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Mortal Monarchs: 1000 Years of Royal Deaths
How the monarchs of England and Scotland met their deaths has been a shocking mixture of violence, infections, overindulgence, and occasional regicide. In Mortal Monarchs, medical historian Dr. Suzie Edge examines 1,000 years of royal deaths to uncover the plots, accusations, rivalries, and ever-present threat of poison that the kings and queens of old faced.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published September 29, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 234 reviews
May 9, 2024
Very interesting, but this is very much a story of the English monarchs. Unfortunate for me, who bought the book on the strength of its claim that it told of the deaths of the Scottish monarchs, too.
October 6, 2022
I found suzie on tiktok when she first started out and been a follower ever since, she brings history to life, I love it when I hear "shall we open another coffin", and this book is so informative but also isn't academically boring! I binge read this in 1 day! Definite read if you love history and medicine!
April 21, 2024
Wow, read this faster than I thought, cool 😎
3.5 stars-4 stars in different parts of the book.
Saw this for cheap (don't remember where I heard of it.. but it was probably on goodreads) on my wishlist so figured "eh, why not?" and snatched it up 👍🏼.
This one did keep my interest.. some placed it dragged some but it didn't affect my reading experience.
Reading some of the dynamics and whatnot, yeesh! I wanted to : smack people and put them in time out, get them to a therapist, tell Jerry Springer he would have new guests coming.
I definitely would have had very high anxiety if any of the earlier monarchs were my family (or if I was one in a previous life.. hope not).
So many health issues as well...not surprising but still... one bloodline I wondered if they were just cursed
Once again, I say teach this stuff in history classes in high school. Definitely would get their attention.
Would recommend 👌 My advice, take your time with this one and let it simmer in your brain, do some research as you go.
History nerd in me is happy 😊 .
3.5 stars-4 stars in different parts of the book.
Saw this for cheap (don't remember where I heard of it.. but it was probably on goodreads) on my wishlist so figured "eh, why not?" and snatched it up 👍🏼.
This one did keep my interest.. some placed it dragged some but it didn't affect my reading experience.
Reading some of the dynamics and whatnot, yeesh! I wanted to : smack people and put them in time out, get them to a therapist, tell Jerry Springer he would have new guests coming.
I definitely would have had very high anxiety if any of the earlier monarchs were my family (or if I was one in a previous life.. hope not).
So many health issues as well...not surprising but still... one bloodline I wondered if they were just cursed
Once again, I say teach this stuff in history classes in high school. Definitely would get their attention.
Would recommend 👌 My advice, take your time with this one and let it simmer in your brain, do some research as you go.
History nerd in me is happy 😊 .
May 4, 2024
Suzie Edge is, like myself, a doctor obsessed with history and death mechanisms. This book is so well written! - both suitable for people who aren't health experts but interesting enough in manner that isn't too simplistic for doctors to learn. From cancer, gout, arrows in the eye and the ocasional regicide, many manners of death are discussed, always with an introduction of the monarch itself beforehand.
I highly recommend this fun book if you enjoy British history, medical history and curiosities.
Shall we dig another coffin? 🙈
I highly recommend this fun book if you enjoy British history, medical history and curiosities.
Shall we dig another coffin? 🙈
June 21, 2023
Royal reads project
I really enjoyed this book. I did audio format.
As an American I should prob be embarrassed that I cannot recite much of a chain of presidential names at any time in history, but I can recall all of the British monarchs in order starting with William the Norman ( I have a problem with calling someone who has not pissed me off a bastard, and he wasn’t born a conqueror). Yes I need to move across the ocean, but that takes money, and I’m currently spending all of my on stitch fix don’t judge.
Anyway I digress. I’ve never really consciously thought about their deaths as a group. Yes of course you read enough nonfiction that’s obviously covered, but I found it so informative reading a book that actually focused on each demise with symptoms, possible contractions, the various autopsies, how health problems may have truly affected births of heirs (cough, Henry VIII cough) I could go on. And even though it covers centuries it’s not at all dull or drawn out. For those of you who are British monarchy fans and lovers (so he ginger whingies this is not for you), I recommend this for sure.
I really enjoyed this book. I did audio format.
As an American I should prob be embarrassed that I cannot recite much of a chain of presidential names at any time in history, but I can recall all of the British monarchs in order starting with William the Norman ( I have a problem with calling someone who has not pissed me off a bastard, and he wasn’t born a conqueror). Yes I need to move across the ocean, but that takes money, and I’m currently spending all of my on stitch fix don’t judge.
