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Monarchy cover art

Monarchy

By: David Starkey
Narrated by: David Starkey
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Summary

The crown of England is the oldest surviving political institution in Europe. Throughout this audiobook Dr David Starkey emphasises the Crown's endless capacity to adapt to circumstances and reshape national policy, whilst he unmasks the personalities and achievements, the defeats and victories, which lie behind the kings and queens of British history. Each of these monarchs has contributed to the religion, geography, laws, language, and government which we live with today. Monarchy demonstrates exactly how these states were arrived at, how these monarchs subtly influenced each other, which battles were won and why, whose whim or failure caused religious tradition to wither or flourish, and which monarchs, through their acumen, strength and single minded determination, came to enforce the laws of England.
©2006 David Starkey (P)2007 W F Howes Ltd.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

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What listeners say about Monarchy

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding content and narration

Gripping events narrated more like a story than a series of monotonous incidents,and beautifully narrated by Dr David Starky whose voice is engaging and keeps you listening.He needs to narrate all his books as once you've heard him narrate one,no one else will do.

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29 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

I loved it.

Excellent book. Informative, but not dry. Utterly riveting. More like a story, than like dry history. And I loved the way it was read.

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25 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Illuminating

What did you like most about Monarchy?

The decisions made by kings and queens hundreds of years ago still affecting our lives today. It was absolutely fascinating and told in an engaging way.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Monarchy?

learning about Henry VII.

Have you listened to any of David Starkey’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No - but I would like to!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, I listen on my walk to and from work, and I couldn't wait for the next chance I would get to listen!

Any additional comments?

This is the first non-fiction book I have listened to, and I absolutely loved it. It was very much an impulse buy, but not one I regret!

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14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating history

Where does Monarchy rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Pretty high.

Who was your favorite character and why?

It's a history, this question is irrelevant.

Which character – as performed by David Starkey – was your favourite?

It's a HISTORY not an Agatha Christie. Why are you asking me these questions?

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, but it would have been too long.

Any additional comments?

As always, Starkey is a good performer and an engaging and of course highly knowlegeable writer.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • El
  • 12-12-15

Interesting approach to the history of monarchy

What made the experience of listening to Monarchy the most enjoyable?

The angle chosen by the author goes at the core of the issues raised by power: how to get to the top and how to stay there in an ever-changing world by creating and adapting influence, status, image, control ... under the notion of "royal family"
The book is very erudite, filled with pertinent comments, in a clear structure that allows us to keep the thread through centuries of British monarchy.

What does David Starkey bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

It is a pleasure to hear him read his own book. David Starkey is a very good orator and speaker and it is commendable he did the narration himself.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

To stay a monarch, you need to reinvent oneself constantly while always giving the impression you are immemorial and imperturbable.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

You couldn't make it up

ignorant if our own history I felt a need to explore it in a way that would not bore me. This is it!
If it wasn't based on well researched facts the story is one that is hardly believable.
read with such authority by the leading authority I enjoyed it so much that I am going to listen again to commit more to memory.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating Review of our Monarchy

What did you like most about Monarchy?

David Starkey always goes into great detail about the historical characters he has researched and he tells their story in a no fuss, direct but highly entertaining way which is accurate and believable.

Who was your favorite character and why?

This is not a fictional novel, so all the kings and queens are interesting. Henry VIII is always fascinating of course, but it is also nice to hear about those monarchs who are less well known

Which character – as performed by David Starkey – was your favourite?

David brings them all to life - he speaks in a lively, dramatic style which involves the listener

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I just wanted to keep on listening!

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Mr Starkey does it again.

I always enjoy David Starkeys work regardless of the media its in.Once again he meets my expectations.Highly recommended.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A royal result!

I am no lover of the monarchy by a long shot, but who could resist a history of some of our most powerful and colourful characters, with all the intrigue, scandals, murder and conspiracy that comes along with being over-privileged and entitled human beings, all told by the passionate and erudite author himself?

There is a lot of information being thrown at you, and I used the skip back button a LOT when realising I'd missed an important detail, so it's not the easiest, or most relaxing listen, but fascinating nonetheless.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Spoiled by narrative style

Good account of the British Monarchy as far as I can judge. I’m no historian. Anyway I learned a lot. But David Starkey’s delivery became increasingly irritating with his excessive emphasis on every conjunction: BUT, FOR, WHEN .... It would be more enjoyable if read by a professional actor.

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5 people found this helpful