Buy new:
-10% $17.95
FREE delivery Thursday, May 16 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
$17.95 with 10 percent savings
List Price: $19.99

The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price.
Learn more
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Thursday, May 16 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35. Order within 8 hrs 45 mins
Only 9 left in stock (more on the way).
$$17.95 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$17.95
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
30-day easy returns
30-day easy returns
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Returns
30-day easy returns
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$14.56
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
Little to no damage on cover or pages. Item will come in original packaging. Little to no damage on cover or pages. Item will come in original packaging. See less
FREE delivery Friday, May 17 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$17.95 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$17.95
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

David Starkey
+ Follow
More books from this author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Crown and Country: A History of England through the Monarchy Paperback – June 24, 2014

by David Starkey (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,003 ratings
See all formats and editions
Great on Kindle
Great Experience. Great Value.
iphone with kindle app
Putting our best book forward
Each Great on Kindle book offers a great reading experience, at a better value than print to keep your wallet happy.

Explore your book, then jump right back to where you left off with Page Flip.

View high quality images that let you zoom in to take a closer look.

Enjoy features only possible in digital – start reading right away, carry your library with you, adjust the font, create shareable notes and highlights, and more.

Discover additional details about the events, people, and places in your book, with Wikipedia integration.
Get the free Kindle app: Link to the kindle app page Link to the kindle app page
Enjoy a great reading experience when you buy the Kindle edition of this book. Learn more about Great on Kindle, available in select categories.
View Kindle Edition
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$17.95","priceAmount":17.95,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"17","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"95","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"G%2F3BWF9mDNih%2FVxJpR4r9mVzR4KFGSmm0V7DZiaML1R6q2AV0Zlvz%2BxoOgvmsceJsOM8SS7MOQGhukcoTPsPDPfPyzMmUgaQhj9uX8oC1YTqF1WjGSZEKU7fwsKwyjXaCXQECIodFIxexQEZRIWueg%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$14.56","priceAmount":14.56,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"14","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"56","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"G%2F3BWF9mDNih%2FVxJpR4r9mVzR4KFGSmmMKHk35QiwhMg7X8xkXtvOUzYyKoz9SD9dALahobvkcrlAwuL6YqEhTUg3vHFEL13lSgO9Z8tJ4Tsa%2FKDujGhZpKp%2FuZZQFTSoIvdRwkrnIpm96ShQUUR8YFUA7MwVIqN3JIXXhj8eKtS%2BFcJrhDnHpUWsjGfY4ej","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

An exploration of the British monarchy from the retreat of the Romans up until the modern day. This compendium volume of two earlier books is fully revised and updated.

The monarchy is one of Britain’s most revered institutions – but also one of its most tumultuous. In Crown and Country, David Starkey charts its rollercoaster history from earliest times to the present; from the courtly love of the Middle Ages, through the turbulent reign of the Tudors, to the chaos of the Civil War.

Starkey brings this tempestuous story up to date in this complete history, guiding us through the Abdication Crisis to the dissolution of the marriage of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. He draws upon rank and romance in light of the wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William and brings to life a cast of colourful characters and some riveting stories. Crown and Country is both a brilliant overview of the monarchy and a vividly iconoclastic portrait of British culture, politics and nationhood.

Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Print length
    488 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    HarperPress
  4. Publication date
    June 24, 2014
  5. Dimensions
    5.08 x 1.42 x 7.8 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0007307721
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0007307722
  8. See all details
Next page
Amazon First Reads | Editors' picks at exclusive prices

Frequently bought together

Crown and Country: A History of England through the Monarchy
$17.95
Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16
Only 9 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
Elizabeth: The Struggle for the Throne
$11.70
Get it as soon as Friday, May 17
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
Sold by BooksHeroes and ships from Amazon Fulfillment.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
One of these items ships sooner than the other.
Show details Hide details
Choose items to buy together.

From the Publisher

s

s

s

s

Editorial Reviews

Review

‘Eminently readable…Starkey is particularly good at explaining the shifting tone of monarchical power…“Crown and Country” is a masterpiece of accessible history, underscored with profound scholarship…the author’s passion for his subject, the royal tale of England, which is the backbone of this nation’s story explodes from every page. I defy anybody not to enjoy this book.’ Guardian

‘Entertaining…Starkey writes with the snappy zest of an unrepentant telly-don…he has a lovely eye for a good story…he also has a nice line in snarky humour…Starkey’s great skill is to weave big themes quietly into a rollicking narrative so that you absorb them almost without noticing they are there.’ Daily Telegraph

‘Excellent…the really crucial events in the history of the British Monarchy…are assessed with authority, wisdom and wit…This is Starkey at his fluent and entertaining best.’ Sunday Telegraph

‘This book…is vivid, lucid and engaging…his judgements delivered with quasi-Pontifical assurance are often acute…a very enjoyable book.’ Daily Telegraph

‘David Starkey tours England's monarchical horizon with gusto.’ Sunday Times

‘Starkey brings the past to vivid life.’ Daily Express

‘Combines compelling narrative and lucid analysis to guide us with a sure hand…Starkey’s book will undoubtedly make him and his publishers a tidy profit.’ Spectator

From the Back Cover

From one of our finest historians comes an outstanding exploration of the British monarchy from the retreat of the Romans up until the modern day.

The monarchy is one of Britain’s most venerable and revered institutions – but also one of its most volatile. Starkey brings the tempestuous story up to the present, guiding us through the dissolution of the marriage between Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer, with a new chapter on the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton, royal weddings and the future of monarchy.

