Recently I've been in the process of de-cluttering my book
shelves of some of the hundreds of magazines I've bought over
the last few years. After keeping a few stacks of the more
useful ones I've been selling/donating the rest. And while I
have a good collection of books on monarchs I don't have any
by monarchs. But that doesn't mean they never wrote any.
The following is a not-at-all exhaustive list of English
monarchs who had a literary bent.
shelves of some of the hundreds of magazines I've bought over
the last few years. After keeping a few stacks of the more
useful ones I've been selling/donating the rest. And while I
have a good collection of books on monarchs I don't have any
by monarchs. But that doesn't mean they never wrote any.
The following is a not-at-all exhaustive list of English
monarchs who had a literary bent.
King Henry VIII
Defence of the Seven Sacraments (1521)
A Catholic polemic against the early
Protestant writers. Link
The Glass of Truth (1532)
This work was published anonymously
and argues the king's case for an
annulment of his first marriage. Link
Defence of the Seven Sacraments (1521)
A Catholic polemic against the early
Protestant writers. Link
The Glass of Truth (1532)
This work was published anonymously
and argues the king's case for an
annulment of his first marriage. Link
King James VI & I
Some Reulis and Cautelis to be observit
and eschewit in Scottis poesie (1584)
Published by the 19-year old King of
Scotland and deals with poetry in the
Scottish tradition.
Daemonologie (1597)
A Socratic Dialogue on the topics of black
magic, demons, and witch hunting. It is
possible this work had an influence on
Shakespeare's play Macbeth. Link
The True Law of Free Monarchies (1598)
This work explains the king's views on absolute monarchy and
is thought to be a rebuttal to social contract ideas circulating
at the time.
Basilikon Doron (1599)
This book deals with what needs to be done to be a good king
and is written as a private letter to his son and heir. As such
this work it is part of the mirrors for princes literary
genre. Originally only seven copies were printed but a second
printing in 1607 sold in the thousands. Link
A Counterblaste to Tobacco (1604)
Perhaps one of the oldest anti-tobacco publications. The king
criticizes tobacco for being harmful to the lungs and hateful to
the nose. Link
Some Reulis and Cautelis to be observit
and eschewit in Scottis poesie (1584)
Published by the 19-year old King of
Scotland and deals with poetry in the
Scottish tradition.
Daemonologie (1597)
A Socratic Dialogue on the topics of black
magic, demons, and witch hunting. It is
possible this work had an influence on
Shakespeare's play Macbeth. Link
The True Law of Free Monarchies (1598)
This work explains the king's views on absolute monarchy and
is thought to be a rebuttal to social contract ideas circulating
at the time.
Basilikon Doron (1599)
This book deals with what needs to be done to be a good king
and is written as a private letter to his son and heir. As such
this work it is part of the mirrors for princes literary
genre. Originally only seven copies were printed but a second
printing in 1607 sold in the thousands. Link
A Counterblaste to Tobacco (1604)
Perhaps one of the oldest anti-tobacco publications. The king
criticizes tobacco for being harmful to the lungs and hateful to
the nose. Link
King Charles I
Eikon Basilike (1649)
Allegedly written by the king himself. It
was published ten days after his murder.
The book both justifies royalism and asks
for leniency the king's executioners. The
book would remain popular throughout the following years
much to the Protectorate's chagrin. So much so that a book
countering the arguments put forward Eikon Basilike was
commissioned. This effort failed and sympathy for the king
continued well into the Restoration period. If it indeed was
Charles I who wrote this work (and there is some dispute on
this point) it means that even in death he continued to
frustrate his enemies. Link
Eikon Basilike (1649)
Allegedly written by the king himself. It
was published ten days after his murder.
The book both justifies royalism and asks
for leniency the king's executioners. The
book would remain popular throughout the following years
much to the Protectorate's chagrin. So much so that a book
countering the arguments put forward Eikon Basilike was
commissioned. This effort failed and sympathy for the king
continued well into the Restoration period. If it indeed was
Charles I who wrote this work (and there is some dispute on
this point) it means that even in death he continued to
frustrate his enemies. Link
Queen Victoria
Leaves from the Journal of our Life in
the Highlands (1868)
Queen Victoria is estimated to have
written about 2000 words per day, or
sixty million words during her lifetime.
Mostly these were personal letters with
some collections being published during
her lifetime. Link
The Letters of Queen Victoria (1908)
A posthumous publication of her letters from 1837 to 1861.
Link
The Adventures of Alice Laselles (2015)
One of Victoria's earliest writings is also one of the last to be
published. This is a children's book written when Victoria was
still a young princess. Royal Central has an excellent article
on the background of this work.
Leaves from the Journal of our Life in
the Highlands (1868)
Queen Victoria is estimated to have
written about 2000 words per day, or
sixty million words during her lifetime.
Mostly these were personal letters with
some collections being published during
her lifetime. Link
The Letters of Queen Victoria (1908)
A posthumous publication of her letters from 1837 to 1861.
Link
The Adventures of Alice Laselles (2015)
One of Victoria's earliest writings is also one of the last to be
published. This is a children's book written when Victoria was
still a young princess. Royal Central has an excellent article
on the background of this work.
Prince Charles
The Old Man of Lochnagar (1980)
Prince Charles has continued the literary
tradition of his ancestors. His first book
is for children and contains elements of
Scottish folklore. He apparently
entertained his brothers with the story
when they were younger.
A Vision of Britain: A Personal View of Architecture (1989)
Prince Charles gives his opinions on the architecture of the
United Kingdom.
Harmony: A New Way of Looking at Our World (2010)
This work looks at how the problems associated with climate
change, architecture, and agriculture ultimately come back to
humanity's growing disconnect with nature. Link
There are of course many other monarchs who have taken the
time to put pen to paper. A short list of such works was put
together on Reddit a number of years back.
Loyally Yours,
A Kisaragi Colour
The Old Man of Lochnagar (1980)
Prince Charles has continued the literary
tradition of his ancestors. His first book
is for children and contains elements of
Scottish folklore. He apparently
entertained his brothers with the story
when they were younger.
A Vision of Britain: A Personal View of Architecture (1989)
Prince Charles gives his opinions on the architecture of the
United Kingdom.
Harmony: A New Way of Looking at Our World (2010)
This work looks at how the problems associated with climate
change, architecture, and agriculture ultimately come back to
humanity's growing disconnect with nature. Link
There are of course many other monarchs who have taken the
time to put pen to paper. A short list of such works was put
together on Reddit a number of years back.
Loyally Yours,
A Kisaragi Colour
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