Dynasty: The Turbulent Saga of the Royal Family from Victoria to Diana by Donald Spoto lands on the shelves of my shop.
Simon & Schuster, 1995, Hardback in dust wrapper.
Illustrated by way of: Black and White Photographs;
From the cover: The bestselling US author turns his attention to the biggest-selling soap opera of all time: the Royal Family
After a small avalanche of books on this or that member of the contemporary Royal Family, at last we have the entire Windsor tapestry a dramatic, colourful, sometimes poignant, often shocking family history.
DYNASTY is in fact a compelling album of portraits the first book to tell the whole story of the family that has occupied the British throne from the reign of Queen Victoria to the time of Queen Elizabeth II.
Each chapter contains fresh information, gleaned from Royal archives, correspondence files and previously unpublished documents and manuscripts, including never-before-revealed information on the less than Victorian sexual behaviour of Queen Victoria, the true reason for Edward VIIIs decision to quit the throne, and the machinating role the Queen Mother played in tearing the two royal brothers, George VI and Edward VIII, apart.
The current Royals, now no longer the darlings of the press, publicly disgraced, openly fighting their battles under the glare of ferocious publicity, are also scrutinized. Intriguing and sinister patterns of recurrent family behaviour and failings begin to emerge which suggest that the Royal Family is a prisoner of its past as well as an inmate of its current paparazzi jail.
The Windsors are a victim of their own celebrity, with the public and the media always baying for further intimate details of their lives, ever more indignant when those very details reveal that this family is just like any other: riddled with conflict, beset by old family skeletons in the cupboard, struggling to maintain order in the face of chaos. Their story is a dramatic one: crisis and scandal have lurked in the corridors of the House of Windsor ever since Victoria primly announced T will be good. Here is that story told throughout the Royal generations which proves that the best sagas are those which are true.
Very Good in Very Good Dust Wrapper.
Black boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. 474 pages. Index. Bibliography. 9½” x 6¼”.
Of course, if you don’t like this one there are plenty more available here!
Fact or Fable Book Shop 