If a house could whisper, this is the book that Hampton Court would whisper. An enjoyable and readable walk through 500 years of Hampton Court's history: royal residents, common visitors, thieves, invaders, and ghosts.

For centuries, Hampton Court has been a place of power, scandal, and intrigue: a stage for events that shaped the nation. The Palace pulls back the curtain on 500 years of British history with kings, politicians, criminals, and geniuses playing their roles.

Hampton Court has played a role in monarchy, revolution, religious fundamentalism, sexual scandals, and military coups. In this rich and vibrant history, Gareth Russell moves through the rooms and decades, each time focusing on a different person who called Hampton Court their home.

Starting with the Tudors, Russell takes the reader from the kitchens of Henry VII and the dreams of Anne Boleyn, to the near execution of Elizabeth I, and the theatrical performances of Shakespeare's works. From the commissioning of the King James Bible, the republican victories of Oliver Cromwell, the many mistresses of Charles II, and their reckless attempts to embarrass each other, the rumors and clashes of Georgian aristocrats lead to the Windsor era, where Hampton Court becomes the venue for the coronation of Elizabeth II and the secret hospitality of the last Tsar's sister.

Fascinating and intriguing, the Palace is as atmospheric as it is full of gossip, and through the many sages and servants who lived and worked within its floors, it reveals the personal tragedy and political significance of this remarkable place.

Pages: 480, Dimensions: 12.9x12.9cm