Book Log 2008 #9: On Royalty by Jeremy Paxman

Paxman, a British journalist known for his aggressive interviewing, takes what he calls a "very polite inquiry" into the role of royals in the modern world, with a predominant focus on his native Windsors. Among the anecdotes and quirky history, two questions emerge: why are the royals still around, and why is the general public so fascinated by them?

I like the first half of the book better than the second, as it takes a wider view of royalty (an early chapter focuses on Leka, the pretender to the Albanian throne) and has a more logical progression to the topics covered. The second half bogs down a bit, I think, while examining the failure of republicanism to replace the monarchy. After that the expected slog through the death of Diana and the annus horribilis drags things out even more.

So while there's a lot to like here, I think the book doesn't quite answer the questions it raises.