Royal Affairs: A Lusty Romp Through the Extramarital Adventures That Rocked the British Monarchy

Over ten centuries of British royal history, infidelity was less a scandal than a recurring institution. Leslie Carroll surveys the extramarital entanglements of monarchs from the medieval Plantagenets through the late twentieth century, tracing how lust, loneliness, and loveless political marriages sent kings and queens alike into the arms of favorites, courtiers, and rivals. The result is popular history at its most irreverent, treating bedroom intrigue not as tabloid fodder but as a genuine force that shaped dynasties, sparked conflicts, and occasionally toppled rulers.

Carroll narrates her own work, and the fit is seamless. Her wit translates naturally into spoken delivery, giving the material a conversational intimacy that suits the subject perfectly. The pacing is brisk without feeling rushed, and she handles the shift between comic anecdote and genuine historical consequence with ease. At just over nineteen hours, the runtime covers enormous ground, yet the tone stays consistent throughout. Listeners who enjoy history delivered with personality rather than academic remove will find this a thoroughly entertaining companion.