Throughout, Starkey highlights both the strength and the terrible fragility of an institution that has seemed, at times, perilously close to extinction. He offers not only a brilliant overview of British history through her kings and queens but also a vivid portrait of British culture, politics and nationhood, embodied in an institution that has defined the realm for nearly two thousand years.

‘Excellent…the really crucial events in the history of the British Monarchy…are assessed with authority, wisdom and wit…This is Starkey at his fluent and entertaining best’ Sunday Telegraph

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperPress; Reprint edition (June 24, 2014)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 488 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0007307721
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0007307722
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.08 x 1.42 x 7.8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,003 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
David Starkey

David Starkey

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
1,003 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

johnkenrick
5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful and fascinating
Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2019
Verified Purchase
This text is word for word the narration David Starkey delivers in the documentary series The Monarchy. That is not a complaint, seeing as Starkey is one of the most eloquent, dependable and insightful experts on British history and the monarchy. His narrative is a joy with or without the visuals -- and I'm happy to have this book. A must read for angliophiles and British history buffs!
8 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Jack
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for a quick overview of a lot of history
Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2022
Verified Purchase
Well written historical overview of all of the English monarchs. A lot of history in 500 pages. The length of the book does not compromise the history
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
HollisterBulldawg
5.0 out of 5 stars Just what I needed!
Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2012
Verified Purchase
I am tired of being stumped by Jeopardy answers that require intimate knowledge of the kings and queens (and conquerors) of England. This book has a great flow chart from King Number One through QEII. And it has a very thorough explanation of the history and palace intrigues. Once you read this book, you will understand why the English language is so complicated. My gosh, the island was occupied by just about everyone: Romans, Vikings, Norwegians, Danes, Germans, French, Dutch, and my ancestors those sneaky Celts. No real king until 800 AD. No real interest in learning and languages until 1000 AD. England definitely lagged the world in cultural development. Even Robin Hood is mentioned. I ended up researching maps of 10th century England just to see where all the action was taking place. This is a well-written, well-documented history of an empire. I highly recommend it.
23 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
D. Benz
5.0 out of 5 stars Just the Right Amount of Detail
Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2013
Verified Purchase
I have read a lot of historical fiction set in England and wanted a good overview of the real events. This book was perfect. It was a fun, enjoyable, and fast-paced read. It starts during the Roman years and gives great insight into the pre-Conquest years as well as the years following 1066. It was the perfect view of English history as seen through its monarchs.
Helpful
 Report
Michael McLaughlin
4.0 out of 5 stars Scholarly Work!
Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2013
Verified Purchase
Dr. Starkey is undoubtedly one of the most noted and accomplished historians on the British monarchy of this generation and, arguably, of the past couple. His scholarship is evident in the detail of his writing and the wealth of sources from which he draws. I enjoyed reading the book concurrent with his documentary on the Monarchy and, at times, could hear Dr. Starkey's voice in my head as I read his witty turns of phrase. When I taught my semester-long high school course on the British monarchy, I required the students to purchase this tome as the central text of our course, but the students found the book to be a bit long - much instead preferring to watch or listen to Starkey and to instead read Lacey's compilation of stories from British history. For someone who has a scholarly interest in the Crown, Starkey's book is a great read.
4 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Bill From Ann Arbor
5.0 out of 5 stars a Narrative History!
Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2013
Verified Purchase
After too many dry and frankly boring history books, I found in the author's preface that this was a "Narrative History". True to form, the book started at the beginning and flowed easily and interestingly to the modern monarchy. The chain wasn't broken with long diatribes on what one historian thought vs another. The story wasn't broken into sections like "the robes of the monarchy" or "how the monarchy traveled". A great writer and a great story teller!
18 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Felix
3.0 out of 5 stars Thorough but wordy.
Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2018
Verified Purchase
Reads like a history textbook. Would have been very beneficial if it had a family tree to better track the evolution of the "Royal Family". Also graphics that would depict the extent of the British Empire perhaps by century. Very thorough, perhaps too thorough.
3 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
kaydee
5.0 out of 5 stars Masterful
Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2013
Verified Purchase
How do you take the entire history of English monarchy and make it fun? You let David Starkey write it. This book was masterfully written and highly entertaining to read. It's less like a text book and more like a novel with its easy flow and fun to follow phrasing. I thought I loved Starkeys documentary on the book but the book is awesome as a stand alone.
6 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 15, 2023
Verified Purchase
Easy to read and gives great overview for general understanding of history.
Report
Anji
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent.
Reviewed in France on July 13, 2021
Verified Purchase
Excellent à tout point de vue.
Report
Paolo Antognoli
4.0 out of 5 stars Ottimo
Reviewed in Italy on May 24, 2017
Verified Purchase
Se state cercando un buon libro di storia inglese che tratti specificamente dei monarchi, questo è quello che dovete acquistare. Si legge bene.
3 people found this helpful
 Report
John Eldridge
4.0 out of 5 stars A WELL RESEARCH TOME
Reviewed in Australia on August 17, 2020
Verified Purchase
Very well written - good price, although I would have paid a little more for a larger print copy
Report
anne
5.0 out of 5 stars A great read. It's a treasure trove for serious students ...
Reviewed in Canada on February 4, 2016
Verified Purchase
A great read.It's a treasure trove for serious students of English history and government. I bought this first on my Kindle; I enjoyed it but found myself frequently wanting to refer back to previous discussions, not possible on a Kindle. Also, although I rarely underline or make margin notes, this was the kind of book where you want to do so; I ended up buying a hard copy. David Starkey writes, for me anyway, with the perfect balance of copious information and wry historical & personal wit. He writes in the same style that he uses in his documentaries--entertaining, educational and very satisfying.
Report