The Strange History Buckingham Palace

by Patricia Wright

Buckingham Palace is one of the most familiar buildings in the world, but who knows the real tales hidden behind its ceremonial gates? Who was the witch that once lived in the royal courtyard? How could courtesans once have plied their trade in front of the present royal windows? How dare a prime minister call the palace a monstrous insult to the nation? This text presents a detailed exploration of the ordinary and sometimes extraordinary people who owned or lived on the land now occupied by the Palace, and of the royal occupants who later inhabited it. The Strange History of Buckingham Palace reveals how Buckingham Palace came to be the place it is today, from the time when it probably formed the escape route from a Roman battle nearly 2000 years ago, to the establishment of the first gentleman's house there in the 17th century, and on into a chequered royal history, which includes an ambitious Saxon queen and James I's plan to found an English silk industry in the Palace gardens.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Royalty, Architecture

240 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1996

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, thoroughly researched and well written, though perhaps presented in a rather haphazard way. It was difficult to get a clear picture of the timeline, when the author kept jumping back and forth a few decades every so often. Also, nothing about what is likely the most interesting time period to a reader today; from about 1910 information is quite sketchy indeed. After 1945 - nothing. I found that disappointing.

[Kasey Dietrich · Rating 2 out of 5]

Seemed a bit distracted for a history on Buckingham Palace. :/

[Donna Jo Atwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a good thing I'm a sucker for English history, because this book has numerous misprints and errors in it, to say nothing of muddled sentences and tangled syntax. Still, it has those delightful little snippets of gossip about people long past defending themselves that makes history so interesting.

[Michell Karnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book details the history of the site on which Buckingham Palace sits. It begins with the earliest information concerning the land and its ownership. It traces its changing ownership until the building is constructed and on to its royal ownership until present day.