Status
Available
Call number
Publication
New York : Random House Trade Paperbacks, [2012]
Description
Biography & Autobiography. History. Nonfiction. HTML:NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER �?� Perfect for fans of The Crown, this magisterial biography of Queen Elizabeth II is a close-up view of the woman we�??ve known only from a distance�??and a captivating window into the last great monarchy. From the moment of her ascension to the throne in 1952 at the age of twenty-five, Queen Elizabeth II has been the object of unparalleled scrutiny. But through the fog of glamour and gossip, how well do we really know the world�??s most famous monarch? Drawing on numerous interviews and never-before-revealed documents, acclaimed biographer Sally Bedell Smith pulls back the curtain to show in intimate detail the public and private lives of Queen Elizabeth II, who has led her country and Commonwealth through the wars and upheavals of the last sixty years with unparalleled composure, intelligence, and grace. In Elizabeth the Queen, we meet the young girl who suddenly becomes �??heiress presumptive�?� when her uncle abdicates the throne. We meet the thirteen-year-old Lilibet as she falls in love with a young navy cadet named Philip and becomes determined to marry him, even though her parents prefer wealthier English aristocrats. We see the teenage Lilibet repairing army trucks during World War II and standing with Winston Churchill on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on V-E Day. We see the young Queen struggling to balance the demands of her job with her role as the mother of two young children. Sally Bedell Smith brings us inside the palace doors and into the Queen�??s daily routines�??the �??red boxes�?� of documents she reviews each day, the weekly meetings she has had with twelve prime ministers, her physically demanding tours abroad, and the constant scrutiny of the press�??as well as her personal relationships: with Prince Philip, her husband of sixty-four years and the love of her life; her children and their often-disastrous marriages; her grandchildren and friends. Praise for Elizabeth the Queen �??An excellent, all-embracing new biography.�?��??The New York Times �??[An] imposing, yet nimbly written, biography [that] dwarfs the field . . . a most satisfying and enjoyable read, one to be savored at length.�?��??Minneapolis Star Tribune �??Fascinating . . . After sixty years on the throne, the monarch of Britain is better known for her poker face than for sly wit or easy charm. Yet in biographer Sally Bedell Smith�??s Elizabeth the Queen, Her Majesty sparkles with both.�?��??More �??[A… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member japaul22
This is a biography of Elizabeth II that I received from the Early Reviewers program. It was published to coincide with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, celebrating 60 years on the throne. The book is light and fun to read. Smith chooses to focus on the Queen's personal relationships, work habits,
Overall, I felt like I got a pretty good sense of the Queen's role and how she has viewed her position as Queen. This was a fun book to read.
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hobbies, and interests instead of making this an analysis of the monarchy or an overly scholarly work. She touches on Elizabeth II's interactions with each of the Prime Ministers she has worked with and mentions world events without going into too much detail. There is a lot of discussion about other members of the Royal Family, including Prince Phillip, Charles, Diana (of course!), and William and Kate. The book gets a bit gossipy at times, but that was fun too! The book has lots of fantastic pictures, many in full color.Overall, I felt like I got a pretty good sense of the Queen's role and how she has viewed her position as Queen. This was a fun book to read.
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LibraryThing member bwightman
I received this book through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.
Published to coincide with Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, this book provides insight into the life of the monarch and her family. I found it to be an easy and entertaining read, and full of interesting information. The royal
Published to coincide with Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, this book provides insight into the life of the monarch and her family. I found it to be an easy and entertaining read, and full of interesting information. The royal
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family and associated traditions and protocols can be very confusing, but I found that this book presents everything in a way that is easy to follow and understand. What I found most enjoyable about this book is the way the author presents the two sides of Elizabeth: the monarch and the person. Show Less
LibraryThing member Fjumonvi
The abdication of King Edward VIII in 1936 abruptly thrust his younger brother, George VI, onto the throne of England and made the elder of George's two daughters, Elizabeth, heiress presumptive. Her sister, Margaret Rose, asked her, "Does that mean that you will have to be the next queen?" She
Drawing upon numerous secondary sources as well as recent interviews, Elizabeth the Queen chronicles the sovereign's extraordinary life. From its pages, Her Majesty emerges as a person one would want to know even if she were not royal. She is a loyal friend, a lover of animals (especially horses and corgis), kind, maternal, clever, incisive, intelligent, possessed of a lively sense of humor, realistic, traditional, progressive, and dedicated. Dedicated, always dedicated, to the people of her realm. She is their sovereign until her death. There shall be no abdication.
