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  • Mortal Monarchs

  • 1,000 Years of Royal Deaths
  • By: Suzie Edge
  • Narrated by: Suzie Edge
  • Length: 7 hrs and 47 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (287 ratings)

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Mortal Monarchs

By: Suzie Edge
Narrated by: Suzie Edge
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Summary

A humorous deep-dive into the varied—and oft-gruesome—deaths of the king and queens of England and Scotland.

How the monarchs of England and Scotland met their deaths has been a wonderful mixture of violence, infections, overindulgence and occasional regicide. In Mortal Monarchs, medical historian Dr Suzie Edge examines 1,000 years of royal deaths to uncover the plots, accusations, rivalries and ever-present threat of poison that the kings and queens of old faced.

From the "bloody" fascinating story behind Oliver Cromwell's demise and the subsequent treatment of his corpse and whether the arrow William II caught in the chest was an accident or murder, to Henry IV's remarkable skin condition and the red-hot poker up Edward II's rear end, Mortal Monarchs captivates, grosses-out and informs.

In school, many of us learned the dates they died and who followed them, but sadly never heard the varied—and oft-gruesome—way our monarchs met their maker. Featuring original medical research, this history forms a rich record not just of how these people died, but how we thought about and treated the human body, in life and in death.

©2022 Suzie Edge (P)2022 Headline Publishing Group Ltd
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What listeners say about Mortal Monarchs

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A very good listen.

An interesting topic, very well researched with a touch of humour. Would recommend to anyone interested in our Monarchy.

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Very horrible histories

Very gory and yucky in places, but wonderfully read in an often tongue in cheek and dry manner. Interesting snippets of the ailments along with fascinating details of the aftermath of each monarch.

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Amazing as expected!

I have followed Suzie all the way through on TikTok and was eagerly awaiting this. It didn’t disappoint- bought print copy and audiobook. Can’t wait for the next - no pressure 🙏

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Entertaining and educational

Great book - great listen, one i would go back to. i have to keep typing due to 15 word minimum

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Everything I hoped it would be

Informative, funny, gory and just very interesting to listen to. I'd highly recommend this book and the author.

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Wonderful

What a fabulous trip through the ages. A brilliant insight into things I never knew about our royal history.

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Mortal monarchs

Suzie is amazing, her voice is calming but interesting, the knowledge is she has makes me happy

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Informative and Interesting

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to an informed perspective of the past Monarch's deaths. I love history and this was a new way of finding out the mainly gruesome ways they died. I would highly recommend it.

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Fascinating!

Suzie Edge's "Mortal Monarchs" examines and contextualises the death of every single English king (and some queens) since 1066 and explains everything a royal death entailed in different historical periods. Fascinating and very entertaining!

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Very insightful

A well read book that gives a different insight English the past. I definitely recommend.

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