Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I have just finished a read of Robert Stove's "Kings, Queens and Fallen Monarchies: Royal Dynasties in Interwar Europe." I am working from an ARC graciously provided to me by my friends at Pen and Sword (the publishers). This charming and very accessible text fills a void that I have long been aware of, that is the fate of the families associated with the European monarchies that fell with the conclusion of World War I. As you might expect, the book is populated with saints and scoundrels in about equal measure as it chronicles the fate of one ruling House after another when the war ended. No one looking at the developments in Europe in the interwar years, particularly the growth of socialism/communism on the left and fascism/national socialism on the right should overlook this book. One of its most fascinating features for me (I am a monarchist at heart) is the poignant fate of many of the deposed on monarchs and their families. I was, for example, deeply touched by the author's examination of Karl, the last Austrian Emperor, and his tragic but deeply moving end as well as the fate of Alfonso XIII of Spain, about whom I knew little before I was introduced to him in this text. If you have ever wondered what happened to these people and their families (and many others are discussed here, country by country) this book is far more than just a political history, it is, in many ways a bridge to understanding where we all came from and what was both lost and gained in the Great War. I would give it 6 stars if I could (it is really that good--I went from laughing out loud to being very near tears as I realized what we have all lost, and just how much good may have perished with the lost monarchies). This book belongs in every collection on European history.. I endorse it without reservation.

NetGalley, William Harris

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I’ve always been interested in history and over some fifty decades ir more, I’ve read and studied many different aspects. That said, this book is a total revelation! I had no idea that so much was going on in the background well into the twentieth century. I knew over the centuries that marriages were contrived as a means to power and control and various European royal houses lost their sovereignty for a number of reasons. The history behind so many of these well known dynasties is well set out in this book. I was aware of the Portuguese house of Braganza, but didn’t realise the monarchy there had lasted so long. The social, religious and political reasons behind the downfall of this, and other European families is explored in fascinating detail.

I’m not a royalist and find the contrivances established for centuries to ensure that control and power remains in the hands of a select few both odious and irrelevant. But it goes on and Robert Stoves book gives shocking insight into how far the state and senior politicians were ( and no doubt are) involved in maintaining their status quo. This title makes the complexities of the links between so many families much easier to understand and it tackles a diverse subject in an informed and structured way. At times, it reads rather like an adventure story and I was keen to find out what happened next. An authoritative and truly eye opening read. Really enjoyed it and it’s whetted my appetite for more like this.

NetGalley, Anita Wallas

Found this book very interesting dividing up the various countries where Royal houses fell post WW1 and how the countries tried to develop different systems and the aftermath of what happened to these families. Has been fully researched and would interest anyone with an interest in modern history.

NetGalley, stephen hutchison

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I have read a book on a similar topic before, which was published in 1994. As the author reminds us of the last attempt at a monarchist coup in Germany, it proves one thing – the topic is still relevant and worth exploring.
I was very impressed by the structure of the book. I learned a lot of new things, for example, about Portuguese history, which I believe is not as well-known. Each chapter was very well organized, and the events were clearly described. The text is engaging and informative, which allowed me to learn a lot.
This book is a great contribution to the literature on monarchies and their falls.

NetGalley, Magdalena Šejdová