A captivating biography of the remarkable young Scotswoman whose bold decision to help “Bonnie” Prince Charlie—the Stuart claimant to the British throne—evade capture and flee the country has become the stuff of legend.After his decisive defeat at the Battle of Culloden in 1746, Prince Charles Edward Stuart was a man on the run. Seeking refuge in the Outer Hebrides, hoping to escape to France, he found an unlikely ally in Flora MacDonald, a young woman in her early...

'Remarkably intimate... Full and revealing... Princesses opens an invaluable new window into the often troubled private world of these royal women' LA Times'Riveting and wonderfully detailed....Thanks to Flora Fraser's new book, George III's daughters can step out of the shadows of history and take their rightful places with the rest of the House of Hanover' Washington TimesDrawing on their extraordinary private c...

'Bewitchingly readable, authoritative' The Times'At last, in Flora Fraser, Lady Hamilton has a biographer able to capture both the woman and her times' Amanda ForemanBorn in the eighteenth century, Emma Hamilton was a woman ahead of her time.Her rise to fame and fortune seemed unstoppable – until she began her infamous love affair with Admiral Lord Nelson. Beloved Emma follows Emma Hamilton's journey from Li...

'Fraser cleverly contrasts Pauline's callous offloading of successive lovers ... The success of a biography of an un-improving subject like this is whether or not we miss them at its close ... Pauline was clearly irresistible company' Literary ReviewCelebrated for her looks, notorious for her passions, immortalised by Antonio Canova's statue and always deeply loyal to her brother, Pauline Bonaparte Borghese is a fascinating figure.At the turn of th...

'Splendid … her book does justice to a fascinating woman who was tragic, brave, likable, humorous, and indeed, unruly' Spectator'Written with elegance, wit and a narrative zest that novelists might envy' EconomistAt the heart of the extravagant Regency period – nine scandalous, politically fascinating years from 1811 to 1820 – lies the bitter mismatch between the Prince and Princess of Wales.The Prince Regent, late...

This is the story of the doomed romance between Charlotte, heir to the English throne, and Leopold, uncle of Queen Victoria and first King of the Belgians. Charlotte was the only legitimate royal child of her generation, and her death in childbirth was followed by an unseemly scramble to produce a substitute heir. Queen Victoria was the product. Chambers brilliantly demonstrates how the personal and the political collide in scheming post-Napoleonic Europe, offering a vivid and sympathetic ...

This work tells the love story of the royal couple against the changing background of 19th-century Germany. It looks at the differing political sympathies of the couple, revealed through letters, and re-examines the prevailing view that the domineering Vicky never bothered to conceal her distaste for everything Prussian and flaunting her sense of British superiority. In many ways ahead of her time, she was something of a pioneer feminist, refusing to accept the oft-accepted maxim that wome...

Tells the story of Catherine of Braganza, Charles II's Portuguese Queen set against the background of injustice and tragedy. Politics, sex, lies, religion and misunderstanding meant that their marriage was never going to be what she hoped. A wonderful story making you feel for Catherine, but understand Charles. A really good read if you're into Restoration history, and even if you're not.

LONGLISTED IN THE INTERNATIONAL RUBERY BOOK AWARD 2012"...meticulously researched and written in a lively fashion...really engages us with the subject and [Beatrice's] wider family and times." Liz Broomfield, Libro Blog book“Not only sheds new light on a fascinating history but is a very good read as well.” Daniela Hooghiemstra, Biographer of Kees Boeke“Its clear literary style and dramatic storyline make it hard to put down … [also] surprisingly c...

Justin Vovks In Destinys Hands is the heartbreaking story of five children of Austrias iconic empress, Maria Theresa, who watched as their royal worlds were ripped apart by tragedy and epic misfortunes. These are the stories of Joseph, whose disastrous reign forced Austria to the brink of civil war; Amalia, the brazen and scandalous duchess who married a boy-prince and died exiled and forgotten; Leopold, Maria Theresas unassuming second son, who was the envy of Europe until his tu...

BY THE AUTHOR OF THE NO. 1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER AND BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE-WINNER, THE FIVE, THE WOMEN KILLED BY JACK THE RIPPER***'***Under her pen, history comes alive' Professor Dame Sue Black'A fabulous 18th-century tale. Hallie Rubenhold tells it beautifully' *Telegraph**'***As a historian and storyteller, Rubenhold is in a league of her own' Literary Revi...

‘Leanda de Lisle brings the story of nine days’ queen, Lady Jane Grey and her forgotten sisters, the rivals of Elizabeth I, to vivid life in her fascinating biography’ Philippa GregoryThe dramatic untold story of the three tragic Grey sisters, all heirs to the Tudor throne, all victims to their royal blood.Lady Jane Grey is an iconic figure in English history. Misremembered as the ‘Nine Days Queen’, she has been mythologized as a child-woma...