Top Ten Tuesday is a regular feature on Pop! Goes The Reader in which I count down my top ten choices on a particular theme. This weekly event is hosted by Jamie at The Broke and the Bookish.
This week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic is: Top Ten Riveting Historical Biographies That Make History Fun.
I don’t often have the opportunity to discuss this here on Pop! Goes The Reader, but for those who don’t know, I’m a huge history buff. It was one of my two majors in university (The other being English.) (Of course.) and there was even a period in my life, when I was still in school, when I read nothing but non-fiction for approximately two years! You can therefore imagine how excited I was when I saw this week’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt – “Anything ‘Back To School’ Related” – because it finally gave me the opportunity to talk a little more about one of my favourite subjects both in (and out) of school! That said, as much as I love each and every one of the books on today’s list – and I do! – hindsight is 20/20 and I’m a little disappointed to see how limited the scope of my non-fiction historical reading was. The majority of my experience with this genre has focused largely on white women of privilege and I would really love to correct this in the future. Is there a diverse or inclusive non-fiction book you love? Be sure to leave a note in the comments as I am absolutely interested in recommendations in this area!
As always, these choices are listed in no particular order.
1) Marie-Thérèse, Child Of Terror: The Fate Of Marie Antoinette’s Daughter by Susan Nagel
2) Georgiana: Duchess Of Devonshire by Amanda Foreman
3) Marie Antoinette: The Journey by Antonia Fraser
4) Privilege and Scandal: The Remarkable Life Of Harriet Spencer, Sister Of Georgiana by Janet Gleeson
5) Queen Of Fashion: What Marie Antoinette Wore To The Revolution by Caroline Weber
6) We Two: Victoria and Albert: Rulers, Partners, Rivals by Gillian Gill
7) Dancing To The Precipice: Lucie Dillon, Marquise de la Tour du Pin and The French Revolution by Caroline Moorehead
8) England’s Mistress: The Infamous Life Of Emma Hamilton by Kate Williams
9) Sovereign Ladies: The Six Ruling Queens Of England by Maureen Waller
10) Lady Caroline Lamb: A Biography by Paul Douglass
Now it’s your turn! Are there are any historical biographies I didn’t include in today’s post that I absolutely have to read? Let me know in the comments – I would love to hear from you!
6 Responses
Oh this is amazing. I once chose to read the autobiographies of Mary Queen of Scots. She’s always called out to me. And I love Elizabeth the 1st like hardcore too. lol. I was never into non-fiction like I was/am into historical fiction. I’m intrigued by all the titles you put, though. Marie Therese, Child of Terror and Sovereign Ladies especially! 🙂
Jess @ Bird, Books, and Coffee recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday – School Freebie!
Biography* She never wrote an autobiography, let alone two. lol.
Jess @ Bird, Books, and Coffee recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday – School Freebie!
I love it when history is fun, so I should definitely check these books out. Great list!
Chrissi Reads recently posted…Top Ten Books I Hope To Read With My Class
The Antonia Fraser bio of Marie Antoinette is the first biography that I ever read, and it spoiled me for most other biographies. I LOVE IT. Definitely gonna have to check more of these out!
Ceillie @ CandidCeillie recently posted…Review:: Root, Petal, Thorn by Ella Joy Olsen
I haven’t read any of these, but they sound like great history companions!
Check out my TTT.
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These look amazing! I read a biography of Catherine the Great that was absolutely STUNNING. Portrait of a Woman: Catherine the Great by Robert K. Massie was sooo well written. There’s a tumblr account called Rejected Princesses that does comic/illustrated versions of different women throughout time. It’s pretty cool!
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