Atlantic Monthly Press
Atlantic Monthly Press
Atlantic Monthly Press
“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.
One of Smithsonian’s 10 Best History Books of 2025
A Sunday Times Top 10 Bestseller
An Amazon Best History Book of November
A Town & Country Best Book of November
“Continuing her excellent analysis of the life of Queen Elizabeth I, eminent historian Borman . . . details how those revisions [to William Camden’s account] may hold the key to understanding how precarious the transition from Tudor to Stuart actually was, with tantalizing implications. Highly recommended, Borman’s fascinating report illustrates yet again the veracity of the adage that history is merely a fable agreed upon.”—Booklist (starred review)
“Meticulous . . . Drawing on a fresh interpretation of royal correspondence, Borman . . . lays out her case via an exploration of several technocratic, religious, and interpersonal intrigues . . . An enthralling and detailed window into royal family drama.”—Publishers Weekly
“Borman tells the fascinating story of palace intrigue, forgery, and other shenanigans behind those facts . . . An entertaining and highly readable story of a falsehood that has lasted 400 years.”—Kirkus Reviews
“This book does this deep dive into why that succession crisis was such a big freaking deal and what a big deal it was that she, in particular, was this monarch that made that choice. It’s so nerdy, but it’s so good, and Tracy Borman just writes really accessibly, and it reads like a soap opera at times. And that’s my favorite kind of history.”—Vanessa Diaz, Book Riot – The Podcast
“Tracy Borman is another one of my favorite historians . . . It is so juicy it reads like a soap opera, and that’s why I constantly talk about history and wanting more people to spend more time with books like these . . . This is really written quite accessibly, really gets into the meat and potatoes . . . It’s so political . . . It was such a fun read.”—Vanessa Diaz, Book Riot – All the Books!
“Borman’s research makes a strong case that Elizabeth I never named James.”—Nancy Bilyeau, History, Horror & Headlines
“This is an old and timeworn tale, but under Borman’s industrious scholarship, it takes on fresh urgency . . . She tells it in the vivid and expressive detail it deserves, and she writes brilliantly, one of the very best of the bevy of Tudor historians who have emerged in recent years . . . The Stolen Crown is an engrossing and gracefully presented account worth dipping into for its insights into royal goings-on at the turn of the 17th century. For the serious reader, it’s equally worth lingering over, cover to cover.”—Bob Duffy, Washington Independent Review of Books
“A compelling and accessible dive into the final days of the Tudor dynasty and the fraught transition to the Stuart reign. With clarity and finesse, Borman unpacks centuries of dynastic rivalry, political intrigue and royal ambition, offering readers a vivid portrait of Elizabeth I’s reign and the shadowy succession that followed . . . Borman’s prose is elegant and engaging . . . Her depiction of court life, political maneuvering and the personalities involved is rich and nuanced. The contrast between Elizabeth’s vibrant, hands-on leadership and James’s aloof, council-driven governance is particularly striking . . . Ultimately, The Stolen Crown is a masterfully written and thoroughly researched account of a pivotal moment in British history.”—Julie Kentner, Winnipeg Free Press
“A timely and comprehensive analysis of the succession situation to show how James’s inheritance was far more uncertain than hindsight made it seem . . . the story is as engaging as its analysis is insightful. Tracy Borman’s prose is elegant and commanding . . . This latest offering in an impressive catalogue of wonderful non-fiction (and fiction) books is an absolute delight.”—Janet Wertman, Open Letters Review
“A meticulously researched must-read for Tudor enthusiasts.”—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, “The Ten Best History Books of 2025”
“Pacy . . . makes the case that Elizabeth I played ‘a masterstroke of statecraft’ by not naming her successor . . . Borman tells the story with panache and urgency.”—The Times (UK)
“In tracing the history of the rival claimants, secret letters, and palace intrigues that marked the tumultuous end of the Tudor dynasty and start of the Stuart, Borman – thanks to newly uncovered material – lays bare the 400-year lie (zounds!) of Elizabeth I’s supposed deathbed naming of James I as her successor (“I’ll have none but him” she was purported to have declared).”—Globe and Mail
“Reveals sensational new evidence which throws doubt on everything historians thought they knew about the dying days of the Tudors . . . With this bit of dynamite in her toolbox, Borman now casts an eye back over the last decades of Elizabeth’s reign. And what she discovers is far more contorted, contested and downright bloody than previously understood . . . her interpretation of the latest forensic scholarship on the Elizabethan end days makes this a model work of popular history.”—Daily Mail (UK)
“The real truth about the Tudor succession comes to light Literally. The transition to the Stuart dynasty after Elizabeth I’s death was neither smooth nor peaceful.”
—Washington Post
“A fascinating look at Tudor history”—Town & Country, “Best Books of November”
“Fantastic . . . Underneath all of the sterling research and excellent storytelling is an author who will slyly let a few digs fly . . . I found it refreshing to read a title so utterly dedicated to one historical thread . . . A masterpiece.”—History Nerds United Podcast
“Incredible . . . truly one of my favorite books that I’ve read this year so far . . . that contains, I would say, a bombshell discovery . . . phenomenal . . . just so readable.”—Dana Schwartz, Noble Blood Podcast
“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
“Full of twists, turns, intrigue and deceit, The Stolen Crown has it all . . . this is Borman at her absolute finest – groundbreaking and utterly compelling.”—Nicola Tallis, author of Young Elizabeth: Elizabeth I and Her Perilous Path to the Crown
“Astonishingly fresh and revealing. Borman . . . explodes one of the favourite fables we as a nation like to tell ourselves – that of an inevitable, unquestioned line of succession to the throne.”—Sarah Gristwood, author of Elizabeth and Leicester
“Part political thriller, part detailed historical scholarship, this brilliant book explores the transition of power in 1603 . . . A thrilling achievement.”—Kate Williams, author of Rival Queens: The Betrayal of Mary, Queen of Scots
“Wonderful . . . no one will ever look at the accession of James I in the same way again.”—Elizabeth Norton, author of The Hidden Lives of Tudor Women
“The twilight of the Tudors reads here like a political thriller . . . This is both a great read and great history.”—Gareth Russell, author of The Six Loves of James 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
“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
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