Customer Reviews

Britain's Royal Families: The Complete Genealogy (updated)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This volume does not pretend to represent original research in primary resources, but is a convenient compilation incorporating information from many alternative sources. Most published lineages on the British monarchy are interested primarily in the line of succession, which usually has been male. Descendants of female royals generally get short shrift, but Weir provides at least basic information on all children and grandchildren of each sovereign, together with their spouses. This makes connections to other highly placed English and Continental families and to the royalty of other countries much easier to follow. Coverage is from Egbert in the late eighth century to the present day -- including Scotland -- and the index is very well done (and necessary). An eleven-page bibliography leads the reader to a large number of other secondary works. The only thing missing here is footnotes citing sources -- but the reader should rely on the _Complete Peerage_ for that and use Weir as a ready reference tool only. A very useful addition to one's bookshelf.

I bought this book before it was even available in the States, and had it shipped from England. Wier has written a comprehensive geneology of the British royal family, dating back to the 8th century. There's short biographical data about most of the people, and some of them are very interesting. It's not a good book to get if you're interested in biographies of these famillies... there's not really enough information about that. But it's a great book to get if you're interested in British history and want basic facts about the history of the monarchy.

Alison Weir is renowned for her historical fiction and her historical works. One of the problems I have when perusing her works is keeping the players straight. Who was related to whom? Who were the children (legitimate and illegitimate) of kings and lords? In this work, Weir provides us with a resource that can be consulted while reading works on Britain's rulers over time--and keeps the players a little straighter!

Weir notes at the outset (Page 3): "This handbook is about the monarchy, and it begins with the first ruler who properly may be accorded the title of monarch, Egbert of Wessex." For each ruler, one to three or so pages suffices. We learn details of the family (mother and father), siblings, wife/husband/lover, children (legitimate and not so), and death details. The work begins, unsurprisingly, with Egbert. Other early rulers--Alfred (born in 846-849), Canute (born 995), Harold II (overthrown by the Normans, ending the Saxon reign), William the Conqueror (born in 1008 and beginning the Norman Dynasty). The Norman dynasty included Henry I.

Then he Plantagenet line, beginning with Henry II in 1154. The line ended with Richard III, in the battle at Bosworth in 1485. Among the monarchs in this line--Richard I (the Lion heart), Edward I (Longshanks), Edward III (and note John of Gaunt, one of his sons, and his role in the line of monarchs), Richard II, Edward IV. Then, after this lineage came the Tudors, beginning with Henry VII and ending with Elizabeth I. After that? The book runs through the different families--Stuarts, House of Hanover, House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha morphed into Windsor, with Elizabeth II being the latest monarch.

All in all, a useful resource, helping to keep the players straight in English/British history.

This is a treasure trove of information but is not usable in the Kindle format.Many entries are cut off or incomplete and cross referencing is impossible. After purchasing via Kindle, I have purchased a reference copy.
Info 5 stars....Kindle version 0.

Alison Weir does it again! With this compact volume, a reader can trace the British royal family from its earliest times to the present. Weir is an excellent author, and I have read a number of her books. This book is a good desk reference companion while one reads any type of English History. I highly recommend this book for English History fans!

I like the book. It is really complete. Just wish we knew more about the royal family's bastard children, too.

Excellent historical information but hard to keep up on who is who and who's kids are whos's. Take some time with it and yuou will enjoy it for it's informative history.

i bought this book to use for research. i love genealogy and this book on british royalty was perfect.

I am an avid reader of historical fiction in British history. I enjoy Alison Weir's works with her thorough research and readable style. I bought this book as a reference book to keep track of all those kings and queens..and the pretenders.

Just discoverd Alison Weir and really enjoy reading her histories. This is a good book to see the family links of Britain's royal family.