David Starkey – författare

What makes a man marry six times? Was Henry VIII a voracious philanderer? On the contrary, says Dr David Starkey, the King was seeking happiness – as well as hoping for a son.The first of his wives was Catherine of Aragon, the pious Catholic princess who suffered years of miscarriages and still births and yet failed to produce a male heir.As Henry VIII''s interest shifted from her powerful Hapsburg relations and drifted towards France, so began his obsession with the pretty Lutheran Anne Boleyn.Jane Seymour''s submissiveness was in contrast to Anne''s vampish style – and Henry married her on the day of Anne''s execution. Jane died soon after giving birth to the longed-for son.There followed a farcical ''beauty contest'' which ended in the short marriage of the now grossly overweight Henry to ''the mare of Flanders'', Anne of Cleves.The final part of Six Wives contrasts the two Catherines – Catherine Howard, the flirty child whose adulteries made a fool of the ageing King, and Catherine Parr, the shrewd, religiously radical bluestocking.

Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survivedCATHERINE OF ARAGON: the pious Spanish Catholic who suffered years of miscarriages and failed to produce a male heir... ANNE BOLEYN: the pretty, clever, French-educated Protestant whose marriage to Henry changed England forever...JANE SEYMOUR: the demure and submissive contrast to Anne Boleyn's radical and vampish style... ANNE OF CLEVES: 'the mare of Flanders' whose short marriage to the overweight Henry followed a farcical 'beauty contest'...CATHERINE HOWARD: the flirtatious teenager whose adulteries made a fool of the ageing king... CATHERINE PARR: the shrewd, religiously radical bluestocking who outlived him...In this dazzling study, David Starkey gives us a richly textured picture of daily life at the Tudor Court from the woman's point of view. Above all, he establishes the interaction of the private and the public, and demonstrates how the Queens of Henry VIII were central in determining political policy.

The thrilling launch of David Starkey''s new mammoth venture – MONARCHY: three books linked to 18 hours of television on the Kings and Queens of England. Volume 1 The Early Kings covers the retreat of the Romans from Britain in 410 to the fall of the House of Lancaster in the middle of the 15th century.MONARCHY is more than the biographies of the kings and queens of England. It isan in-depth examination of what the English monarchy has meant, in terms of the expression of the individual, the Mother of Parliaments, Magna Carta, the laws of England and the land of England. This is the history of ideas and ideals, as well as colourful characters, brought to life by David Starkey''s unique gifts as a communicator. David Starkey''s scholarship combines with his engaging and popular style to produce another winner.The importance of the rich heritage of the Anglo-Saxon kings is underlined and among the kings most heavily featured are: Alfred the Great, Canute, Edward the Confessor, William the Conqueror, Henry II, Richard the Lionheart, and Henry III. The last king featured in this volume is Henry VI.

A brilliant and compelling account of the apprentice years of Elizabeth I.An abused child, yet confident of her destiny to reign, a woman in a man’s world, passionately sexual yet – she said – a virgin, Elizabeth I was to be famed as England’s most successful ruler. This absorbing new book, by concentrating on the early years from her birth in 1533 to her accession in 1558, shows how her experiences of danger and adventure formed her remarkable character and shaped her opinions and beliefs.For in her youth she had experienced every vicissitude of fortune and every extreme of condition. She had been Princess and inheritrix of England – then bastardized and disinherited. At sixteen she was the head of a great princely household. Not much later she was an accused traitor on the verge of execution in the Tower. Among all this, she had been taught the most advanced curriculum of the day. But it was her lessons in the school of life that mattered more – and that taught her humanity.Dr David Starkey recreates a host of extravagant characters, mad-cap schemes and tragic plots, while using original documents to point up the importance of the rituals of power and life at court. He writes with admirable clarity about religion and constitutional history. This brilliant book contrasts the daughters of Henry VIII: the pious Catholic Mary and her clever sister. The key to understanding Elizabeth is her determination not to make the same mistakes as Mary.