The book offers enough gossipy details to keep the reader amused, but this is no scandal sheet. Rather, it is a serious and dignified portrait-in-words, sympathetic to the Queen's perspective in, for example, matters such as Princess Diana's shenanigans, but not overlooking the occasional gaffe. Very enjoyable and informative, Elizabeth the Queen is highly recommended to royal-watchers and, more generally, to those who relish a thorough, well-written biography of an exemplary person.
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replied, "Yes, someday." Margaret Rose responded, "Poor you" (quotations from page 3). As Elizabeth II, she acceded to the throne upon her father's death on February 6, 1952, and, as her secretary, Martin Charteris, put it, "seized her destiny with both hands" (page 62). Only her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, has ruled England longer.Drawing upon numerous secondary sources as well as recent interviews, Elizabeth the Queen chronicles the sovereign's extraordinary life. From its pages, Her Majesty emerges as a person one would want to know even if she were not royal. She is a loyal friend, a lover of animals (especially horses and corgis), kind, maternal, clever, incisive, intelligent, possessed of a lively sense of humor, realistic, traditional, progressive, and dedicated. Dedicated, always dedicated, to the people of her realm. She is their sovereign until her death. There shall be no abdication.
The book offers enough gossipy details to keep the reader amused, but this is no scandal sheet. Rather, it is a serious and dignified portrait-in-words, sympathetic to the Queen's perspective in, for example, matters such as Princess Diana's shenanigans, but not overlooking the occasional gaffe. Very enjoyable and informative, Elizabeth the Queen is highly recommended to royal-watchers and, more generally, to those who relish a thorough, well-written biography of an exemplary person.
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LibraryThing member BooksCooksLooks
History is a passion of mine, English history in particular. The long line of monarchs have provided me with hours of delightful reading. Elizabeth the Queen is yet another book that both informed and entertained. While I mostly read historical fiction I am not at all averse to non-fiction. This
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book details Elizabeth II's life quite well. The photographs were a welcome glimpse into a woman I have only seen from very far away. Yet the book still felt as if viewed through a lens of some sort. I recognize that the Queen is a very private woman but I suppose I was hoping for a bit more that what is mostly publicly known. That is not to say I didn't enjoy reading this book because I did. It read like a novel - it was never dull. Show Less
LibraryThing member SAMANTHA100
Elizabeth The Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch
by Sally Bedell Smith is an in depth look at the life of, perhaps, the most well-known woman in the world. This is a biography of both a woman and a Queen who has reigned for sixty years. From the first page it becomes obvious that this a
The abdication of King Edward VIII eventually led to a child called Lilibet to become Queen Elizabeth II at age twenty-five. At an early age she fell in love with the man she would marry and who still stands at her side today. Their marriage is worth examining in light of their extraordinary life. The author also provides insight into who Prince Philip is- both as an individual and the role he plays in this long lasting relationship. The relationships with their children and grandchildren are candidly presented. It is clear that they are a family. The Queen is shown to be a non-interfering and tactful parent. Considering the fact that their lives are public, these attributes alone are amazing.
The author provides a chronological timeline of the Queen’s personal life and her role as the monarch. She opens the door to life within the monarchy and how it functions. The one constant that is repeated
throughout the book is that Queen Elizabeth II has reigned with grace and integrity for sixty years. Her commitment to service is absolute.
She is known to possess both wit and wisdom as well as the ability to change when the times require it.
This is a beautifully written book. In my opinion, if one decides to read only one book about the Queen then this is that book.
