Behind the Throne

A Domestic History of the British Royal Household

By: Adrian Tinniswood

Narrated by: Steven Crossley

Length: 14 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

An upstairs/downstairs history of the British royal court, from the Middle Ages to the reign of Queen Elizabeth II (Wall Street Journal).

Monarchs: They're just like us. They entertain their friends and eat and worry about money. Henry VIII tripped over his dogs. George II threw his son out of the house. James I had to cut back on the alcohol bills.

In Behind the Throne, historian Adrian Tinniswood uncovers the reality of five centuries of life at the English court, taking the listener on a remarkable journey from one Queen Elizabeth to another and exploring life as it was lived by clerks and courtiers and clowns and crowned heads: the power struggles and petty rivalries, the tension between duty and desire, the practicalities of cooking dinner for thousands and of ensuring the king always won when he played a game of tennis.

A masterful and witty social history of five centuries of royal life, Behind the Throne offers a grand tour of England's grandest households.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio. 

©2018 Adrian Tinniswood (P)2018 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"Charmingly erudite...Like a seasoned tour guide, Tinniswood keeps us moving through chambers of wonders, from the Elizabethan to the modern era...Tinniswood is both a careful scholar and a nimble writer." (Washington Post)

"A glimpse into a world where everything is possible for the rulers, because the ruled do all the work: This sounds enchanting, and so Behind the Throne proves to be...The author has a wry humor and a way with a phrase." (Wall Street Journal)

"An intimate and entertaining look at the private lives of monarchs from Elizabeth I to the current occupants of Buckingham Palace...Deft, zesty social history." (Kirkus)

Very Worthwhile

This has been a fascinating behind the scenes view of the British Monarchy. It has made the monarchs more real than historic reports detailing dates and events and, in fact, it is much more revealing about the difficulties of ruling than TV and movies indicate. I now have a much better understanding of how the monarchy has evolved in the UK.

More about the private lives of the Royals than about their household.

I thought the description “A domestic history of the British royal household” meant hearing about the the hundreds of staff members and their lifestyles. This book is 90% about the Royals themselves and their private lives and relationships with their relatives and those staff members closest to them. Quite a bit on some and almost nothing on others but touching on every Monarch since Elizabeth I. I always love listening to Steven Crossley and he kept the content as entertaining and interesting as it was possible to do.

A bit drawn out but fabulous narration

This is a good book for scholars. A bit draggy in content and not all juicy in revelations but then it isn’t meant to be. The narrator is so musical in voice I couldn’t turn it off.

not so great

relatively few of the tales one would expect and more of a selective history of the royal family

Wonderfully different approach!

When I tried to tell people about this book, I found I had trouble describing it. It’s certainly a history, but not a rehash of previous research. Tinniswood does focus on the Royal Family, but the emphasis is on daily life at court rather than political machinations and dynastic worries. The result is a vivid description of the background against which the spectacle and banality of palace life was played out, with information that you haven’t heard 1000 times already. Crossley’s narration is unique and enjoyable. It’s clear, steady, and often quite amusing. He is skilled in what I can only describe as verbal eye rolls, as if he can’t believe what he just read.

soooo boring but it did have to be

could be the narrator. I just couldn't finish it. wanted it to be better but it just wasn't.

Loved it!

If you are interested in the day to day realities of the Monarchy, this is a fascinating book! Adrain Tinniswood moves through the history of the ruling Kings and Queens personal and domestic challenges, giving us a peek into the complex issues of keeping a royal household moving as “smoothly “ as possible! Steven Crossley, as always, does an excellent turn in his narration!

This is an interesting fast moving book.

If you have an interest in the British story, this is a very informative interesting book. I will encourage friends to read or better yet listen.

Fun!

Good entertainment. I especially liked the performers droll upper class accent that exuded at times a certain weariness over some of the royal antics. Recommend.

Well Rounded Book!

All around well written and full of knowledge for any reader interested in the topic!