A readable history of two important figures, one almost forgotten today and the other completely unknown outside specialists. The protagonists are Louis-Philippe d'Orléans, a prince who supported the French Revolution, was exiled by it, and then eventually rose to become King of the French for 18 years, both rising and falling due to separate, smaller revolutions — but also Louis-Philippe's sister Adélaïde, a brilliant, strong-willed woman who devoted her life to championing her brother, as his confidant and surrogate.

The Perilous Crown is not so much a biography as it is a history of an era told through the lens of two prominent participants, though its use of this focus makes it more readable than a pure history. Author Munro Price is also a fine writer who sprinkles his prose with witty asides and wry observations; he is helped by the natural wit of many of the era's prominent figures, not merely Louis-Philippe and Adélaïde (their fondness for scatological humor aside...), but also leading chroniclers of and participants in the era such as Victor Hugo, Adolphe Thiers and François Guizot. Price is sympathetic to his protagonists but also unsparing about their foibles, especially Louis-Philippe's tendency to vacillate under pressure and the growing political rigidity that characterized him as he grew older. though casual readers might find their eyes glazing over in some of the later chapters, when Price apologetically dives into the dizzying political turmoil of Louis-Philippe's so-called "July Monarchy," no background in French history is necessary to appreciate this accessible book. ( )