Anyway I digress. I’ve never really consciously thought about their deaths as a group. Yes of course you read enough nonfiction that’s obviously covered, but I found it so informative reading a book that actually focused on each demise with symptoms, possible contractions, the various autopsies, how health problems may have truly affected births of heirs (cough, Henry VIII cough) I could go on. And even though it covers centuries it’s not at all dull or drawn out. For those of you who are British monarchy fans and lovers (so he ginger whingies this is not for you), I recommend this for sure.
October 12, 2023
Ok, well this is historical non-fiction as I've never read it before. Mind you, it's 1000 years of British monarchs and the way they died. Including all the gore and dirt. heads rolling, intestines leaking, hearts, brains, lungs and more malfunctioning. In explicit detail, with satire and humor, Dr. Suzie Edge has written it all down. I see this as a perfect book that you just pick up to read another death in between other things. between books, between laundry and bed, between morning and afternoon during your daily lunch break at work. Mind you, your co-workers might find you slightly odd for enjoying such a read, but I've experienced it's also a perfect topic of conversation.
Anyway, this might sound morbid, but it's my kind of guilty pleasure to read about these things and the way this book was written couldn't have been more perfect. 5 full stars. One of my faves of the year.
Anyway, this might sound morbid, but it's my kind of guilty pleasure to read about these things and the way this book was written couldn't have been more perfect. 5 full stars. One of my faves of the year.
October 3, 2023
Easy going read going through English monarchs deaths from Harold to Elizabeth II
February 24, 2023
Review haiku:
An entertaining
But very lightweight hist’ry.
I wanted more heft.
An entertaining
But very lightweight hist’ry.
I wanted more heft.
January 6, 2024
Mortal Monarchs: 1000 years of royal deaths by Dr. Suzie Edge is refreshing and easy to read. Dr. Edge is a molecular cell biologist who has worked in clinical medicine in a variety of medical specialties. She adds a wonderful bit of humor into the nonfiction biography she has written, along with a healthy dose of medicine. I highly recommend it to you if you enjoy science and history.
January 27, 2024
History! Drama! Plots! Medical Mysteries! What's not to love? This book was right up my alley, and I kept wanting to read on to find out how the next king died. The only downside I can mention is that reading this book went slowly because I kept having to go over to Wikipedia to look up more historical information. Thanks to this book I have now acquired the completely useless skill of being able to name all English monarchs from Edward the Confessor up 'til now in chronological order. That might come in handy as a party trick one day ...
By the way, I couldn't properly update my reading progress because Goodreads claims this book has only 256 pages whereas my copy clearly had 312 pages ...
By the way, I couldn't properly update my reading progress because Goodreads claims this book has only 256 pages whereas my copy clearly had 312 pages ...
May 6, 2023
interesting read for those interested in history with a (big) bit of macabre and death
November 25, 2022
Don’t listen to this while you are eating - the details can get quite graphic. That aside, great fun. Suzie Edge, who excellently reads her own book, takes each king from William I through George VI and explains in detail how they died - with some extras like Henry VIII’s wives thrown in. Generally, biographies don’t go into medicinal detail about the subject’s demise, so this was quite interesting. Edge takes on some myths of kingly deaths as well. Interestedly Richard III, found under a carpark, is the king we know the most about, because modern science was able to look carefully at his remains.
May 3, 2023
This book was interesting at times, and did commit the cardinal historical sin of speculating on specific medical causes of death, but was enjoyable overall.
The format did become a little repetitive, but the added context of the reigns and the discussion of the link between the story of the monarchs’ deaths and their reigns, such as the likely link between Edward II’s possible homosexuality and his death by hot poker, made for some interesting moments.
The format did become a little repetitive, but the added context of the reigns and the discussion of the link between the story of the monarchs’ deaths and their reigns, such as the likely link between Edward II’s possible homosexuality and his death by hot poker, made for some interesting moments.
June 5, 2024
Overall: 2.75 stars
Eh, this was fine. It's a quick, breezy read that takes a cheeky stance with history, but I sometimes felt like the author was trying a little too hard to be funny and "modern" (I don't think anyone needs comparisons to viral tweets to understand how an in-person rumor mill might work, even in the medieval period). I also thought the author was sometimes being deliberately gross just for "cool" points. Okay, we get it: bodies make corpse juices. Repeating this fact over and over again in gory detail isn't, in my opinion, treating the fact of bodies with frankness and honesty. It's just being a little juvenile. YMMV.
What I did enjoy was the author's point (obvious, if you think about it, but still interesting) that the deaths of monarchs reflect the common deaths of their time periods and the risks of those time periods (medieval beheadings and dysentery morphing into modern strokes and heart attacks). There's also some interesting little tidbits here, and if you enjoy both the British monarchy and morbid history, you'll probably have some fun here. Just don't expect anything revolutionary.
