my review here: http://www.carlanayland.org/reviews/f...

Am I allowed to mention my own book, Paths of Exile? It's set in 605/606 AD and is an adventure with a mystery and a touch of romance thrown in, covering the first year of Eadwine's exile. I was thrilled that it won Editor's Choice in Historical Novels Review in August this year (can I say that?). More details and free sample chapters on my website if interested: http://www.carlanayland.org/exile/ind...

Hope this helps.

Welcome to all the newbies, Carla, Susan, and Manuel. Glad to have you aboard.

Carla - I too love the early time periods before 1100's, although I have not read enough about them as yet. I will definitely check out some of the books that you listed.

Susan - Plantagenets, Tudors, Stuarts, I can never get enough.

Manuel - I really like you description on you profile about lending books et al. History is indeed a fascinating subject, and as you said, most often influenced by the people in power. I do, though, tend to venture onto the more romantic side at times, so you can just ignore me when I go off on those tangents,lol.

I like it all fact, fiction, romance, intrigue, mystery, and just the difference in lifestyles and philosophies.

Thanks for the recommendations Carla. And yes, what you said was all fine. I have no problem with people talking about their own books as long as they take the time than do more than just talk about them. Your post was both relative, informative and a recommendation on what sounds like it would be a very interesting read to many of us. Congratulations by the way on your Editor's Choice win :)

Welcome to the group, Manuel. I adore most parts of history but I, like Lyn, tend to lean a little more to the romantic aspects. It will be good to have you bring me back to the 'more important' aspects of history :D

Thanks all,
It will be interesting to look at all sides, even the romantic side. I am here to learn.

Manuel wrote: "Thanks all,
It will be interesting to look at all sides, even the romantic side. I am here to learn.
"

The bookclub I run has always been more interesting when there's a male perspective.

Manuel - I'm sure we will be helping each other learn a lot! Thanks for joining.

Thanks for the invite, Misfit!!

My love is for English royalty, though mainly late Plantagenets through the Tudors. I can't get my hands on enough about Richard III or Elizabeth I. I do enjoy reading about Eleanor of Aquitaine and her sons, King Arthur legends, and Celtic and Saxon stories as well.

Anyone here interested in The Templars?

I am. Any suggestions?

Just a note for anyone shopping Alibris, the coupon for $1.00 off is kite until Dec. 3.

Lyn wrote: "I am. Any suggestions? "

Jack Whyte, a very good and detailed writer, wrote a trilogy on the Templers. You can find them on www.fantasticfiction,com/ under his name. He also wrote a large series on the Arthurian legend.

Thanks Susan, I will check them out.

Thanks Jennifer for the invite!
I think my favorite Queen is Queen Victoria of England. I respected the fact that she was a strong woman who loved her country and took her duties as a sovereign seriously . I think it was fascinating to me that her lineage produced other royal heads ( Queen Alexandra of Russia, Queen Ena of Spain, etc.) It seems like most European royalties can be traced back to this woman.

Susan have you read Whyte's Arthurian books? I bought Uther and didn't realize it was part of a series. I'm wondering if I can read it independently?

Lennie, I just got a book you might be interested in if you haven't read it yet calleed Victoria's Daughters by Jerrold M. Packard. It looks really interesting!

Jennifer-
Thanks for the info! I plan on going to Borders this weekend so I'll definitely check out the history section and look for it!

Hello all, another of Misfit's invitees here :-)
I'm a Richard III fangirl from way back, but enjoy all sorts of historical fiction and non-fiction... except traditionalist anti-Richard stuff!

Jennifer wrote: "Susan have you read Whyte's Arthurian books? I bought Uther and didn't realize it was part of a series. I'm wondering if I can read it independently?

Lennie, I just got a book you might be inter..."

I'm only half way through the first book and love it! I think reading them in order would be best, since they're in mass paperback form, you can find them very inexpensibly on Alibris or elsewhere. Remember kite is the coupon.

Thanks Susan and welcome Darkpool! We've got such a great mix of history lovers here. I anticipate everyone bringing something totally different to future conversations.

You're welcome Lennie. Let me know if you find it and what you think :)

Jennifer - I've read some of Jack Whyte's Camulod Chronicles Arthurian series, not all of them, and I'd say you can read them independently. I read my first two of them out of order before I realised they were part of a series! I think Uther is almost a standalone, a sort of offshoot from the series.

Great Carla. Thanks!

Hi everyone!
I'm Mandy - Goodreads addict :)
I'm part of the European Royalty Group, the Richard III group, the Q and A with Sharon Kay Group and the Dumas Pere group.
I was invited by Misfit (as I was to most of my other groups!) and I'm happy to be here!

Like so many others my favorite royals are the Plantagenets and the Tudors. I can't help but love the time period!
I'm excited to see the books you all have to recommend!

Welcome Mandy. Glad to have you aboard. Looking forward to talking to you through out the posts.

Thanks :)

Hi Heather! So happy to see you here! I know we've got a lot of books in common :)

Hi all, I just joined. I love history, in particular English History. I also like anicent Egypt.

As for my fave royal. It would have to be a tie between Elizabeth I and Cleopatra.

I just wanted to take a moment and thank Jennifer for starting this group. It is obvious, reading through the threads, that a number of us are interested in Royalty/History period. It's wonderful to be able to go to one place and find all the different countries, rulers, and book recommendations we've all been looking for.

So a big round of applause for Jennifer for starting this group and for her co-moderators for helping it grow so fast!!!!!!!!

Welcome Heather and Chris. Hope you both enjoy the group. Looking forward to discussing history with you both.

So happy to see all the new members! This group is growing so fast!

Thanks Susan for your fantastic comments :)
I've got excellent co-mods but the members are what really makes the group. Everyone's input to date has been wonderful and I look forward to more in the future. Hope to start Cleo tommorrow. That will make book 4 that I'm currently reading :S

Thanks everyone for joining the group!!! And Happy Halloween!

Don't stress Jennifer, you are not alone. I have 4 books I'm reading right now also. Two group or buddy reads,my bookclub's pick and one just because I'm rreally enjoying this new found author.

Lyn wrote: "Welcome Heather and Chris. Hope you both enjoy the group. Looking forward to discussing history with you both."

welcome Heather and Chris, glad to know you do love historical fiction.