Charles Popular Books

Charles Biography & Facts

Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms.Charles was born in Buckingham Palace during the reign of his maternal grandfather, King George VI, and became heir apparent when his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, acceded to the throne in 1952. He was created Prince of Wales in 1958 and his investiture was held in 1969. He was educated at Cheam School and Gordonstoun, and later spent six months at the Timbertop campus of Geelong Grammar School in Victoria, Australia. After completing a history degree from the University of Cambridge, Charles served in the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy from 1971 to 1976. In 1981, he married Lady Diana Spencer. They had two sons, William and Harry. Charles and Diana divorced in 1996, after they had each engaged in well-publicised extramarital affairs. Diana died as a result of injuries sustained in a car crash the following year. In 2005, Charles married his long-term partner, Camilla Parker Bowles. As heir apparent, Charles undertook official duties and engagements on behalf of his mother. He founded the Prince's Trust in 1976, sponsored the Prince's Charities, and became patron or president of more than 800 other charities and organisations. He advocated for the conservation of historic buildings and the importance of architecture in society. In that vein, he generated the experimental new town of Poundbury. An environmentalist, Charles supported organic farming and action to prevent climate change during his time as the manager of the Duchy of Cornwall estates, earning him awards and recognition as well as criticism; he is also a prominent critic of the adoption of genetically modified food, while his support for alternative medicine has been criticised. He has authored or co-authored 17 books. Charles became king upon his mother's death in 2022. At the age of 73 he was the oldest person to accede to the British throne, after having been the longest-serving heir apparent and Prince of Wales in British history. Significant events in his reign have included his coronation in 2023 and his cancer diagnosis the following year, the latter of which temporarily suspended planned public engagements. Early life, family, and education Charles was born at 21:14 (GMT) on 14 November 1948, during the reign of his maternal grandfather, King George VI, as the first child of Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh (later Queen Elizabeth II), and Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. He was delivered by Caesarean section at Buckingham Palace. His parents had three more children, Anne (born 1950), Andrew (born 1960) and Edward (born 1964). On 15 December 1948, at four weeks old, he was christened Charles Philip Arthur George in the Music Room of Buckingham Palace by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Geoffrey Fisher.George VI died on 6 February 1952 and Charles's mother acceded to the throne as Elizabeth II; Charles immediately became the heir apparent. Under a charter of Edward III in 1337, and as the monarch's eldest son, he automatically assumed the traditional titles of Duke of Cornwall and, in the Scottish peerage, the titles Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland. On 2 June the following year, Charles attended his mother's coronation at Westminster Abbey.When Charles turned five, a governess known as Catherine Peebles, was appointed to oversee his education at Buckingham Palace. Charles then commenced classes at Hill House School in west London in November 1956. He was the first heir apparent to attend school, rather than be educated by a private tutor. He did not receive preferential treatment from the school's founder and headmaster, Stuart Townend, who advised the Queen to have Charles train in football, because the boys were never deferential to anyone on the football field. Charles subsequently attended two of his father's former schools: Cheam School in Hampshire, from 1958, followed by Gordonstoun, in the north-east of Scotland, beginning classes there in April 1962. In his 1994 authorised biography by Jonathan Dimbleby, Charles's parents were described as physically and emotionally distant and Philip was blamed for his disregard of Charles's sensitive nature, including forcing him to attend Gordonstoun, where he was bullied. Though Charles reportedly described Gordonstoun, noted for its especially rigorous curriculum, as "Colditz in kilts", he later praised the school, stating it had taught him "a great deal about myself and my own abilities and disabilities". He said in a 1975 interview he was "glad" he had attended Gordonstoun and that the "toughness of the place" was "much exaggerated". In 1966, Charles spent two terms at the Timbertop campus of Geelong Grammar School in Victoria, Australia, during which time he visited Papua New Guinea on a school trip with his history tutor, Michael Collins Persse. In 1973, Charles described his time at Timbertop as the most enjoyable part of his whole education. Upon his return to Gordonstoun, he emulated his father in becoming head boy, and left in 1967 with six GCE O-levels and two A-levels in history and French, at grades B and C respectively. On his education, Charles later remarked, "I didn't enjoy school as much as I might have; but, that was only because I'm happier at home than anywhere else".Charles broke royal tradition when he proceeded straight to university after his A-levels, rather than joining the British Armed Forces. In October 1967, he was admitted to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he studied archaeology and anthropology for the first part of the Tripos and then switched to history for the second part. During his second year, he attended the University College of Wales in Aberystwyth, studying Welsh history and the Welsh language for one term. Charles became the first British heir apparent to earn a university degree, graduating in June 1970 from the University of Cambridge with a 2:2 Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. Following standard practice, in August 1975, his Bachelor of Arts was promoted to a Master of Arts (MA Cantab) degree. Prince of Wales Charles was created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester on 26 July 1958, though his investiture was not held until 1 July 1969, when he was crowned by his mother in a televised ceremony held at Caernarfon Castle; the investiture was controversial in Wales owing to growing Welsh nationalist sentiment. He took his seat in the House of Lords the following year and he delivered his maiden speech on 13 June 1974, the first royal to speak from the floor since the future Edward VII in 1884. He spoke again in 1975.Charles began to take on more public duties, founding the Prince's Trust in 1976 and travelling to the United States in 1981. In the mid-1970s, he expressed an interest in serving as governor-general of Australia, at the suggestion of Australian prime minister Malcolm Fraser; however, .... Discover the Charles popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Charles books.

