THE INSTITUTION THAT REFUSED TO DIE The Unauthorized Biography of the British Crown

In 1087, William the Conqueror's corpse exploded at his own funeral. It was an inauspicious start for a monarchy, but it set a precedent: no matter how messy things got, the show would go on.

The Institution That Refused to Die is a comedy of survival. From the Norman warlords to the modern media stars, Robert Walker traces the evolution of an office that has survived civil war, religious schism, republican revolution, and family dysfunction on an industrial scale.

Discover the kings who governed by accident, the queens who ruled by necessity, and the "spares" who inherited the throne only to wish they hadn't. Meet Henry I, who died of a surfeit of lampreys; Edward II, who died of a surfeit of red-hot poker; and George IV, who died of a surfeit of everything.

Blending the historical rigor of Conn Iggulden with the satiric wit of Terry Pratchett, this narrative exposes the universal truth of British history: The monarchy didn't survive because it was brilliant. It survived because it was the only thing that refused to leave the room.

Robert Walker spent thirty-five years in the sports betting industry in Las Vegas, a career that provided unexpected training for analyzing the British monarchy. He learned early that the favorite doesn't always win, but the house always survives. When not calculating the survival odds of historical dynasties, he writes about the intersection of high stakes and human folly. He lives in Las Vegas, where the kings are made of neon and usually last longer than the real ones.