cover image The Royal Family Quiz & Fact Book

The Royal Family Quiz & Fact Book

Timothy B. Benford. Harper Perennial, $8.95 (259pp) ISBN 978-0-06-096182-4

The author offers more than 1000 fascinating and offbeat items about Britain's royal family, along with 125 photos, some of which have not been previously published. The question-and-answer categories cover love affairs (""Who once caused Elizabeth II to run around screaming aboard the Royal Train?''); pranks (``Which Prince put a whoopee cushion on a bishop's chair?''); contributions to language (``Which King's death resulted in the `throne' becoming a slang nickname for the toilet seat?''); and observations on the state of the monarchy (``Who said, `Don't forget that nowadays we have to compete with Elizabeth Taylor and the Beatles'?''). A lengthy appendix lists kings and queens since A.D. 829, charts the descendants of Queen Victoria and reproduces the ``actual instrument of abdication'' of Edward VIII. Entertaining anecdotes and extensive research combine to make this a royal feast of regal facts. (August)