Reviews of Raising Royalty: 1000 Years of Royal Parenting
“When we saw Prince William gamely attempt to buckle baby Prince George into his car seat outside St. Mary’s hospital, public fascination with royal parenting peaked and, thanks to the arrival of George’s sister Charlotte, shows no sign of diminishing. Raising Royalty is well placed to satiate this interest. Using today’s royals as a jumping off point, Canadian historian Carolyn turns back the clock and deftly guides us through 10 centuries of royal child-rearing (a highlight is Queen Victoria and her “deeply ambivalent” approach toward her nine children). Informative, amusing and royally riveting.” — Alison Eastwood, HELLO! Canada
Click here to see the review in HELLO! Canada Magazine
“What makes Harris’s work so fascinating is how the ever-evolving beliefs, morals and cultures of each family affected the way in which they raised their children. Harris shows how each family is connected, and how the ideals of parenthood have evolved through time, often breaking the rules and shunning the advice of those who ruled before them, creating much scandal.
The book is a fascinating source of well researched information and a great addition to the shelves of royalists and historians alike. Trying to cram 1,000 years worth of knowledge into one book is no mean feat, and Harris does it with flair, making the information easily digested.”
Click here to read the full review in History of Royals Magazine
“I was pleasantly surprised by this book and the inclusion of some more unusual choices, such as Peter the Great and Catherine I of Russia, Queen Anne of Great Britain and Prince George of Denmark and Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard. The difficulty of raising children in such an unusual role in life is quite an interesting subject, and Carolyn Harris has even managed to built bridges between the different people to make it a flowing story. I would highly recommend this book.” — The History of Royal Women blog
Reviews of Queenship and Revolution in Early Modern Europe: Henrietta Maria and Marie Antoinette
“In an eminently readable and accessible book, Harris, through the use of a variety of printed and manuscript sources, paints a detailed picture of two queens. Though separated by a century, they faced similar struggles and both lost much in those battles. Comparative work can be difficult, but Harrisâ work makes for a compelling and informative read. She shows the reader, through their comparison with one another, more about who each of these women were as living, breathing people, and she aptly demonstrates how the role of the consort subtly changed in the century from Henrietta Maria to Marie Antoinette.” — Courtney Herber, The Royal Studies Journal
âHarrisâ richly detailed comparative study of Henrietta Maria and Marie Antoinette offers fresh perspective on how both queens understood their roles as heads of households, wives, and mothers and how, in turn, those roles were interpreted by their husbandsâ subjects. Combining a rigorous review of the literature with new research and original analytical insights, Harris has crafted an eminently readable and engaging work that effectively illuminates the complex nature of early modern queenship and revolution.â âMichelle White, UC Foundation Professor of History, University of Tennessee â Chattanooga, USA, author of Henrietta Maria And the English Civil Wars
Reader reviews of Queenship and Revolution in Early Modern Europe: Henrietta Maria and Marie Antoinette are also available at Amazon.com and Goodreads
“Harris has largely succeeded in writing an accessible account of the long histories of Magna Carta and the Charter of the Forest and their place in the evolving understanding of democracy and rule of law in western Europe and North America. In the crowded high school curricula of Canadaâs provinces, todayâs students will likely receive no more than passing mention of Magna Carta in civics classes. There may be opportunities in courses exploring the histories of Britain, the United States and its revolt against British rule, France and the French Revolution and Canadian constitutional history to make use of the contents of this work. Keen students and general adult readers interested in history, politics, law, and the evolution of human rights will appreciate Harrisâs inclusion of complex details, explanation of contextual historical periods, and the influence of the Magna Carta beyond the borders of the UK….Secondary school and public libraries across Canada should add Magna Carta and Its Gifts to Canada to their collections. Librarians and booksellers will want to recommend this volume to history buffs and civics teachers alike.” Highly Recommended.” — Canadian Materials Magazine
“This book tells not just the story of the Great Charter but also its subsequent history worldwide; a new contribution which is unique, as it also focuses on its influence in Canada, its democracy, law and human rights…Dr Harris starts her informative and readable account with a look at early perceptions of democracy to put the story of Magna Carta and its subsequent history in historical context. The text is well illustrated with a variety of scenes, some well known in the Magna Carta story others â showing the Canada relevance. ” — Magna Carta 800th Anniversary Committee UK
“If your child is a history buff, he/she will enjoy this illustrated reference book about the Magna Carta and how it has contributed to Canadian democracy. The book explains the context in which the document was written, what inspired it, its impact, and its legacy. Despite the dense subject matter, the book is divided into interesting chapters and is written in accessible language that will transport readers to an era when democracy was just starting to come of age.” — Montreal Families Magazine
“Lavishly illustrated throughout, Dr. Harris gives a well-rounded history of the document and its creation and guiding principles. She explains the impact of the document right through to seeing it as a basis of the United Nationsâ Universal declaration of Human Rights. Of particular interest to students may be the importance of the Magna Carta in Canadaâs history through to the present day. As well, Dr. Harris looks at the impact of it on the American and French Revolution…Highly recommended for both school and public libraries.” — Resource Links magazine
“The Magna Carta [Canada] exhibit â which also features a copy of the similarly elderly and similarly influential Charter of the Forest â includes a good primer on the charters, the circumstances under which they were drafted, and their unlikely influence on the modern world. For the full experience, however, I recommend delaying your trip by a couple of days, and first spending some time with Harrisâs thorough and thoroughly enjoyable book.” — Michael Hingston, The Edmonton Journal
“Magna Carta and Its Gifts to Canada contains many facts and stories within a small number of pages. Throughout the book, printed with a gloss finish, are pictures and artwork surrounding the places and historical events relevant to Magna Carta. These aid in bringing life and colour to many of these great historical moments. This book provides an easy read and brief introduction for those who are interested in the main historical developments relating to Magna Carta over the last eight hundred years.” —Â Saskatchewan Law Review 2016 Vol. 79, p. 330
Reader Reviews of Magna Carta and Its Gifts to Canada: Democracy, Law, and Human Rights are also available at Amazon.ca, Chapters/Indigo and Goodreads
Reviews of “Royalty at Rideau Hall: Lord Lorne, Princess Louise and the Emergence of the Canadian Crown” in Canada and the Crown: Essays in Constitutional Monarchy, edited by D. Michael Jackson and Philippe LagassĂ©
“Carolyn Harris…presents an interesting assessment of the Marquis of Lorne as the fourth Governor General. In many ways, his mandate from 1878 to1883, which was enhanced in its first years by the participation of his wife, the Princess Louise, created the template followed by many of his successors. What was striking about his tenure was the democratic, relatively egalitarian understanding that both he and his wife demonstrated while in Canada. During this time, the Crown enjoyed an immensely positive public profile.” — Canadian Parliamentary Review
“In all, Tudor and Stuart Consorts is a handsomely produced study of the careers of fifteen consorts between 1485 and 1714 and deserves attention from scholars seeking fresh perspectives of these individuals based on solid research.” – Conor Byrne, The Royal Studies Journal
âOne of Palgrave Macmillanâs latest publications in the series âQueenship and Powerâ is a four-volume collection called English Consorts: Power, Influence, and Dynasty (Palgrave Macmillan, 2023), edited by Aidan Norrie, Carolyn Harris, J. L. Laynesmith, Danna R. Messer, and Elena Woodacre, all of whom possess impeccable credentials in queenship and royal studies. The collection features individual biographies of all English and British consorts since England fell to the Normans in 1066. This book, Later Plantagenet and the Wars of the Roses Consorts: Power, Influence, and Dynasty, is the second volume of the collection…the generally excellent quality of its biographical chapters … [mean] this volume and the English Consorts: Power, Influence, and Dynasty series are a most welcome addition to royal studies.â – Michele Seah, Parergon, Volume 40, Number 2 (2023)