Using new research, Tracy Borman's Succession tells the dramatic story of the end of the Tudor dynasty and the rise (and fall) of the Stuarts...

'A powerful tale . . . compelling and brilliant' - ALISON WEIR

In March 1603, Queen Elizabeth I, the last Tudor monarch, lies dying at Richmond Palace. The queen's ministers cluster round her bedside, urging her to name her successor - something she has stubbornly resisted throughout her reign. Almost with her last breath she whispers that James VI of Scotland should succeed her. She dies shortly afterwards and the throne of England passes peacefully from Tudor to Stuart.

Or so we've been led to believe . . .

But, as enthralling new research shows, this is not what happened. In the years that followed, history was literally re-written on the orders of James VI to hide the truth: Elizabeth went to her grave without formally naming an heir. The notion of an approved succession from Tudors to Stuarts is little more than an elaborately constructed fiction.

And so James's rule in England began with a lie - a lie that went on to have devastating consequences. The Stuart regime rapidly descended into turbulence and uncertainty, conspiracy and persecution, witchcraft and gunpowder - culminating in the destruction of the monarchy in the English Civil War.

With a combination of rigorous research and brilliant story-telling, Tracy Borman's revealing new book shows that truth and monarchy have always been strange bedfellows . . .

Details

ISBN13: 9781399732895
Format: Paperback / softback
Number of Pages: 448
Edition:
Publication Date: 09 Sep 2025
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Publication City, Country: United Kingdom
Dimensions (cm): 23.2(H)x15.2(L)x3.6(W)580
Weight (gm): 580

Author Biography

Tracy Borman OBE is Chief Historian at Historic Royal Palaces and Chief Executive of the Heritage Education Trust. She studied and taught history at the University of Hull.

Tracy is the author of a number of highly acclaimed books including Crown & Sceptre, Henry VIII and the Men Who Made Him, The Private Lives of the Tudors: Uncovering the Secrets of Britain's Greatest Dynasty, Thomas Cromwell: The Untold Story of Henry VIII's Most Faithful Servant, Matilda: Wife of the Conqueror, First Queen of England, Elizabeth's Women: The Hidden Story of the Virgin Queen and Witches: A Tale of Sorcery, Scandal and Seduction. Tracy is also a regular broadcaster and public speaker, giving talks on her books across the UK and abroad.

Follow Tracy on Twitter @TracyBorman

Reviews

You think you know about the Tudor succession? Think again, because this riveting book reveals the facts behind one of history's best-kept and most astonishing secrets. Tracy Borman has written a powerful tale based on new research, one that will overturn our understanding of the dawn of the Stuart age for good. Compelling and brilliant - don't miss it! -- Alison Weir
So propulsive and moreish and full of dazzling and exciting intel. -- Sally Wainwright
The transition between the Tudor and Stuart dynasties has always appeared to be one of history's done deals, a narrative we've long accepted without question - until now. Tracy Borman's groundbreaking The Stolen Crown obliterates everything we thought we knew about the demise of Gloriana and the dawning of the Stuart era, revealing an astonishingly different story. Powerfully and engagingly written, Tracy Borman takes her readers behind palace doors to uncover the secret history of the Tudor succession. Full of twists, turns, intrigue and deceit, The Stolen Crown has it all in abundance. A superbly crafted narrative that will leave readers on the edge of their seats, this is Borman at her absolute finest - groundbreaking and utterly compelling. -- Nicola Tallis
Part political thriller, pure detailed historical scholarship, this brilliant book explores the transition of power in 1603, bringing to life James I - and a host of beck room characters fighting over the ultimate power - the throne. A thrilling achievement. -- Kate Williams
The twilight of the Tudors reads here like a political thriller. . . This is both a great read and great history. -- Gareth Russell
Wonderful . . . reading like a political thriller, no one will ever look at the accession of James I in the same way again. -- Elizabeth Norton
Astonishingly fresh and revealing. Borman paints a vivid picture of the years that kickstarted Britain's transition from a medieval to a modern monarchy. In the process she explodes one of the favourite fables we as a nation like to tell ourselves - that of an inevitable, unquestioned line of succession to the throne. -- Sarah Gristwood
'The Stolen Crown is a history lover's dream. With enviable style and command, Borman brings the fractious end of the Tudor dynasty vividly to life, and reminds us that the past is by no means dead and buried but a glorious, messy thing that will always demand our attention.' -- Anthony Delaney
Pacy . . . Borman tells the story with panache and urgency. -- Alice Hunt * The Times *
In this groundbreaking new look at the end of the Tudor Dynasty, Tracy Borman has once again combined her impeccable research and writing to create a compelling and evocative masterpiece. -- James Peacock, The Anne Boleyn Society
This thrilling new study is a historical grenade. With the pacing of a political thriller and the precision of a scalpel, Borman reshapes the well-worn story of the Tudor-Stuart handover into something electric, urgent, and utterly compelling ... Borman doesn't just write history; she animates it. -- Dr Owen Emerson