On this episode, we discuss books with kings and queens, one of the prompts on the Summer-Fall Books & Bites Bingo reading challenge.
Our picks include a page-turning history of the Magna Carta; a novel about Mary, Queen of Scots; and a YA novel that imagines an American royal family.
Michael's Pick
Magna Carta: The Birth of Liberty by Dan Jones
Dan Jones crafts a historical narrative that is compelling and as close to a page turner a book of history can be.
Over 800 years ago, at Runnymede in England, the Magna Carta was born out of a bunch of very angry barons and King John I coming to terms of peace after a serious fraying of relations with each other.
Since that day in 1215, the Magna Carta has come to influence countless constitutions across the world and is still seen as a cornerstone of Western traditions of liberty and democracy.
Pairing: Spit Roasted or Grilled Steak, a medieval recipe featured on the British Museum's blog.
Carrie's Pick
The Tower by Flora Carr
It's 1567 when this debut historical fiction novel opens, and Mary, Queen of Scots has just been captured and taken to Lochleven Castle, where she will remain imprisoned for about a year.
The novel takes place over the course of this year, mostly in the two rooms Mary shares with three other women: her chambermaids, Jane and Cuckoo and, later, one of her ladies-in-waiting, Lady Mary Seton.
If you enjoy lyrical, character-driven novels with a strong sense of place and history, lock yourself away with The Tower.
Pairing: Dried Pears, a comforting and shelf-stable treat fit for a queen
Jacqueline's Pick
American Royals by Katharine McGee
The premise of this young adult novel imagines what would have happened if America had become a monarchy after gaining independence from England.
The novel is set in the present day, and the story follows the royal family of America, who are the descendants of George Washington.
If you are fascinated by the history of English Royal family, you might like this series.
Pairing: Homemade Cherry Pie, an all-American dessert.
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