"An entertaining history of English rulers from William the Conqueror to Elizabeth II" is presented in a series of colorful mini-biographies (Publishers Weekly).

From a medieval warrior to a Renaissance autocrat, and from a Victorian Empress to the tabloid royals of today, Royal Panoply offers a revealing look at some of the most fascinating people in world history. 

With her trademark blend of probing scholarship, lively prose, and psychological insight, Carolly Erickson focuses on each monarch's entire life—from the puny, socially awkward Charles I, to the choleric, violent William the Conqueror, to the well-meaning, deeply affectionate Queen Anne, who was so heavy she had to be carried to her coronation. Royal Panoply recaptures the event-filled, often dangerous, always engaging lives of England's kings and queens, set against the backdrop of a thousand years of Britain's past.