Product Description
Royal Gatherings (Who is in the Picture? Volume 1: 1859-1914). Co-authored by Ilana D. Miller and Arturo E. Beéche. CA: Eurohistory & Kensington House, 2012. 172 pages. Hardcover, pictorial boards. Signed by both authors under their respective names on the title page. More than 250 photos, as well as an extensive family tree which includes most of the royalties discussed in the book. A fascinating glimpse of the 'Royal mob', as Queen Victoria named it. 1 copy only, covers near fine, text fine.
The authors have critically analyzed 38 rarely pubished high quality group photos that were taken at royal gatherings, ranging from the overthrow of King Francesco II of the Two Sicilies in 1859 to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Este in 1914. Each photo is given its own chapter, and in each chapter, the authors have provided short biographies of the royal personages included in the photos, providing not only insightful information, but also a unique selection of vignettes on most of the royals covered in the book. Besides the stories of each of the royalties present, the authors have also included many individual photos to accompany the text. Though some of the text could have benefited from a good copy editor, it has been crafted by authors who have a genuine interest and familiarity with the topic. The cover illustration alone contains a dozen crowned heads (present and future) including such infrequently depicted monarchs as King Alphonso XII of Spain (1874-1885), King Milan I of Serbia (1882-1889), King Albert I of Saxony (1873-1902) and several important reigning Grand Dukes.