Best Seller Charles Books of 2024

  • The Fairy Tales of Charles Perrault synopsis, comments

    The Fairy Tales of Charles Perrault

    Charles Perrault

    Charles Perrault must have been as charming a fellow as a man could meet. He was one of the bestliked personages of his own great age, and he has remained ever since a prime favour...

  • The Girls synopsis, comments

    The Girls

    Emma Cline

    THE INSTANT BESTSELLER An indelible portrait of girls, the women they become, and that moment in life when everything can go horribly wrongONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The W...

  • The Dark Tower VII synopsis, comments

    The Dark Tower VII

    Stephen King

    Creating "true narrative magic" (The Washington Post) at every revelatory turn, Stephen King surpasses all expectation in the stunning final volume of his sevenpart epic masterwork...

  • The Dark Tower IV synopsis, comments

    The Dark Tower IV

    Stephen King

    The fourth volume in the brilliant Dark Tower Series is “splendidly tense…riproaring” (Publishers Weekly)a #1 national bestseller about an epic quest to save the universe.In Wizard...

  • Diana synopsis, comments

    Diana

    Andrew Morton

    The sensational biography of Princess Diana, written with her cooperation and now featuring exclusive new material to commemorate the 20th anniversary of her death.When Diana: Her ...

  • Smarter Faster Better synopsis, comments

    Smarter Faster Better

    Charles Duhigg

    NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER The author of The Power of Habit and “master of the life hack” (GQ) explores the fascinating science of productivity and offers realworld takea...

  • Courting the Scot synopsis, comments

    Courting the Scot

    Jane Charles

    When a rake's silver tongue fails to charm...Ian Grant has wanted to court a certain lass for quite some time, but when his usual charm has no effect on Davina MacGregor, he stops ...

  • The Dark Tower VI synopsis, comments

    The Dark Tower VI

    Stephen King

    The penultimate volume in the Dark Tower series, The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah, a #1 New York Times bestseller, is a pivotal installment in the epic saga.Set in a world of ex...

  • In the Tall Grass synopsis, comments

    In the Tall Grass

    Stephen King

    Now a major motion picture streaming on Netflix!Mile 81 meets “N.” in this novella collaboration between Stephen King and Joe Hill. As USA TODAY said of Stephen King’s Mile 81: “Pa...

  • Ameritopia synopsis, comments

    Ameritopia

    Mark R. Levin

    In his acclaimed #1 New York Times bestseller, Mark R. Levin explores the psychology, motivations, and history of the utopian movement, its architectsthe Founding Fathers, and its ...