I received this book at no charge from Goodreads First Reads.
by Sally Bedell Smith is an in depth look at the life of, perhaps, the most well-known woman in the world. This is a biography of both a woman and a Queen who has reigned for sixty years. From the first page it becomes obvious that this a
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well-researched work filled with anecdotes that provide an opportunity to understand how she has managed to be a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother and grandmother as well as a monarch.The abdication of King Edward VIII eventually led to a child called Lilibet to become Queen Elizabeth II at age twenty-five. At an early age she fell in love with the man she would marry and who still stands at her side today. Their marriage is worth examining in light of their extraordinary life. The author also provides insight into who Prince Philip is- both as an individual and the role he plays in this long lasting relationship. The relationships with their children and grandchildren are candidly presented. It is clear that they are a family. The Queen is shown to be a non-interfering and tactful parent. Considering the fact that their lives are public, these attributes alone are amazing.
The author provides a chronological timeline of the Queen’s personal life and her role as the monarch. She opens the door to life within the monarchy and how it functions. The one constant that is repeated
throughout the book is that Queen Elizabeth II has reigned with grace and integrity for sixty years. Her commitment to service is absolute.
She is known to possess both wit and wisdom as well as the ability to change when the times require it.
This is a beautifully written book. In my opinion, if one decides to read only one book about the Queen then this is that book.
I received this book at no charge from Goodreads First Reads.
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LibraryThing member NovelChatter
**This book was provided to me by the publisher through a LibraryThing.com giveaway and that in no way affected my honest review.
Let me start by telling you what Sally Bedell Smith's Elizabeth The Queen is not. It's not a trashy and it's not a tell-all. If that's what you're looking for, then this
I really enjoyed this book, Smith goes to great lengths to really give the reader a background into the life of the young princess who suddenly goes from being a "background" Royal to being front and center when her uncle, the Duke of Windsor abdicates. As her book unfolds, it's easy to see that great attention was paid to getting things right and telling a fair account of the Queen's life "in service to her country" when you realize that Smith was allowed to travel with the Queen on many trips, to visit her Royal residences and had access to reportedly two hundred people within the world of Her Majesty.
Smith shares the strength and courage of a young wife and mother, who overnight, becomes Queen with the early death of her father. You learn background bits about her teen years as a Girl Guide and someone who watched her parents go out into the streets of London during the bombings of WWII, she's head strong and frugal. She's steady, she's adapted and she's endured.
Want to know more? Read this book!
I enjoyed Smith's writing style and her attention to details. This could bother some, but not me. I want to know, I love biographies and I admire the courage and strength of this woman. Elizabeth The Queen is not a short or "easy" read. But it is a a good read. A very good read.
I give it 5 out of 5 stars.
Let me start by telling you what Sally Bedell Smith's Elizabeth The Queen is not. It's not a trashy and it's not a tell-all. If that's what you're looking for, then this
Show More
is not the book for you. However...if you're looking for a look at the life of a modern monarch, then give Elizabeth The Queen a try. I really enjoyed this book, Smith goes to great lengths to really give the reader a background into the life of the young princess who suddenly goes from being a "background" Royal to being front and center when her uncle, the Duke of Windsor abdicates. As her book unfolds, it's easy to see that great attention was paid to getting things right and telling a fair account of the Queen's life "in service to her country" when you realize that Smith was allowed to travel with the Queen on many trips, to visit her Royal residences and had access to reportedly two hundred people within the world of Her Majesty.
Smith shares the strength and courage of a young wife and mother, who overnight, becomes Queen with the early death of her father. You learn background bits about her teen years as a Girl Guide and someone who watched her parents go out into the streets of London during the bombings of WWII, she's head strong and frugal. She's steady, she's adapted and she's endured.
Want to know more? Read this book!
I enjoyed Smith's writing style and her attention to details. This could bother some, but not me. I want to know, I love biographies and I admire the courage and strength of this woman. Elizabeth The Queen is not a short or "easy" read. But it is a a good read. A very good read.
I give it 5 out of 5 stars.
