My Top 5 History Reads of 2023

As an avid reader, I usually can’t name all the books I read in a year, the majority of them have a history theme, so as we come to the end of 2023, I thought I would share my top five history books that I’ve read this year. It’s a mixture of different periods, so hopefully there’s something for everybody there.

The Unfortunate Colonel Ned Despard by Mike Jay

Ned Despard was the last person in Britain to be hung drawn and quartered in 1803, but was he really a traitor, or was he fitted up to put off reformist from being vocal? That is the question this book aims to answer. I think it does that very well, but no spoilers as to which way it leans (unless you read the review I did on earlier this year here). If you have an interest in the Georgian period or criminal history, this is the read for you. It was very insightful, even though I have read and written on Despard before, I learnt a lot from this book. I also wrote a post on Despard a few years ago, which can be viewed here.

Dickens and the Workhouse: Oliver Twist and the London Poorby Ruth Richardson

This is a book I read many years ago and decided to revisit this year because of doing talks on Charles Dickens and the poor. I loved it the first time I read it, but now I have read wider on the topic, I realise just how brilliant it is at displaying Dickens connections to workhouses. This particular book tells of Dickens lost connection to the Cleveland Street Workhouse in London, which he lived down the street from in his childhood. It also shows that this is probably the workhouse that inspired Oliver Twist. Not only that, but Ruth Richardson’s discovery about Dickens has helped save the building from destruction. Really one of the most informative books on the topic, so whether you’re interested in Charles Dickens, the Victorian period, or workhouses, this one is a must have!

Prince Albert: The Man Who Saved the Monarchy by A. N. Wilson

Again this is something I have come across during my research for Charles Dickens and the poor. I was alerted to this book through my research into Albert’s promotion of early social housing examples for the Great Exhibition of 1851, as well as being patron for The Society for Improving the Condition of the Labouring Classes. This is a bit of a tome of a book, so it does require perseverance, but it aims to be a thorough biography of Prince Albert, who, because of his early death, is often forgotten about in terms of his patronage and activities of all forms in the Victorian peri0d. If you can manage to get through it, it is very insightful into everything Albert got involved in.

Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart by John Guy

Most people only understand the end of Mary Queen of Scots life whilst she was imprisoned in England and later executed at Fotheringhay Castle for Catholic plots in her name. I will admit that was also the reason I chose this book, but it is a wonderfully written biography, which draws the reader in. It might read a bit like a historical novel at times, but I do feel that Mary’s life in general does feel like one. In general, this is a well written and well researched book on a fascinating Queen from the always popular Tudor period.

Dragon Rider: The Griffin’s Feather by Cornelia Funke

This one is not a history book, but is actually a children’s novel. You’re probably wondering why I’ve included this in what is meant to be a round up of history reads for this year. Well, this is linked to my personal history. It’s a sequel to one of my favourite ever books, Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke, which I read and fell in love with when I was at primary school (elementary school to you American readers). This year whilst buying books in the town of books, Hay-on-Wye, I came across this and another sequel. You have no idea how excited I was to know this. Anyway, this sequel, subtitled The Griffin’s Feather has been well worth the nearly twenty year wait.