For lovers of English history and the British monarchy, in particular, this will be a very interesting read. The author, Peter Dewar Beauclerk is a descendant of King Charles II and his mistress Nell Gwyn so has a personal interest in the topic.
The book is divided into four sections, Tudor, Stuart, Hanoverian and Royal Loose Ends. You will learn about the acknowledged bastards as well as those who were not acknowledged. While some of the names may be familiar, the depth of the stories and what became of these royal children makes for a fascinating story.
Not all of these bastards are the results of the king straying, sometimes it is other members of the royal family.
The Loose Ends is of particular interest as it begins with the Tudors but comes forward into the twentieth century.
I personally enjoyed reading this book, it is well written and while packed with history, names and dates, is not dry or hard to read. Beauclerk-Dewar makes the connection as well between the royal bastards and the families that have resulted up to the current day. It is interesting to note how many aristocrats owe the start of their family to a royal affair with a less than royal woman.
The book also includes lots of photos in case you need to try to put a face to the many characters who appear within these pages.
