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The Stolen Crown

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What to expect

The explosive, unmissable account of the succession of Elizabeth I from bestselling author Tracy Borman, Chief Historian at Historic Royal Palaces

The perfect gift for Tudor fans this Mother's Day 2026

'Compelling and brilliant' - ALISON WEIR

'A meticulously researched must-read for Tudor enthusiasts'- SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE, TEN BEST HISTORY BOOKS OF 2025

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In March 1603, Queen Elizabeth I, the last Tudor monarch, lies dying at Richmond Palace. The queen's ministers cluster round her bedside, urging her to name her successor - something she has stubbornly resisted throughout her reign. Almost with her last breath she whispers that James VI of Scotland should succeed her.

Or so we've been led to believe.

But, as enthralling new research shows, this is not what happened. Elizabeth went to her grave without formally naming an heir. The notion of an approved succession from Tudors to Stuarts is little more than an elaborately constructed fiction - a fiction that went on to have devastating consequences. The Stuart regime rapidly descended into turbulence and uncertainty, conspiracy and persecution, witchcraft and gunpowder.

With a combination of rigorous research and brilliant storytelling, The Stolen Crown takes us behind palace doors to reveal the secret history of the Tudor succession.

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The Stolen Crown published as an instant Sunday Times Top 10 Bestseller in the w/c 2025-09-08.

Critics Review

You think you know about the Tudor succession? Think again, because this riveting book reveals the facts behind one of history's best-kept and most astonishing secrets. Tracy Borman has written a powerful tale based on new research, one that will overturn our understanding of the dawn of the Stuart age for good. Compelling and brilliant - don't miss it!
Alison Weir
So propulsive and moreish and full of dazzling and exciting intel.
Sally Wainwright
The transition between the Tudor and Stuart dynasties has always appeared to be one of history's done deals, a narrative we've long accepted without question - until now. Tracy Borman's groundbreaking The Stolen Crown obliterates everything we thought we knew about the demise of Gloriana and the dawning of the Stuart era, revealing an astonishingly different story. Powerfully and engagingly written, Tracy Borman takes her readers behind palace doors to uncover the secret history of the Tudor succession. Full of twists, turns, intrigue and deceit, The Stolen Crown has it all in abundance. A superbly crafted narrative that will leave readers on the edge of their seats, this is Borman at her absolute finest - groundbreaking and utterly compelling.
Nicola Tallis
Part political thriller, pure detailed historical scholarship, this brilliant book explores the transition of power in 1603, bringing to life James I - and a host of beck room characters fighting over the ultimate power - the throne. A thrilling achievement.
Kate Williams
The twilight of the Tudors reads here like a political thriller. . . This is both a great read and great history.
Gareth Russell
Wonderful . . . reading like a political thriller, no one will ever look at the accession of James I in the same way again.
Elizabeth Norton
Astonishingly fresh and revealing. Borman paints a vivid picture of the years that kickstarted Britain's transition from a medieval to a modern monarchy. In the process she explodes one of the favourite fables we as a nation like to tell ourselves - that of an inevitable, unquestioned line of succession to the throne.
Sarah Gristwood
'The Stolen Crown is a history lover's dream. With enviable style and command, Borman brings the fractious end of the Tudor dynasty vividly to life, and reminds us that the past is by no means dead and buried but a glorious, messy thing that will always demand our attention.'
Anthony Delaney
Pacy . . . Borman tells the story with panache and urgency.
The Times
In this groundbreaking new look at the end of the Tudor Dynasty, Tracy Borman has once again combined her impeccable research and writing to create a compelling and evocative masterpiece.
James Peacock, The Anne Boleyn Society
This thrilling new study is a historical grenade. With the pacing of a political thriller and the precision of a scalpel, Borman reshapes the well-worn story of the Tudor-Stuart handover into something electric, urgent, and utterly compelling ... Borman doesn't just write history; she animates it.
Dr Owen Emerson

User Reviews

Book 5.0
Narration 5.0
Author Tracy Borman
Narrator Tracy Borman
Duration 13 hours and 35 minutes
Release Date
ISBN 9781399732925
Format Audiobook
Publisher Hodder & Stoughton
Genre Biography and non-fiction prose, History: specific events and topics
Collections The Rest Is History Festival
Availability AU, GB, IE
Rating
5.0 (1 review)
Narration
5.0 (1 review)

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