Kings and Queens

Children's Literature - Children's Literature

Throughout recorded history many people have lived with a fascination for royalty. The concept of a divine right monarch who has the power of life and death over subjects creates a mystique that is beyond the domain of common experience. The incredible contrasts between enlightened and debauched monarchs also add to the mythology attendant to how the masses have perceived kings and queens. It is this realm that is the fodder for this reference compendium. Included within this biographical reference book are concise profiles of 170 past and present royal rulers. Each subject is placed within his or her historical context. A chronological summary of each life is spiced with a personal narrative of the monarch's experiences. The narratives include both the concrete facts of each monarch's life as well as information that fleshes out their unique personalities. Rulers from antiquity such as Augustus Caesar, Attila the Hun, and Alexander the Great are brought to life through a writing style that balances facts with literary flourish. More contemporary rulers such as Queen Elizabeth II or King Hussein are profiled in a way that adds to any study of current history. All in all, this reference book does have merit and would be a reasonable reference addition to a high school library. 1999, Macmillan Library Reference, Ages 14 up, $104.25. Reviewer: Greg M. Romaneck