A Treasury of Royal Scandals: The Shocking True Stories of History's Wickedest, Weirdest, Most Wanton Kings, Queens, Tsars, Popes, and Emperors by Michael Farquhar.

This is the most debauched, shocking, naughty and utterly delightful book. When one thinks of royalty they imagine beautiful princesses, dashing and brilliant kings; a gay and happy life. Pffft! In truth most royals were ugly and deformed from the endless inbreeding. When by the grace of God a beauty came into their midst, the rest of the family conspired to destroy the young Adonis or Venus simply because of sheer jealousy.

It ranges from good old fashioned religious orgies to; "Richard the Lionheart was possibly a poof?" Take the for instance the introductory sentence:

Catherine the Great loved horses. She also loved sex. Contrary to popular legend, however, she never managed to unite the two passions.

After reading this to my therapist she leaned forward in her chair, her eyes wide with anticipation and demanded, "Well, go on!" She's since commandeered this book.

I'm serious; this book is like Harry Potter for adults. I'd completely forgotten about literature, "Yes, words on paper, I remember this", and I've yet to touch my Gameboy since.

I cannot deny that at times this book is peppered with historical inaccuracies or occasionally embellished, but then again; who really cares?