by sue.copsey | Dec 3, 2025 | book reviews, English royals, history books, King
London is simmering with unrest. Protests, some turning violent, erupt in the streets around Whitehall and Westminster. They’re mostly about religion and taxes, while within Parliament the power struggles between reformers and conservatives are coming to a head. King...
by sue.copsey | Dec 3, 2025 | book reviews, English royals, history books, King, Queen
Over the past year or so I’ve been reviewing history books for the New Zealand Listener. Safe to say, 2025 has been a great year for non-fiction history books which, while meticulously researched and written by stellar historians, have stopped taking themselves...
by sue.copsey | Sep 21, 2025 | book reviews, English royals, King
What do you know of James I? Your answer might include ‘Gunpowder Plot’, ‘Bible’, ‘witches’, and maybe, ‘Was he the gay one?’ But do you then draw a blank? Here’s a highly readable, meticulously researched book to fill those gaps and give you a broad understanding of...
by sue.copsey | Apr 21, 2025 | book reviews
Two things the Brits do well are making enemies, and laughing at themselves. Both talents are showcased in Terry Deary’s A History of Britain in Ten Enemies. This is basically a ‘Horrible Histories’ for grown-ups. Deary is the brains behind those hugely successful...
by sue.copsey | Apr 21, 2025 | book reviews
The past year [2024] has been standout for popular history books, especially those that come at the subject sideways. From their titles and authors we know we’re about to get something a bit different. There was Unruly, a romp through England’s monarchs from...
by sue.copsey | Oct 21, 2024 | book reviews, English royals, King
How well do you know your Henrys? There was the large, bearded one who had six wives and treated them badly. Henry number eight, of course. Seventh? The first Tudor king, killed Richard III in battle. Sixth? I’m guessing a few blank looks, now we’re heading back into...
