For years, I have enjoyed the books of Frank Sanello, a respected author and journalist who has written in-depth biographies of such varied personalities as Eddie Murphy, Sharon Stone, Steven Spielberg, and Jimmy Stewart. But Sanello is more than just a celebrity biographer. He is a writer with a deep appreciation of history as evidenced in his fascinating new book To Kill a King: A History of Royal Murders and Assassinations from Ancient Egypt to the Present (Genesee Avenue Books).
Sanello grabs your interest right away in his introduction by cluing us in on some little known attempts on the lives of England’s present royal family. He makes us wonder if the longstanding perception of the royals being stiff and unapproachable possibly lends itself to their constant fear of being a target for an assassin’s bullet. One remarkable story tells how security was so lax that in 1981 a deranged young man made his way into Queen Elizabeth’s bedroom and actually had a conversation with her as she maintained her composure while waiting for help to come.
Sanello begins by taking us to ancient Egypt and detailing the numerous “god-kings” whose deaths were suspect. King Tut is the most well-known of these rulers, taking the throne at age nine and dying at seventeen of what was originally thought to be tuberculosis, although Sanello brings up some theories that suggest his death may have resulted from foul play.
China, the Byzantium Empire, the Ottomans, and the royals of Europe are among the other settings Sanello examines as he ties together the themes of power, corruption, and murder, all of which are still relevant today.
It turns out there was a lot more to Marie Antoinette than that whole bit about eating cake. Her doomed final days saw her put on trial following the execution of her husband, King Louis XVI, and being accused of committing incest with her young son and plotting to massacre members of the French National Convention. She was found guilty and beheaded in the fall of 1793.
This is a big book sprawling with enough interesting facts and details to make for hours of programming on the History Channel. Sanello clearly did not slap this together – his research and dedication to the subject matter are evident throughout. Like a good teacher, Sanello proves the best lessons are taught in an entertaining, even humorous way – how can you not love a serious book that is still lighthearted enough to cite Mel Brooks’ portrayal of King Louis XVI in History of the World Part I?
Whether you are a fan of the royals, a history buff or someone who appreciates absorbing non-fiction, To Kill a King is a must-read.
Pingback: The International System of Units: Its History and Use in Science and Industry | Superintendent Work