2010 Release: Aristocrats: Power, Grace, and Decadence: Britain’s Great Ruling Classes from 1066 to the Present

Aristocrats: Power, Grace, and Decadence: Britain’s Great Ruling Classes from 1066 to the Present

by Lawrence James

Release Date:  July 6, 2010

SYNOPSIS: By the author of the acclaimed The Rise and Fall of the British Empire and The Raj comes a sweeping, first-of-its-kind history of the British aristocracy, from the Norman Conquest to the present.

For nine hundred years the British aristocracy has considered itself ideally qualified to rule others, make laws,and guide the fortunes of the nation. Tracing the history of this remarkable supremacy, Aristocrats is a story of wars, intrigue, chicanery, and extremes of both selflessness and greed. Lawrence James also illuminates how the aristocracy’s infatuation with classical art has forged English heritage, how its love of sport has shaped our pastimes and values, and how its scandals have entertained the public. Impeccably researched, balanced and brilliantly entertaining, Aristocrats is an enthralling history of power, influence and an extraordinary knack for survival.