Bestselling royal historian David Starkey’s captivating biography is a radical re-evaluation of Henry VIII, the British monarchy’s most enduring icon.Larger than life in every sense, Henry VIII was Britain’s most absolute monarch – but he was not born to rule. In this brilliantly readable history, David Starkey follows the promising young prince – a Renaissance man of exceptional musical and athletic talent – as he is thrust into the limelight after the death of his elder brother. His subsequent quest for fame was as obsessive as that of any modern celebrity, and his yearning for a male heir drove him into dangerous territory.The culmination of a lifetime’s research, David Starkey’s biography is an unforgettable portrait of the man behind the controversies, the prince turned tyrant who continues to tower over history.

David Starkey''s ‘Monarchy’ charts the rise of the British monarchy from the War of the Roses, the English Civil War and the Georgians, right up until the present day monarchs of the 20th Century.With both authority and verve, David Starkey unmasks the personalities and achievements, the defeats and victories, that lie behind the monarchs that form the backbone of British history.This magisterial study begins with the Tudors – five monarchs who ruled over England and Ireland until the reformation of the 1530s – and continues with the Stuarts who followed them. It includes Oliver Cromwell, a non monarch, who ruled as Lord Protector, a ''king in all but name'', and the Georgians, a dynasty that began with the accession of George I and ended with the death of George IV. Queen Victoria, the longest reigning monarch in British history, and, finally, our present day Queen, Elizabeth II, who today reigns over sixteen independent nations make up the book’s latter stages.More important than this, ‘Monarchy’ encompasses the greatest and most notorious events in our history. From the War of the Roses to the infamous Gunpowder Plot, the bloody battles of the English Civil War to the madness of King George III, the Napoleonic Era to the heyday of Empire under Victoria, and finally to our present day Queen Elizabeth II,‘Monarchy’ offers a radical reappraisal of English nationhood, culture and politics, shown through the most central institution in English life. With characteristic insight and perceptiveness, Starkey gives new life to these figures, producing an entertaining picture of the building blocks upon which the England of today is built on.

To coincide with the Channel 4 series to be aired at the end of this year – David Starkey's `Monarchy’ charts the rise of the British monarchy from the War of the Roses, the English Civil War and the Georgians, right up until the present day monarchs of the 20th Century.David Starkey’s magisterial new book Monarchy charts the rise of the British crown from the insurgency of the War of the Roses, through the glory and dangers of the Tudors, to the insolvency of the Stuarts and chaos of the English Civil War, the execution of Charles I, the rule of a commoner who was `king in all but name’, the importing of a German dynasty, and the coming-to-terms with modernity under the wise guidance of another German, Victoria’s Prince Consort Albert. An epilogue brings to story up to the present and asks questions about the future.The crown of England is the oldest surviving political institution in Europe. And yet, throughout this book Starkey emphasises the Crown’s endless capacity to reinvent itself to circumstances and reshape national polity whilst he unmasks the personalities and achievements, the defeats and victories, which lie behind the kings and queens of British history.Each of these monarchs has contributed, in their own way, to the religion, geography, laws, language and government that we currently live with today. In this book,Starkey demonstrates exactly how these states were arrived at, how these monarchs subtly influenced each other, which battles were won and why, whose whim or failure caused religious tradition to wither or flourish, and which monarchs, through their acumen and strength or single minded determination came to enforce the laws of England.With his customary authority and verve, David Starkey reignites these personalities to produce an entertaining and masterful account of these figures whose many victories and failures are the building blocks upon which Britain today is built. Far more than a biography of kings and queens, `Monarchy’ is a radical reappraisal of British nationhood, culture and politics, shown through the most central institution in British life.

Bestselling royal historian David Starkey’s captivating biography is a radical re-evaluation of Henry VIII, the British monarchy’s most enduring icon.Larger than life in every sense, Henry VIII was Britain’s most absolute monarch – but he was not born to rule. In this brilliantly readable history, David Starkey follows the promising young prince – a Renaissance man of exceptional musical and athletic talent – as he is thrust into the limelight after the death of his elder brother. His subsequent quest for fame was as obsessive as that of any modern celebrity, and his yearning for a male heir drove him into dangerous territory.The culmination of a lifetime’s research, David Starkey’s biography is an unforgettable portrait of the man behind the controversies, the prince turned tyrant who continues to tower over history.

