The Stolen Crown - by Tracy Borman (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

"Compelling and brilliant--don't miss it!"--Alison Weir

From the acclaimed royal historian, the dramatic and untold story of the lie about the controversial succession that ended the Tudor era and changed the course of British history

In the long and dramatic annals of British history, no transition from one monarch to another has been as fraught and consequential as that which ended the Tudor dynasty and launched the Stuart in March 1603. At her death, Elizabeth I had reigned for 44 turbulent years, facing many threats, whether external from Spain or internal from her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots. But no danger was greater than the uncertainty over who would succeed her, which only intensified as her reign lengthened. Her unwillingness to marry or name a successor gave rise to fierce rivalry between blood claimants to the throne--Mary and her son, James VI of Scotland, Arbella Stuart, Lady Katherine Grey, Henry Hastings, and more--which threatened to destabilize the monarchy.

As acclaimed Tudor historian Tracy Borman reveals in The Stolen Crown, according to Elizabeth's earliest biographer, William Camden, in his history of her reign, on her deathbed the queen indicated James was her chosen heir, and indeed he did become king soon after she died. That endorsement has been accepted as fact for more than four centuries. However, recent analysis of Camden's original manuscript shows key passages were pasted over and rewritten to burnish James' legacy. The newly-uncovered pages make clear not only that Elizabeth's naming of James never happened, but that James, uncertain he would ever gain the British throne, was even suspected of sending an assassin to London to kill the queen. Had all this been known at the time, the English people--bitter enemies with Scotland for centuries--might well not have accepted James as their king, with unimagined ramifications.

Inspired by the revelations over Camden's manuscript, Borman sheds rare new light on Elizabeth's historic reign, chronicling it through the lens of the various claimants who, over decades, sought the throne of the only English monarch not to make provision for her successor. The consequences were immense. Not only did James upend Elizabeth's glittering court, but the illegitimacy of his claim to the throne, which Camden suppressed, found full expression in the catastrophic reign of James' son and successor, Charles I. His execution in 1649 shocked the world and destroyed the monarchy fewer than 50 years after Elizabeth died, changing the course of British and world history.

Review Quotes

Praise for The Stolen Crown:

"You think you know about the Tudor succession? Think again, because this riveting book reveals the facts behind one of history's best-kept and most astonishing secrets. Tracy Borman has written a powerful tale based on new research, one that will overturn our understanding of the dawn of the Stuart age for good. Compelling and brilliant--don't miss it!"--Alison Weir, author of The Six Wives of Henry VIII

Praise for Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I:

Named a Top 10 History Book of the Year by Smithsonian
Named a Best History Book of the Year by Waterstones

"A deep and compelling dive into the lives of this extraordinary mother and daughter . . . Borman, who is an amazing writer, delivers a captivating and exquisitely heart-wrenching account of the mother and daughter duo who radically changed English history forever . . . Thought-provoking and moving . . . A must-read for any student of history and especially Tudor fans."--New York Journal of Books

"Masterfully corrects the historical record . . . It's in the details Borman shares illustrating the mother-daughter relationship that this book truly shines."--Washington Independent Review of Books

"A seminal and groundbreaking work of meticulous, extraordinary, and detailed scholarship."--Midwest Book Review

"Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I offers a fresh perspective on Tudor history. Set against the many volumes about Henry VIII's rule and Elizabeth I's influence, Borman's book triumphantly pulls the fiery, educated Anne from the shadows and restores her to her rightful place as a reformer, patron and queenmaker."--BookPage (starred review)

"Rewarding . . . Beautifully envisioned and full of insight, this is a must-read for Tudor history buffs."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"A fascinating corrective to the historical limbo into which this crucial connection had fallen . . . Borman argues with heartfelt credibility that, haunted by Anne's demise, her daughter chose to remain single and childless in order to be the monarch Britain needed."--Book Reporter

"Respected Tudor scholar Borman makes a case for both women's political and cultural influence, while detailing how they were shaped by the traditions of the day."--AARP

"Borman's extensively researched work dispels the notion that Elizabeth was ashamed of her mother and enhances our appreciation of England's most extraordinary--and prolifically written-about--queen, examining the life of Queen Elizabeth I through the lens of her mother's life, death, and legacy."--Booklist

"Highly recommended for readers interested in British history, royalty, and the Tudor era."--Library Journal

Praise for Crown & Sceptre:

"Engaging and perceptive . . . Given its extensive timeframe and diverse cast of characters, Crown & Sceptre could easily have become little more than a potted history of Britain from 1066 to the present. But while Ms. Borman offers deft and thoughtful assessments of every reign . . . the chronological approach is enriched by details that help to humanize her subjects."--Wall Street Journal

"Tracy Borman's Crown & Sceptre brings us in short, vivid chapters from William the Conqueror to Elizabeth herself, much of it constituting a dark record of bumping off adversaries, rivals and spouses, confiscating vast estates and military invasions . . . Though dynastic troubles are woven into the fabric of British history, it is only one element in this lucid, character-rich book. Throughout, Borman traces the changing relationship between a weakening crown and the growing power and makeup of Parliament, the country's true ruler since the 17th century."--Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Tracy Borman packs nearly 1,000 years of royal history into this look at the men and women who have ruled Britain. It's a wide-ranging crew--sometimes worthy, sometimes not so much. And yet the monarchy has endured. Borman's deep understanding of English royalty shines."--Amazon Book Review

"An entertaining one-volume compendium of the conquests (political and amorous), successes, failures, triumphs, skullduggeries, and follies of 41 monarchs dating from 1066 to the present . . . An effective, quick walk through the players and their times."--Arts Fuse

"Prolific British historian Borman outdoes herself in this expansive survey. Writing with a fluidity and grace matched by her authority on the subject, the author makes the stories of each monarch, from the incompetent to the sadistic to the praiseworthy, interesting and memorable . . . Borman observes that the British monarchy has prevailed because it understands that its power is largely symbolic, shaping and supporting British culture and an enormous tourism industry. After reading this splendid book, readers may bet on its survival, at least in this century. A superb synthesis of historical analysis, politics, and top-notch royal gossip."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"[Borman] convincingly argues that the British crown survived when others did not because it adapted to changing times . . . [She] brings the royals to life in all their triumphs and tragedies using their stories to unpack complex issues of governance, succession, and geopolitics . . . Crisp, clear writing, insightful character sketches, and unifying themes keep the narrative moving along. Compact chapters organized by dynasty and reign, notes, and an extensive bibliography make it suitable for reference."--Booklist

"An elegant and evenhanded chronicle of the British monarchy . . . Enlightening and accessible, this is a superb introduction to one of the world's most enduring monarchies."--Publishers Weekly

About the Author

TRACY BORMAN is Chief Historian of Historic Royal Palaces, Chief Executive of the Heritage Education Trust, and Chancellor and Professor of Tudor History at Lincoln Bishop University. She is the author of many highly acclaimed books, including Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I; Crown and Sceptre; Henry VIII and the Men Who Made Him; The Private Lives of the Tudors; Thomas Cromwell; Queen of the Conqueror; Elizabeth's Women; Witches; as well as the trilogy of novels The King's Witch, The Devil's Slave, and The Fallen Angel. Borman is also a regular broadcaster and accomplished public speaker. She was awarded an OBE in the King's Birthday Honours 2024 for services to heritage.