  • Mr. Mercedes synopsis, comments

    Mr. Mercedes

    Stephen King

    WINNER OF THE 2015 EDGAR AWARD FOR BEST NOVEL #1 New York Times bestseller! In a highsuspense race against time, three of the most unlikely heroes Stephen King has ever created try...

  • End of Watch synopsis, comments

    End of Watch

    Stephen King

    Now an AT&T Audience Original SeriesThe fabulously suspenseful and "smashing" (The New York Times Book Review) final novel in the Bill Hodges trilogy from the #1 New York Times...

  • Mindhunter synopsis, comments

    Mindhunter

    Mark Olshaker & John E. Douglas

    Discover the classic, behindthescenes chronicle of John E. Douglas’ twentyfiveyear career in the FBI Investigative Support Unit, where he used psychological profiling to delve into...

  • The Greater Journey synopsis, comments

    The Greater Journey

    David McCullough

    The #1 bestseller that tells the remarkable story of the generations of American artists, writers, and doctors who traveled to Paris, fell in love with the city and its people, and...

  • The Poems and Prose Poems of Charles Baudelaire synopsis, comments

    The Poems and Prose Poems of Charles Baudelaire

    Charles Baudelaire

    A collection of Baudelaire poems including Flowers of Evil and Little Poems in Prose. Starts with an Introductory Preface by James Huneker

  • The Dark Tower II synopsis, comments

    The Dark Tower II

    Stephen King

    The second volume in Stephen King’s #1 bestselling Dark Tower Series, The Drawing of the Three is an “epic in the making” (Kirkus Reviews) about a savage struggle against underworl...

  • Reverse the Curse in Your Body and Emotions synopsis, comments

    Reverse the Curse in Your Body and Emotions

    Annette Capps

    There are many wounded and brokenhearted people in the Body of Christ who are suffering in their minds and emotions. The battleground of Satan's attack has been in the mental arena...

  • The Thirteenth Tale synopsis, comments

    The Thirteenth Tale

    Diane Setterfield

    Instant #1 New York Times bestseller“Readers will feel the magnetic pull of this paean to words, books and the magical power of story.”People“Eerie and fascinating.”USA TODAYSometi...

  • The Dark Tower I synopsis, comments

    The Dark Tower I

    Stephen King

    “An impressive work of mythic magnitude that may turn out to be Stephen King’s greatest literary achievement” (The Atlanta JournalConstitution), The Gunslinger is the first volume ...

  • Charles Watson Speaks Out synopsis, comments

    Charles Watson Speaks Out

    Charles "Tex" Watson

    Charles Watson Speaks Out is an interview with Charles "Tex" Watson, covering ten intriguing subjects chapter by chapter. It provides something for everyone, including fact...

  • A Good Marriage synopsis, comments

    A Good Marriage

    Stephen King

    Now a major motion picture, Stephen King's brilliant and terrifying story of a marriage with truly deadly secrets.Darcy Anderson’s husband of more than twenty years is away on one ...

  • NASB, The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible synopsis, comments

    NASB, The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible

    Charles F. Stanley

    The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible delivers Dr. Stanley's cherished values to benefit every Christian in his or her life's pursuits. With more than 442,000 in p...

  • The Keeping synopsis, comments

    The Keeping

    Nicky Charles

    Ryne Taylor was a sexy badass Alpha set on establishing a new pack. Melody Greene was a journalism student researching his work as a photographeror so she said. But could Mel reall...

  • 44 Charles Street synopsis, comments

    44 Charles Street

    Danielle Steel

    BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from Danielle Steel's Betrayal.A magical transformation takes place in Danielle Steel’s luminous novel: Strangers become roommates, roomma...

  • Tidelands synopsis, comments

    Tidelands

    Philippa Gregory

    This New York Times bestseller from “one of the great storytellers of our time” (San Francisco Book Review) turns from the glamour of the royal courts to tell the story of an ordin...

