John Van der Kiste Book order (chronological)

Recounts the lives of the four women who married into the Victorian royal family: Alexandra of Denmark, Grand Duchess Marie of Russia, Louise of Prussia and Helen of Waldeck-Pyrmont.

This new book portrays the life and character of Good King Billy', one of Britain's most endearing sovereigns and down-to-earth Hanoverians.

This book examines the downfall of James II, how the monarch came to forfeit the goodwill of the nation within three years.

Populárně laděný životopis rakouského císaře Františka Josefa I., Habsburka, který nedokázal zabránit sestupu rakousko-uherské monarchie z pozice evropské mocnosti. František Josef I. byl jedním z nejdéle vládnoucích evropských monarchů. Monografie zachycuje jeho životní osudy i osudy jeho rozsáhlé říše v 2. polovině 19. a na počátku 20. století. Velký prostor autor věnuje lidské stránce císařovy osobnosti, komplikovaným vztahům v císařské rodině, tragédiím, které postihly jeho nejbližší okolí (okolnosti smrti jeho syna, korunního prince Rudolfa, zastřelení mexického císaře Maxmiliána, zavraždění císařovny Alžběty). Méně pozornosti se tak dostává úloze, kterou František Josef sehrál v dějinách své říše a střední Evropy obecně.

This book explores key aspects of Queen Victoria's life through her roles with mentors, family, ministers, and servants. It highlights her close relationship with Albert and the tumultuous dynamics with her sons, as well as her favoritism towards Disraeli and aversion to Gladstone.

Im Sommer 1853 verliebt sich der damals 23-jährige Franz Josef, Kaiser von Österreich-Ungarn in seine Cousine Elisabeth und heiratet sie. Die Geschichte von der unglücklichen Kaiserin fasziniert die Menschen bis heute, und der Mythos Sisi prägt unser Bild von diesem Herrscher ebenso sehr, wie seine glücklose Politik, an deren Ende der Ausbruch des ersten Weltkriegs stand. Doch war war der Mensch Franz Josef? John van der Kiste zeichnet das Porträt eines Monarchen, der die tragischen Verluste seines Lebens mit stoischer Ruhe zu ertragen versuchte.

This biography of Xenia, sister of Nicholas II gives a new angle on the Romanov story and provides new information on relationships within the family after the Revolution. Important new letters and photographs are also included.

Queen Victoria and Albert, the Prince Consort, had nine children who, despite their very different characters, remained a close-knit family. Inevitably, as they married into European royal families their loyalties were divided and their lives dominated by political controversy. This is not only the story of their lives in terms of world impact, but also of personal achievements in their own right, individual contributions to public life in Britain and overseas, and as the children of Queen Victoria and the Prince Consort.

John Van der Kiste's book takes in the principal monarchies of Scandinavia going back to the beginning of the 19th century. He uses unpublished sources and photographs to show how they relate to modern European history. The book also considers the political backgrounds to the monarchs' reigns; as well as examining the suspected pro-German leanings of Gustav V, the author describes the dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden in 1905, which eventually led to the election of Christian IX's grandson as Haakon VII.