The Short History of a Prince is a novel by American author Jane Hamilton, published in 1998 by Random House.

The novel follows protagonist Walter McCloud, a gay ballet student in Illinois.

As McCloud grows older, he must face the loss of family members and come to terms with his guilt.

Kirkus Reviews described the book as a "lyrical, bighearted novel that won't easily be forgotten" and praised its characters.

[1] The Capital Times offered a mixed review, criticizing the character's "over-polished" and staged" dialogue but praising Hamilton's "vivid and elegant" prose.