Eh, this was fine. It's a quick, breezy read that takes a cheeky stance with history, but I sometimes felt like the author was trying a little too hard to be funny and "modern" (I don't think anyone needs comparisons to viral tweets to understand how an in-person rumor mill might work, even in the medieval period). I also thought the author was sometimes being deliberately gross just for "cool" points. Okay, we get it: bodies make corpse juices. Repeating this fact over and over again in gory detail isn't, in my opinion, treating the fact of bodies with frankness and honesty. It's just being a little juvenile. YMMV.
What I did enjoy was the author's point (obvious, if you think about it, but still interesting) that the deaths of monarchs reflect the common deaths of their time periods and the risks of those time periods (medieval beheadings and dysentery morphing into modern strokes and heart attacks). There's also some interesting little tidbits here, and if you enjoy both the British monarchy and morbid history, you'll probably have some fun here. Just don't expect anything revolutionary.
March 5, 2024
Suzie is one of my fave follows on TikTok, and listening to her voice for the whole audiobook was great!
I’m glad I also bought the ebook to refer back to though; it’s a great resource.
If you have a teenager who needs to learn some British history, this is a delightfully entertaining way to learn about the monarchy! Definitely recommended.
I’m glad I also bought the ebook to refer back to though; it’s a great resource.
If you have a teenager who needs to learn some British history, this is a delightfully entertaining way to learn about the monarchy! Definitely recommended.
August 12, 2024
3.5 stars! objectively a very good, well written, easy to read book
subjectively, it was more medical than i thought (my fault for not reading more about it LOL), and as the least STEM person ever, this made it a bit more difficult for me to dive into
still very interesting overall with good pacing
subjectively, it was more medical than i thought (my fault for not reading more about it LOL), and as the least STEM person ever, this made it a bit more difficult for me to dive into
still very interesting overall with good pacing
January 26, 2023
I enjoyed the audiobook quite a bit.
May 19, 2024
Many men died of dysentery. Overwhelmingly so.
April 20, 2024
I'll admit I do not know as much about the history of British monarchs as some people. I certainly know how they died, after reading this. I wish there had been a chart in my edition, because after the many, many Edward/Mary/Henry/Elizabeth/George entries, you kind of lose track of who you're reading about. (Would it kill them to pick a different name?) I will say after reading this, you kind of get an idea of why the current Windsor/Mountbatten family is bat-shit crazy.
Disclaimer: if you have a weak stomach I recommend not reading this or at the very least, not reading it during dinnertime. The author is very fond of words like leaking, dripping, etc.
Disclaimer: if you have a weak stomach I recommend not reading this or at the very least, not reading it during dinnertime. The author is very fond of words like leaking, dripping, etc.
June 8, 2023
Oh thank goodness, I've finally finished this; a testament to my stubbornness overruling my good sense. Of course, I'd have finished it far sooner if I hadn't put it aside in exasperation of the sheer number of errors in the history, not to mention some slightly dodgy genetics. Honestly, who was this written for? You'd have to know your history in order to catch the errors, so I can only conclude it's written for those who don't care. The English is clunky, the humour is worse and seriously, the prurience in some of the entries, even after the author herself says that recorded causes of death often spoke to the monarch's life and reign, was childish. Specifically, Edward II's death by hot poker has long since been discredited and frankly, if his biographer takes some of her valuable time to leave a review essentially condemning the schoolgirl humour, then you should probably have a good hard look at yourself. But no, let's simply continue because it's, what, titillating? Ugh.
This is a book for which a good throwing from a fast moving vehicle is far too good a fate. Do yourself a favour and read a decent history. Or even a cereal box.
This is a book for which a good throwing from a fast moving vehicle is far too good a fate. Do yourself a favour and read a decent history. Or even a cereal box.
June 9, 2023
When you buy a book because you like the author's TikToks, you should expect a lack of proofreading. Aside from that, I found this medical look at history truly fascinating.
January 22, 2023
Riveting combination of history and science - just don't eat while reading (you've been warned).
This was absolutely fascinating stuff. Sequential look at every monarch (and occasional spouses/family members when appropriate) we've had in England since 1066 and a VERY graphic description of their (likely) death.
So it's a biology fan's dream - a description of just what that arrow really would have done to our Conqueror. Or what happens when a body becomes bloated with feasting bacteria. What syphilis, strokes, heart attacks, pokers applied to the body - what they'd do system by system to cause death.
So it's very educational. And I loved the fact we get the context, of the reign in question in each case. I actually wanted MORE detail of their ruling years in many cases, but this information is available elsewhere of course. The point of the book is to look at how each died.
