Sex with the Queen 900 Years of Vile Kings, Virile Lovers, and Passionate PoliticsBy Eleanor Herman
Published by HarperCollins e-books, 2006
ISBN 0061185159, 9780061185151
I have a minor (okay major) obsession with history. I'm a sucker for historical works. I have both of Eleanor Herman's works on my list, after finishing Sex with the Queen I'm excited to read Sex with Kings.
This book covers it all; The faithful, miserable, faltering, angry, stupid, beautiful, crazy and very sad life of Queens at court, from Princess Diana to Empress Alexandra of Russia. Of course Anne Boleyn isn't left out, though it was nice that she wasn't a major focus of the book.
The underlying thread highlights the women's various statuses through these times, relegated primarily to behind the scenes and in the bedrooms. At worst they were expected to be silent baby factories, at best they ran the kingdom for the king. All of this was at the will of a husband, father or other men of court. On paper they were powerless in most cases.
After I finish this season of "The Tudors," I'll re-read this book. I know how stylized and far from the truth the show is, but damn it's pretty.
Three out of Four Stars.
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