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.

An exploration of the British monarchy from the retreat of the Romans up until the modern day.The monarchy is one of Britain’s longest surviving institutions – as well as one of its most tumultuous and revered. In this masterful book, David Starkey looks at the monarchy as a whole, charting its history from Roman times, to the Wars of the Roses, the chaos of the Civil War, the fall of Charles I and Cromwell''s emergence as Lord Protector – all the way up until the Victorian era when Britain’s monarchs came face-to-face with modernity.This brilliant collection of biographies of Britain’s kings and queens provides an in-depth examination of what the British monarchy has meant, what it means now and what it will continue to mean.

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. This compendium volume of two earlier books is fully revised and updated.The monarchy is one of Britain’s longest surviving institutions – as well as one of its most tumultuous and revered. In this masterful book, David Starkey looks at the monarchy as a whole, charting its history from Roman times, to the Wars of the Roses, the chaos of the Civil War, the fall of Charles I and Cromwell's emergence as Lord Protector – all the way up until the Victorian era when Britain’s monarchs came face-to-face with modernity.This brilliant collection of biographies of Britain’s kings and queens provides an in-depth examination of what the British monarchy has meant, what it means now and what it will continue to mean. Bringing to life a cast of colourful characters, Starkey’s trademark energy and authority make him the perfect guide on this epic, accessible and compelling journey, as he offers us a vivid portrait of British culture, politics and nationhood through an institution that has defined the realm for nearly two thousand years.

The dramatic, legendary story of Henry VIII, his six wives, and the England they ruled—told by one of the world’s preeminent historians of the Tudor era.“Extraordinary. . . . It is a tribute to Starkey’s narrative drive, his puckish wit, and sharp discrimination that it doesn’t seem a page too long. . . . With each queen, Starkey offers a vivid character study but also has fresh discoveries that subtly alter the picture he started out with.” —Sunday Times (London)No one in history had a more eventful career in matrimony than Henry VIII. His marriages were daring and tumultuous, and made instant legends of six very different women. In this remarkable study, David Starkey argues that the king was not a depraved philanderer but someone seeking happiness—and a son. Knowingly or not, he elevated a group of women to extraordinary heights and changed the way a nation was governed.Six Wives is a masterful work of history that intimately examines the rituals of diplomacy, marriage, pregnancy, and religion that were part of daily life for women at the Tudor Court. Weaving new facts and fresh interpretations into a spellbinding account of the emotional drama surrounding Henry’s six marriages, David Starkey reveals the central role that the queens played in determining policy. With an equally keen eye for romantic and political intrigue, he brilliantly recaptures the story of Henry’s wives and the England they ruled.“The best study of Henry’s wives ever published. . . . A masterly and persuasive narrative.” —The Evening Standard (London)“Eminently interesting. . . . A boon to fans of English royal history, full of murder and mayhem, but also of solid analysis of a maddeningly complicated era.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

'The best account in English of the early years of Elizabeth' Evening Standard A woman in a man's world, Queen Elizabeth I was to become England's most successful ruler. Confident in her destiny, intensely intelligent, passionately sexual yet (she said) a virgin, Elizabeth's reign was characterised by a self-assurance unusual for the time. Finding her way through the labyrinthine plots that surrounded the court, she had to live by her wits, surrounded by betrayal and suspicion, not knowing who to trust with her desire to be queen, or her desire to be a lover.David Starkey's portrait of the first female ruler of England is an enlightening account. Filled with lucid and clear scenes with fascinating insight throughout, Elizabeth is a truly masterful retelling of the life of a legendary monarch.'What a page turner!' Time Out'Fresh and lively... Vividly told' Sunday Times

Political pundits never tire of reminding us of the great cultural divide between conservative "red" states and liberal "blue" ones. But common sense tells us that not all people in these states can be politically like-minded. David Starkey, a former red-state resident, wondered what politically progressive creative writers were feeling in the wake of George W. Bush's reelection. How, Starkey asked contributors, does one live blue in a red state. This book supplies many answers. Writers as different as Jonis Agee and Stephen Corey, Robin Hemley and Lee Martin (a 2006 Pulitzer Prize finalist in fiction), Donald Morrill and Wyoming poet laureate David Romtvedt describe what it is like to live in a region that doesn't always share one's values. While pointedly progressive, the collection brings together the work of essayists who look beyond the passions of the moment—the war in Iraq, the rallying of the Right around social issues, the Democrats' failure in 2004—to the need for unity. Sometimes humorous, sometimes poignant, always enlightening, these essayists' views testify to the power of writing to bring us together as one nation of whatever color.

