Top Ten Tuesday is a regular feature on Pop! Goes The Reader in which I count down my top ten choices on a particular theme. This weekly event is hosted by Jamie at The Broke and the Bookish.
This week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic is: Top Ten Riveting Historical Biographies That Make History Fun.
I don’t often have the opportunity to discuss this here on Pop! Goes The Reader, but for those who don’t know, I’m a huge history buff. It was one of my two majors in university (The other being English.) (Of course.) and there was even a period in my life, when I was still in school, when I read nothing but non-fiction for approximately two years! You can therefore imagine how excited I was when I saw this week’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt – “Anything ‘Back To School’ Related” – because it finally gave me the opportunity to talk a little more about one of my favourite subjects both in (and out) of school! That said, as much as I love each and every one of the books on today’s list – and I do! – hindsight is 20/20 and I’m a little disappointed to see how limited the scope of my non-fiction historical reading was. The majority of my experience with this genre has focused largely on white women of privilege and I would really love to correct this in the future. Is there a diverse or inclusive non-fiction book you love? Be sure to leave a note in the comments as I am absolutely interested in recommendations in this area!
As always, these choices are listed in no particular order.
1) Marie-Thérèse, Child Of Terror: The Fate Of Marie Antoinette’s Daughter by Susan Nagel
2) Georgiana: Duchess Of Devonshire by Amanda Foreman
3) Marie Antoinette: The Journey by Antonia Fraser
4) Privilege and Scandal: The Remarkable Life Of Harriet Spencer, Sister Of Georgiana by Janet Gleeson
5) Queen Of Fashion: What Marie Antoinette Wore To The Revolution by Caroline Weber
6) We Two: Victoria and Albert: Rulers, Partners, Rivals by Gillian Gill
7) Dancing To The Precipice: Lucie Dillon, Marquise de la Tour du Pin and The French Revolution by Caroline Moorehead
8) England’s Mistress: The Infamous Life Of Emma Hamilton by Kate Williams
9) Sovereign Ladies: The Six Ruling Queens Of England by Maureen Waller
10) Lady Caroline Lamb: A Biography by Paul Douglass
Now it’s your turn! Are there are any historical biographies I didn’t include in today’s post that I absolutely have to read? Let me know in the comments – I would love to hear from you!
7 Responses
Oh this is amazing. I once chose to read the autobiographies of Mary Queen of Scots. She’s always called out to me. And I love Elizabeth the 1st like hardcore too. lol. I was never into non-fiction like I was/am into historical fiction. I’m intrigued by all the titles you put, though. Marie Therese, Child of Terror and Sovereign Ladies especially! 🙂
Jess @ Bird, Books, and Coffee recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday – School Freebie!
Biography* She never wrote an autobiography, let alone two. lol.
Jess @ Bird, Books, and Coffee recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday – School Freebie!
I love it when history is fun, so I should definitely check these books out. Great list!
Chrissi Reads recently posted…Top Ten Books I Hope To Read With My Class
The Antonia Fraser bio of Marie Antoinette is the first biography that I ever read, and it spoiled me for most other biographies. I LOVE IT. Definitely gonna have to check more of these out!
Ceillie @ CandidCeillie recently posted…Review:: Root, Petal, Thorn by Ella Joy Olsen
I haven’t read any of these, but they sound like great history companions!
Check out my TTT.
Lauren @ Always Me recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: YA Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books That Should Be Taught In High Schools
These look amazing! I read a biography of Catherine the Great that was absolutely STUNNING. Portrait of a Woman: Catherine the Great by Robert K. Massie was sooo well written. There’s a tumblr account called Rejected Princesses that does comic/illustrated versions of different women throughout time. It’s pretty cool!
Kaelyn Harris recently posted…Review: The Scorpio Races
What a terrific list and a joyful celebration of biography—thank you! I loved how you merged your love of history with the Top Ten Tuesday format and made it feel both scholarly and fun. Your enthusiasm (‘I was lucky to double‑major in history and English!’) made the post immediately relatable. The selection itself is brilliant: from Marie‑Thérèse, Child of Terror to Lady Caroline Lamb, you’ve chosen vivid lives that aren’t just ‘important’ but alive, full of drama, collision and consequence. For example, #4 Privilege and Scandal: The Remarkable Life of Harriet Spencer, Sister of Georgiana spotlights a lesser‑known figure in a fascinating era.