Heirs and Graces

Name: Heirs and Graces
Price: 29.99 AUD
Availability: PreOrder
ISBN: 9781804941522

A History of the Modern British Aristocracy

Eleanor Doughty

$29.99

Paperback

Forthcoming
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English

Penguin (Cornerstone)
11 June 2026

British & Irish history; 21st century history: from c 2000 -; Society & culture: general; Social classes

The fascinating inside story of the British aristocracy since the Second World War.

There are fewer than 5000 people who can genuinely claim to be members of the British aristocracy, and yet they loom large in the popular consciousness. We're fascinated by their houses and estates, their lives and loves, their foibles and eccentricities. And we entertain the strong suspicion that, while they may be fellow citizens, they are very far from being People Like Us.

In Heirs and Graces Eleanor Doughty draws on her unparalleled access to a bewildering range of dukes, duchesses, earls and others to create a vivid picture of who they are and how they tick. En route she traces their progress from a post-war era when they and their like were described by one future Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer as 'selfish, depraved, dissolute and decadent' to their diverse current roles as guardians of vast ancestral mansions, farmers, financiers and much else beside. She looks at key rites of passage, from cradle, via boarding school to grave. And she tells stories of their ups and downs, and of the doings of the heroes and villains who fill their ranks.

The result is a wonderfully rich, often amusing, always revealing account of the fortunes of the aristocracy over the past century and a series of fascinating glimpses into what it is like to be an aristocrat in Britain today.

By: Eleanor Doughty
Imprint: Penguin (Cornerstone)
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 198mm, Width: 128mm, Spine: 30mm
Weight: 452g
ISBN: 9781804941522
ISBN 10: 1804941522
Pages: 624
Publication Date: 11 June 2026
Audience: General/trade , Professional and scholarly , College/higher education , ELT Advanced , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Eleanor Doughty began her career in journalism at the Daily Telegraph, before going freelance to focus on writing and working at the i newspaper as deputy comment editor. She has written the 'Great Estates' column in the Telegraph since 2017, and specialises in writing about the moneyed and titled classes, in particular country houses and their owners, as well as related pursuits. Her writing appears in the Financial Times, the Spectator, Country Life, The Times and Sunday Times, The Field, and many other publications. When she is not writing, she can be found either on or near a horse, or out with her cocker spaniel.

Reviews for Heirs and Graces: A History of the Modern British Aristocracy

An enthralling chronicle of the British aristocracy * Financial Times * A deeply researched and highly entertaining account * Julian Fellowes, creator of Downton Abbey * Meticulously researched. An interesting account of the Aristocracy which I thoroughly recommend * Anne Glenconner * The publication of this well-written, well-researched and fascinating book could not be better timed * Lord (Andrew) Roberts, author of The Chief: The Life of Lord Northcliffe Britain's Greatest Press Baron * A superb survey of the aristocracy today and how we got here… A marvellous book. * The Times * Heirs and Graces is a friendly, forgiving, good- spirited book… * Literary Review * This detailed study of modern British aristocracy… Fascinating nuggets gleam from the densely textured background. * The Spectator * A surprisingly candid and stylish peek into that well-heeled world. * Unherd * Eleanor Doughty is a shrewd, measured analyst, her writing aided by a lively pen and wry sense of humour. * Country Life * A terrific book… Heaven. I can't recommend it enough. It would make a very good Christmas present, if I'm allowed to mention the “ C ” word this early. * Sophie Money-Coutts, Telegraph column *