For the kings and queens of England, a trumpet fanfare or crash of cymbals could be as vital a weapon as a cannon. Showcasing a monarch’s power, prestige and taste, music has been the lifeblood of many a royal dynasty.From sacred choral works to soaring symphonies, Music and Monarchy looks at how England’s character was shaped by its music. To David Starkey and Katie Greening, works like Handel’s Water Music and Tallis’s Mass for Four Voices were more than entertainment – they were pieces signalling political intent,wealth and ambition.Starkey and Greening examine England’s most iconic musical works to demonstrate how political power has been a part of musical composition for centuries. Many of our current musical motifs of nationhood, whether it’s the Last Night of the Proms or football terraces erupting in song, have their origins in the way the crown has shaped the national soundtrack.Published to coincide with a major BBC series, Music and Monarchy is not a book about music. It is a history of England written in music, from our leading royal historian.

'A soaring account of the months that transformed a messy feudal squabble into Magna Carta...his crisp storytelling, based around short chapters and rolling rhetoric, is extremely entertaining.' Dan Jones, Mail on Sunday'I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Good history is descriptive, narrative and analytical. This is good history.' Gerard DeGroot, The TimesAt Runnymede, on the banks of the River Thames, on 15 June 1215, the seal of King John was attached to the Magna Carta, and peace descended upon the land. Or that's what successive generations have believed. But is it true? And have we been persuaded (or persuaded ourselves) that the events of 15 June 1215 not only ended a civil war between the king and the barons but - as if by magic - established a British constitution beloved and copied throughout the world?Often viewed as a victory for the people over the monarchy and a cornerstone of democracy, the true significance of Magna Carta is misunderstood and misrepresented. In Magna Carta: The True Story Behind the Charter, David Starkey paints a vivid portrait of the years 1215-1225, ten revolutionary years of huge significance that produced not one but four charters. Peopled by colourful historical figures - John, the boy-king Henry, Pope Innocent III, Archbishop Stephen Langton, William Marshal - Starkey tells a story of treachery and idealism, politics and peace-making that is surprising and enthralling.Informative, entertaining and controversial, Magna Carta: The True Story Behind the Charterchallenges centuries of myth-making to demonstrate how important it is we understand the true significance of that day beside the Thames, over eight hundred years ago.

Teaching Accelerated and Corequisite Composition is the first book to compile on-the-ground advice and teaching strategies specifically curated for accelerated and corequisite writing courses. Trailblazers in the field from colleges across the United States—who developed a foundation for corequisites by facilitating equity and accessibility for marginalized students—speak to a range of topics and demographics, offering support for instructors and practical advice for improving student success.  The book primarily explores accelerated composition through the lens of two-year colleges to answer a central question in the field: to what extent do educators need to alter two-year college curricular design? The contributors also delve into assessment, a crucial process for instructors and their students transitioning to accelerated learning; the key role that reading plays in the writing process; and noncognitive learning, an area of study that has been associated with accelerated learning since its inception. Together these thirteen chapters provide instructors with a strategic approach to teaching accelerated and corequisite composition.  Teaching Accelerated and Corequisite Composition points toward a new way of approaching first-year composition: a method of instruction that fosters the growth and success of writers who were once considered underprepared for college writing and are now achieving unprecedented success.

On a September afternoon in Santa Barbara, aprivate jet carrying the members of Poor Ghost—one of America’s most storiedrock bands—plunges into the backyard of Caleb Crane, a retired insurance salesman.Poor Ghost moves back and forth between the impact of the plane crash onCaleb’s life, and an oral history of Poor Ghost, from its beginnings as aworking-class punk band to rock icons.

