Silver Spring, MD —With dramatic storytelling and visuals, royal history comes alive in Monarchy: The Complete Series on DVD from Athena on August 3, 2010. Bestselling author and the foremost authority on the British Crown, Dr. David Starkey presents the epic history of the British monarchy in this fascinating series, with episodes new to the North American market. Filmed on location at historical sites including Hastings and the Tower of London, Monarchy has been syndicated on public television, but this release includes the much lengthier, unedited UK broadcast edition (DVD 5-vol. boxed set; 16 episodes plus 16-page booklet; www.AthenaLearning.com).

Over more than a millennium, the British monarchy has survived brutality, betrayal, and bloodshed to emerge as the oldest functioning political institution in Europe. Join eminent historian David Starkey (The Six Wives of Henry VIII) as he probes the personalities of the men and women who wore the crown. Meet the Anglo-Saxon king Offa, who ruled more like a mafioso than a monarch; Henry VIII, who cultivated celebrity like a modern rock star; and Victoria, who remade the monarchy into the model of middle-class morality. Through it all, visit the very sites where history happened: Hastings, Bosworth Field, the Tower of London, and more.

In this captivating 16-part series, Starkey advances a unifying narrative—the dynamic tension between authoritarian order and rule by consent of the governed—that makes Britain unique among the world’s nations.

Acorn Media previously released the U.S. version of the series in Monarchy Set 1 (September 2006) and Set 2 (October 2007), however Monarchy: The Complete Series includes the complete unedited UK broadcast version with episodes and material new to the North American market (an additional 3 1/2 hours).

An honorary fellow at Cambridge University and a member of London’s Society of Royal Antiquaries, David Starkey (CBE) has taught history at the London School of Economics, written more than a dozen books, and presented many acclaimed television documentaries.

BONUS FEATURES

• 16-page booklet, including a timeline, the Powers Behind the Throne, background on Westminster Abbey (the shrine of British monarchy), and Royal Trivia
• Biographies of 20th-century monarchs, David Starkey biography, and a gallery of royal palaces

Athena is Acorn Media Group’s new home video brand for consumers interested in lifelong learning through documentary programming. Each Athena release provides an authoritative and entertaining learning experience through high quality, informative, non-fiction programming, along with a host of extras to extend the learning experience beyond the screen. Athena releases include Six Centuries of Verse, Hitler’s Bodyguard, Playing Shakespeare, The Shape of the World, The Adventure of English, The Story of Math, among others. Special web content and clips are available at www.athenalearning.com. Athena’s DVD sets are available from select retailers, catalog companies, and direct from Acorn at (888) 870-8047 or www.acornonline.com.