court and courtiers

A tenth-century courtier recounts her experiences serving in the palace of Empress Teishi, describing the ceremonies and celebrations of court and the manners and foibles of the aristocracy.

Chronicles the life of Madame de Pompadour, the eighteenth-century woman of questionable background whose charm and ambition earned her a place of favor and power among the court at Versailles, serving King Louis XV for nearly twenty years in several capacities.

Chief Intelligencer John Shakespeare, the bard's younger brother, is summoned out of retirement back to the dangerous intrigues of the palace when a plot against the aging Queen Elizabeth I causes her to be targeted by two of England's most powerful men.

Recounts the experiences of the English governess, Anna Leonowens, at the Siamese court in the 1860s.

Describes the building of the extravagant palace at Versailles in its historical context, particularly as a reflection of the personality and influence of Louis XIV.

Explores sixteenth-century courtier and navigator Sir Walter Raleigh's life and the founding of the Virginia Colony, discussing related topics including Virginia's Native Americans, the legend of El Dorado, and the life of a privateer, and includes a recipe for corn patties.

Biography of the African princess saved from execution and taken to England where Queen Victoria oversaw her upbringing and where she lived for a time before marrying an African missionary.

Photographs, illustrations, paintings, and text help describe what life was like for the samurai and shoguns of Japan from A.D. 1000 to A.D. 1700.