And interestingly, I took from this the point that the reported death of each is what the chroniclers WANTED us to think about both the deaths and the lives of the people who ruled us. Those who weren't liked were, coincidentally, historically remembered for grisly or morally 'just' deaths:
"how the King died is always about more that what really killed him."
This is witty, with a lot of in-jokes and references, chock full of accurate and engrossing medical detail, and reminds us that we are all mortal, whoever we are, and that our kings and queens exemplify the population in the range and indignity of their demises. What matters is what came before, a good lesson for us all.
I have already shown my copy to plenty of friends, and it's one I'll want to read again and er, re-digest.
This was absolutely fascinating stuff. Sequential look at every monarch (and occasional spouses/family members when appropriate) we've had in England since 1066 and a VERY graphic description of their (likely) death.
So it's a biology fan's dream - a description of just what that arrow really would have done to our Conqueror. Or what happens when a body becomes bloated with feasting bacteria. What syphilis, strokes, heart attacks, pokers applied to the body - what they'd do system by system to cause death.
So it's very educational. And I loved the fact we get the context, of the reign in question in each case. I actually wanted MORE detail of their ruling years in many cases, but this information is available elsewhere of course. The point of the book is to look at how each died.
And interestingly, I took from this the point that the reported death of each is what the chroniclers WANTED us to think about both the deaths and the lives of the people who ruled us. Those who weren't liked were, coincidentally, historically remembered for grisly or morally 'just' deaths:
"how the King died is always about more that what really killed him."
This is witty, with a lot of in-jokes and references, chock full of accurate and engrossing medical detail, and reminds us that we are all mortal, whoever we are, and that our kings and queens exemplify the population in the range and indignity of their demises. What matters is what came before, a good lesson for us all.
I have already shown my copy to plenty of friends, and it's one I'll want to read again and er, re-digest.
September 3, 2024
I enjoyed this as an audio book, which was great aside from the narrator pronouncing certain words so oddly that I had to take notes (and no - I don't think it's just British pronunciation to say "cervical" as "sir-VIKE-ell").
This book reminded me of Mary Roach's book about cadavers -- it was dryly funny and very scientific. The author is a medical doctor and as she dives into the historical and cultural representations of a monarch's death, poses questions about what might have actually happened, and how that person would have experienced the possible wave(s) of symptoms related to their condition.
It's a fascinating and opinionated history - well worth the time.
This book reminded me of Mary Roach's book about cadavers -- it was dryly funny and very scientific. The author is a medical doctor and as she dives into the historical and cultural representations of a monarch's death, poses questions about what might have actually happened, and how that person would have experienced the possible wave(s) of symptoms related to their condition.
It's a fascinating and opinionated history - well worth the time.
January 5, 2023
A surprisingly fun little journey into the gruesome causes of death of the kings and queens of England since the 900s. God almighty, the juicy juices and the king stews a-brewing’! So many ways to die. Makes you glad to be alive now so we can linger on for ages sans bloodletting and bloodcurdling pain.
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June 17, 2023Absolutely fabulous read. With a witty and educational approach, Dr. Suzie Edge walks the reader through the life and death of each British monarch from William the Conqueror to King George VI (this was published just before Elizabeth's passing).
If you like history and the medical macabre this book is for you. The audiobooks is especially great because it is read by the author.
If you like history and the medical macabre this book is for you. The audiobooks is especially great because it is read by the author.
June 14, 2024
A fun read. Very light hearted in the way it was written and yet packed with facts (well, as much as things can be facts when they happened a thousand years ago and Shakespeare has got lots of coverage in the way he has decided things happened!) Lots of medical details (of the conditions that Edge postulated may have been the cause/mechanism of death). I have to say that I hadn't realised it was a relatively recent (in historical terms) development of primogeniture for first born sons.
September 20, 2023
I enjoyed the book. Suzie Edge cleverly wrote about the demise of monarchs, explaining theories and going into the cringe-worthiness of it all. Her touch of humor was spot on to cleanse the eyes of the whole “holy cow!” I’m looking forward to Vital Organs.
January 7, 2024
⭐️3.5
The mixture of history, story-telling and wit made this book enjoyable for me as a history and book lover.
Educational; with each monarchs story being told in depth but with not too much medical jargon. An interesting read.
The mixture of history, story-telling and wit made this book enjoyable for me as a history and book lover.
Educational; with each monarchs story being told in depth but with not too much medical jargon. An interesting read.
August 23, 2024
I really enjoyed this book! I thought it was a fascinating way to tell the story of royalty thru England and I really learned a lot. I really enjoy the author as the narrator her voice is nice and soothing to listen to! I found her thru TikTok and I’m glad I gave her book a chance. One of the more enjoyable books of my year so far.
December 26, 2022
I really enjoyed this, found it informative and entertaining.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 234 reviews