  • Coming Apart synopsis, comments

    Coming Apart

    Charles Murray

    NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A fascinating explanation for why white America has become fractured and divided in education and class, from the acclaimed author of Human Diversity.“I’...

  • Finders Keepers synopsis, comments

    Finders Keepers

    Stephen King

    The second book in Stephen King’s Bill Hodges trilogy (Mr. Mercedes, Finders Keepers, End of Watch)now an AT&T Audience Original Series!“Stephen King’s superb stayupallnight th...

  • St. Charles at Dusk synopsis, comments

    St. Charles at Dusk

    Sarah M. Cradit

    A father’s threats. A tragic accident. Unanswered questions. Oz Sullivan has finally moved past the tangled web surrounding his brief, but intense, relationship with the young, imp...

  • Bonded synopsis, comments

    Bonded

    Nicky Charles

    Reno’s a tough Enforcer for Lycan Link who finds himself drawn to Brandi but duty rules his life. Brandi, just on the edge of starting her career as a Disaster Control officer, fal...

  • Chaos synopsis, comments

    Chaos

    Tom O'Neill & Dan Piepenbring

    A journalist's twentyyear fascination with the Manson murders leads to "gobsmacking" (The Ringer) new revelations about the FBI's involvement in this "kaleidoscopic" (The New York ...

  • Unsheltered synopsis, comments

    Unsheltered

    Barbara Kingsolver

    New York Times Bestseller Named one of the Best Books of the Year by NPR, O: The Oprah Magazine, San Francisco Chronicle, Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek“Kingsolver br...

  • Thrive synopsis, comments

    Thrive

    Arianna Huffington

    In Thrive, Arianna Huffington makes an impassioned and compelling case for the need to redefine what it means to be successful in today's world.   Arianna Huffington's persona...

  • A Song for Julia synopsis, comments

    A Song for Julia

    Charles Sheehan-Miles

    Everyone should have something to rebel against. Crank Wilson left his South Boston home at sixteen to start a punk band and burn out his rage at the world. Six years later, he’s s...

  • The Dark Tower V synopsis, comments

    The Dark Tower V

    Stephen King

    Wolves of the Calla is the thrilling fifth book in Stephen King’s Dark Tower seriesa unique bestselling epic fantasy quest inspired many years ago by The Lord of the Rings.In the e...

  • The Colorado Kid synopsis, comments

    The Colorado Kid

    Stephen King

    On an island off the coast of Maine, a man is found dead. There's no identification on the body. Only the dogged work of a pair of local newspapermen and a graduate student in fore...

  • Prince Charles synopsis, comments

    Prince Charles

    Sally Bedell Smith

    NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER  A “masterly account” (The Wall Street Journal) of the life and loves of King Charles III, Britain’s first king since 1952, shedd...

  • The Dark Tower III synopsis, comments

    The Dark Tower III

    Stephen King

    The third volume in the #1 nationally bestselling Dark Tower Series, involving the enigmatic Roland (the last gunfighter) and his ongoing quest for the Dark Tower, is “Stephen King...

  • The Autobiography of Charles Darwin synopsis, comments

    The Autobiography of Charles Darwin

    Charles Darwin

    Darwin wrote the book, which he entitled Recollections of the Development of my Mind and Character, for his family. He still stands as the leading figure of that revolution in scie...

  • A Beautiful Blue Death synopsis, comments

    A Beautiful Blue Death

    Charles Finch

    Equal parts Sherlock Holmes and P.G. Wodehouse, Charles Finch's debut mystery A Beautiful Blue Death introduces a wonderfully appealing gentleman detective in Victorian London who ...

  • Charles synopsis, comments

    Charles

    Penny Junor

    This edition does not include illustrations.This explosive biography of the Prince of Wales set media headlines alight on hardback publication. Now available complete with an updat...

  • Mile 81 synopsis, comments

    Mile 81

    Stephen King

    Mile 81 is Stand by Me meets Christinethe story of an insatiable car and a heroic kid.At Mile 81 on the Maine turnpike is a boarded up rest stop, a place where high school kids dri...