Elizabeth married Frederick, the Elector Palatine, and the two of them were briefly the monarchs of Bohemia, leading to the sobriquets of the Winter King and Queen. For those keeping score, Elizabeth was the sister of Charles I, and the aunt of Charles II and James II. Sophia’s claim to the British throne was through her mother, Elizabeth Stuart, the daughter of James I and his wife, Anne of Denmark. This sprightly biography rectifies all of that. By the time she figures into British history as it is usually taught, she was elderly, ill, and useful only to the British as the closest Protestant heir to the throne. In all of that time I can honestly say that I never gave Sophia, the Electress of Hanover much of a thought. I have been a student of British history since 1966, majored in it in college, and read a great deal of history to this day. There comes a point when it’s less soap opera and more obituary column. I will say that the book began to drag a bit towards the end. It used a lot of quotes from Sophia’s own diary or autobiography. I was getting caught up in the story, talking about it with my mom, keeping her updated with all the twists and turns, tuning out distractions. But the lack of chapters did not bother me. I need potential stopping places-lots of them. Usually I complain when a book has lengthy chapters. I think for those that-like me-love history OR love the royal family OR both it will be a compelling read. I might even dare to say it was a thrilling read. I would say it was far from dry and boring. My thoughts: I loved, loved, loved this one. This book covers ALL her life and the other key players of the times. Sophia was the mother of the first Hanoverian king of England, George I. But by the end of her life, oh how things would change! For she and her offspring would enter into the succession. She was their twelfth child, seemingly unimportant to the politics of the nations. So who was Sophia? She was the daughter of Frederick V, Elector Palatine of the Rhine, and Princess Elizabeth Stuart, daughter of King James I of England. Each act covers a role in her incredible life: princess, duchess, and electress. Premise/plot: This biography is divided-for better or worse-into three acts. She lives in Yorkshire atop a ludicrously steep hill with a rakish gent, a relaxed cat, and an excitable dog.įirst sentence: ‘The princess SOPHIA, who was a daughter and mother of a king, was herself mistress of every qualification requisite to adorn a crown. It was streamed worldwide in 2021, followed by a nationwide tour of the UK.Ĭatherine holds a Master’s degree in Film and when not dodging the furies of the guillotine, can be found by following the distant sound of Dino. Her first play, Being Mr Wickham, premiered to sell-out audiences in 2019. She has spoken at venues including Kenwood House, Wellington College, the Royal Pavilion, the National Maritime Museum and Dr Johnson’s House. Further afield, she has appeared in the pages of publications including The Washington Post, Town & Country, Elle Australia, Der Bund, La Vanguardia and Metrópole. She writes WW2 sagas for Orion as Ellie Curzon.Ĭatherine’s work has been featured on the official website of BBC History Magazine, and in publications such as The Daily Telegraph, All About History, Who Do You Think You Are?, and Jane Austen’s Regency World. From the House of Stuart to the House of Hanover, this is the story of her remarkable life.Ĭatherine Curzon writes books about old Hollywood and even older royals. Sophia of Hanover became the mother of one of the most glittering dynasties the world has ever known. Through personal tragedy and public triumph, Sophia raised a family, survived illness, miscarriage, and accusations of conspiracy, and missed out on the British throne by a matter of weeks. In a world where battles raged across the continent and courtiers fought behind closed doors, Sophia kept the home fires burning. Sophia: Mother of Kings, brings this remarkable woman and her tumultuous era vividly to life. Once courted by Charles II, Sophia eventually gave her heart to Ernest Augustus, at whose side she became the first Electress of Hanover and the mother of the first Georgian king of Great Britain. Granddaughter of James I and mother to George I, she was perhaps the finest queen that Britain never had.Īs daughter of Frederick V of the Palatinate and Elizabeth Stuart, Sophia emerged from an impoverished, exiled childhood as the Winter Princess, a young woman of sparky intelligence, cutting wit and admirable determination. Sophia, Electress of Hanover, was born to greatness.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |