“Compelling and brilliant—don’t miss it!”—Alison Weir From the acclaimed royal historian, the dramatic and untold story of the lie about the controversial succession that ended the Tudor era and changed the course of British history In the long and dramatic annals of British history, no transition from one monarch to another has been as fraught and consequential as that which ended the Tudor dynasty and launched the Stuart in March 1603. At her death, Elizabeth I had reigned for 44 turbulent years, facing many threats, whether external from Spain or internal from her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots. But no danger was greater than the uncertainty over who would succeed her, which only intensified as her reign lengthened. Her unwillingness to marry or name a successor gave rise to fierce rivalry between blood claimants to the throne—Mary and her son, James VI of Scotland, Arbella Stuart, Lady Katherine Grey, Henry Hastings, and more—which threatened to destabilize the monarchy. As acclaimed Tudor historian Tracy Borman reveals in The Stolen Crown , according to Elizabeth’s earliest biographer, William Camden, in his history of her reign, on her deathbed the queen indicated James was her chosen heir, and indeed he did become king soon after she died. That endorsement has been accepted as fact for more than four centuries. However, recent analysis of Camden’s original manuscript shows key passages were pasted over and rewritten to burnish James’ legacy. The newly-uncovered pages make clear not only that Elizabeth’s naming of James never happened, but that James, uncertain he would ever gain the British throne, was even suspected of sending an assassin to London to kill the queen. Had all this been known at the time, the English people—bitter enemies with Scotland for centuries—might well not have accepted James as their king, with unimagined ramifications. Inspired by the revelations over Camden’s manuscript, Borman sheds rare new light on Elizabeth’s historic reign, chronicling it through the lens of the various claimants who, over decades, sought the throne of the only English monarch not to make provision for her successor. The consequences were immense. Not only did James upend Elizabeth’s glittering court, but the illegitimacy of his claim to the throne, which Camden suppressed, found full expression in the catastrophic reign of James’ son and successor, Charles I. His execution in 1649 shocked the world and destroyed the monarchy fewer than 50 years after Elizabeth died, changing the course of British and world history. Praise for The Stolen Crown : A Sunday Times Top 10 Bestseller One of Smithsonian's 10 Best History Books of 2025 A Town & Country Best Book of November An Amazon Best History Book of November “The real truth about the Tudor succession comes to light Literally. The transition to the Stuart dynasty after Elizabeth I’s death was neither smooth nor peaceful.“ — Washington Post “A fascinating look at Tudor history.“ — Town & Country, "Best Books of November" "This is an old and timeworn tale, but under Borman’s industrious scholarship, it takes on fresh urgency . . . She tells it in the vivid and expressive detail it deserves, and she writes brilliantly, one of the very best of the bevy of Tudor historians who have emerged in recent years . . . The Stolen Crown is an engrossing and gracefully presented account worth dipping into for its insights into royal goings-on at the turn of the 17th century. For the serious reader, it’s equally worth lingering over, cover to cover." —Bob Duffy, Washington Independent Review of Books "A compelling and accessible dive into the final days of the Tudor dynasty and the fraught transition to the Stuart reign. With clarity and finesse, Borman unpacks centuries of dynastic rivalry, political intrigue and royal ambition, offering readers a vivid portrait of Elizabeth I’s reign and the shadowy succession that followed . . . Borman’s prose is elegant and engaging . . . Her depiction of court life, political maneuvering and the personalities involved is rich and nuanced. The contrast between Elizabeth’s vibrant, hands-on leadership and James’s aloof, council-driven governance is particularly striking . . . Ultimately, The Stolen Crown is a masterfully written and thoroughly researched account of a pivotal moment in British history."— Julie Kentner, Winnipeg Free Press "A timely and comprehensive analysis of the succession situation to show how James’s inheritance was far more uncertain than hindsight made it seem . . . the story is as engaging as its analysis is insightful. Tracy Borman’s prose is elegant and commanding . . . This latest offering in an impressive catalogue of wonderful non-fiction (and fiction) books is an absolute delight."— Janet Wertman, Open Letters Review "A meticulously researched must-read for Tudor enthusiasts."— Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine , "The Ten Best History Books of 2025" “A riveting account exploring how th