*Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

This was a delightful and fascinating read. Russell manages to make Hampton Court itself seem like a historical figure, with so much to uncover and learn about. It is truly incredible to think about every monarch who has spent time there has left a mark there in history, whether it be a new bath, wonderful gardens or a gate. The stories throughout this book were engaging and fascinating, not the average things you hear about the royals who lived there.

I will be recommending this book to anyone interested in the royal palaces, monarchs of England, or history in general. It was a wonderful read!

The Palace, advertised as 500 years of British history at Hampton Court, is a treasure trove of stories not often found in the individual histories of individual monarchs. Author Gareth Russell writes about the people whose actions had influence not only on the monarchy but on this particular property. Anne Boleyn lived there; James I commissioned the Bible translation that bears his name there; A Romanov survivor of the Bolshevik revolution stayed there; rooms were added and others destroyed. As a lifelong student of British history I found the many tidbits of everyday living during a given period fascinating. This is a scholarly piece but immensely readable. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. Highly recommend.

Hampton Court is one of numerous palaces and castles with a history as rich and vibrant as the tapestries hanging inside once were. It would be great to have a series of these books on all the major palaces, but I'm sure most have been documented in one form or another throughout history.