Measuring Monarchy
The Most Overrated and Underrated British Kings and Queens
Published on 24. July 2025
256 pages
978-1-80399-895-4 (ISBN)
Description
Since 1066, there have been more than forty kings and queens of Britain (give or take a Cromwell, Scotland not included). They are a dazzling cast of characters, and we routinely debate over who deserves the title of greatest ruler in our long history. From William the Conqueror to Henry V, Elizabeth I, Victoria and latterly Elizabeth II - their lives tell the story of our nation.
But how exactly do you measure a monarch?
Measuring Monarchy provides a completely original outlook as to how to analyse British kings and queens and throws a revisionist Molotov cocktail into our historical thinking. It puts forward and explains the case for five comparative metrics for all UK monarchs: their professional standing, their popular standing with the public, their impact on public finances, how they conducted foreign policy and their preparations for succession.
Tim Hames casts a forensic eye over fifteen key kings and queens, determining whether their status has been overrated or underrated. What is revealed may surprise you, and some overlooked monarchs are returned to their rightful standing.
But how exactly do you measure a monarch?
Measuring Monarchy provides a completely original outlook as to how to analyse British kings and queens and throws a revisionist Molotov cocktail into our historical thinking. It puts forward and explains the case for five comparative metrics for all UK monarchs: their professional standing, their popular standing with the public, their impact on public finances, how they conducted foreign policy and their preparations for succession.
Tim Hames casts a forensic eye over fifteen key kings and queens, determining whether their status has been overrated or underrated. What is revealed may surprise you, and some overlooked monarchs are returned to their rightful standing.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Stroud
United Kingdom
Illustrations
Illustrations, black and white
File size
3,36 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-80399-895-4 (9781803998954)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
07/2025
The History Press Ltd
€21.50
Shipment within 3-4 weeks
Person
TIM HAMES began his career as an academic, lecturing in Politics at Oxford University, before moving into journalism as an Assistant Editor and political columnist for The Times. He has published widely, and is author of titles such as Modernising the Monarchy and The Times Guide to the House of Commons 2001 and 2005. More recently, he has been the co-author (with Dame Kate Bingham) of the Sunday Times Business Bestseller The Long Shot: The Inside Story of the Race to Vaccinate Britain. He is the co-founder of Acuti Associates, a geopolitical consulting firm, and in that light he is the author of Trump II: Why He Won. What It Means For The World.
