No Right to the Throne: How Five Great Dynasties Flourished and Perished

In her new book "No Right to the Throne," Irina Belova-Flier explores the history of five great European dynasties and their connection with the fates of rulers. She asks what factors determine the history of states—and of people—and why some dynasties disappeared after their peak. The author looks at the lives of Ivan the Terrible, Elizabeth I, Mary Stuart, Philip II, Catherine de’ Medici, and Francis II of Valois, trying to unravel the mysteries behind their choices, hopes, and mistakes. Readers will see parallels between their fates and may be able to understand what patterns and coincidences shape the history and destiny of each person.