On a September afternoon in Santa Barbara, aprivate jet carrying the members of Poor Ghost—one of America’s most storiedrock bands—plunges into the backyard of Caleb Crane, a retired insurance salesman.Poor Ghost moves back and forth between the impact of the plane crash onCaleb’s life, and an oral history of Poor Ghost, from its beginnings as aworking-class punk band to rock icons.

Few artists canlegitimately claim to have created truly groundbreaking popular music, butTalking Heads is one of them. Like Elvis, the Beatles, Bob Dylan and Radiohead(who took their name from a Talking Heads song), Talking Heads recorded some ofthe most memorable rock and roll of the past seventy-five years. In hissong-by-song discussion of their work, American musician and journalist DavidStarkey looks at how David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Jerry Harrison and TinaWeymouth emerged from New York’s mid-1970s punk scene and quickly distinguishedthemselves as innovative musicians. Led by the enigmatic and wildly originalByrne, Talking Heads’ list of classic songs includes ‘Psycho Killer’,’Take Meto the River’, ‘Once in a Lifetime’, ‘Burning Down the House’, ‘This Must Bethe Place (Naive Melody)’, ‘Road to Nowhere’ and ‘(Nothing But) Flowers.’ Twoof their eight albums, More Songs About Buildings And Food and Remain in Light,are listed among Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums. Drawing frequently on first-person accountsfrom members of the band, Starkey brings to life the composition and recordingof each song, pointing out hidden patterns in Byrne’s lyrics and ensuring thateach member of Talking Heads receives credit for their contribution to thisunparalleled body of work.

One of rock and roll's iconic figures, Bruce Springsteen produced his most influential, and many would argue his greatest body of work from 1973 to 1987. During that time, he released eight studio albums, along with the mammoth live album Live/1975-1985. Among these records are five that are included on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle, Darkness on the Edge of Town, Born to Run, Nebraska, and Born in the U.S.A., all of which came out during the period covered by this book.American critic and musician David Starkey takes a deep dive into Springsteen's early catalogue, highlighting the brilliance of Springsteen's writing and composing, his flair for the dramatic, along with his profound commitment to the gruelling lives of working-class people-and occasionally pointing out moments when 'the Boss' isn't quite up to his own high standards. Starkey shares stories from Springsteen and those around him about the songs' creation, and looks closely at the musicians and musicianship that brought Springsteen's vision to life.Finally, Starkey's writing-concise yet wide-ranging, analytic yet witty-brings it all together, telling the familiar story of Bruce Springsteen in an entirely new way.

One of rock and roll's iconic figures, Bruce Springsteen produced his most influential, and many would argue his greatest, body of work from 1973 to 1987. During that time, he released eight studio albums, along with the mammoth live album Live/1975-1985. Among these records are five that are included on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle, Darkness on the Edge of Town, Born to Run, Nebraska, and Born in the U.S.A., all of which came out during the period covered by this book.American critic and musician David Starkey takes a deep dive into Springsteen's early catalogue, highlighting the brilliance of Springsteen's writing and composing and his flair for the dramatic, along with his profound commitment to the gruelling lives of working-class people. However, he also occasionally points out moments when 'the Boss' isn't quite up to his own high standards. Starkey shares stories from Springsteen and those around him about the songs' creation, and looks closely at the musicians and musicianship that brought Springsteen's vision to life.Finally, Starkey's writing-concise yet wide-ranging, analytic yet witty-brings it all together, telling the familiar story of Bruce Springsteen in an entirely new way.BioDavid Starkey is the author of SonicBond s Talking Heads (On Track), as well as thirteen books of poetry and two novels Poor Ghost (2024) and The Fairley Brothers in Japan (2025) both focusing on the trials and tribulations of musicians. A former Santa Barbara Poet Laureate and co-editor, with Brian Tanguay, of the California Review of Books, Starkey plays with various bands and, with drummer Eric Prothero, records and performs as Falstaff Riley. A lifelong Springsteen fan, Starkey still owns the copy of Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. that he bought the year it came out, when he was eleven years old.