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LibraryThing member TooBusyReading
I admittedly knew very little about Queen Elizabeth II before I read this biography but what little I knew made me want to know more. This book has satisfied that want in a very entertaining and engaging way. This isn't one of those nasty tell-all biographies where readers doubt that truth of some
Altogether, the book made me very glad I am not royalty. No, that wouldn't have worked at all. Having to remain neutral when I had a strong opinion, always having to be “proper,” being subjected to such scrutiny and gossip, having such responsibility but not much in the way of actual power. No, I would have made a terrible queen but then, there isn't a lot of call for royalty in the U.S.
I laughed at parts that seemed somewhat less than regal, as when the Queen wore her 3-lb. crown while wearing pink mules so that she could get used to the weight of it again before needing to wear it at one of the countless ceremonies.
This biography turned a rather distant-seeming queen into a real person for me. I recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about the Queen and the people around her.
Thank you to the publisher and LibraryThing for giving me a copy of the book for review.
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of the revelations. Instead, it is a well-written and well-researched biography that shows the Queen in a mostly favorable light but is not afraid to gloss over any shortcomings. The photographs on the front and back inside covers, the beginning of each chapter, and in two different groups within the book, only added to my enjoyment.Altogether, the book made me very glad I am not royalty. No, that wouldn't have worked at all. Having to remain neutral when I had a strong opinion, always having to be “proper,” being subjected to such scrutiny and gossip, having such responsibility but not much in the way of actual power. No, I would have made a terrible queen but then, there isn't a lot of call for royalty in the U.S.
I laughed at parts that seemed somewhat less than regal, as when the Queen wore her 3-lb. crown while wearing pink mules so that she could get used to the weight of it again before needing to wear it at one of the countless ceremonies.
This biography turned a rather distant-seeming queen into a real person for me. I recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about the Queen and the people around her.
Thank you to the publisher and LibraryThing for giving me a copy of the book for review.
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LibraryThing member etxgardener
Sally Bedell Smith takes a break from her usual gossipy biographies, to right a mostly laudatory book about Queen Elizabeth II, just in time for her Diamond Jubilee. If you are a dedicated royalty watcher (or even a semi-dedicated one) there is not much new ground explored here except for some
This is a pleasant enough read for the beach, but unless you're totally new to "Royaltyland" there aren't going to be any new revelations for the reader.
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arcane details about protocol for tours and visitors to Buck House. Seldom is hear a discouraging word about any of the Queen, her mother or Prince Phillip, and her children escape with mostly positive portraits. The barbs seem to be saved for Princess Margaret and the spouses of the Queen, especially those who are no longer around.This is a pleasant enough read for the beach, but unless you're totally new to "Royaltyland" there aren't going to be any new revelations for the reader.
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LibraryThing member salgalruns
While I enjoyed this book, it definitely sounded skewed to show the Queen in a very positive light, emphasizing her relationships that were strong ones and glossing over the difficult times quickly. Definitely surprised that more attention wasn't given to Charles and Diana, and that what attention
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was given made Charles seem quite innocent. The book was interesting but, like others, I glossed over many parts. Show Less
LibraryThing member philae_02
First off, this biography is exceedingly thorough. Not only does Smith paint an exquisite picture of the reigning monarch, but she divulges the personal and private life of the Queen. From this biography, readers can glimpse at the elegant lady behind the diamond tiaras and fancy gatherings. We can
One particular part that most intrigued me was involving the late-Princess Diana. I had never read the biography by Andrew Morton, about the late-Princess, and can only judge her from what her public life had been. From this biography, I found that the picture Diana had painted was unjust. From Smith’s work, the Queen had been nothing but accommodating to the young princess, despite her frequent fallouts emotionally.
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get to “know” her as a person, and more than just a figurehead. I thought that it was funny to learn about the Queen’s love for not only her Welsh Corgis, but for horses as well.One particular part that most intrigued me was involving the late-Princess Diana. I had never read the biography by Andrew Morton, about the late-Princess, and can only judge her from what her public life had been. From this biography, I found that the picture Diana had painted was unjust. From Smith’s work, the Queen had been nothing but accommodating to the young princess, despite her frequent fallouts emotionally.
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LibraryThing member tloeffler
A fabulous biography-to-date of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. Although the author says in her acknowledgements "This is not an authorized account of her reign; the royal family will not choose an official biographer until after she dies," they would be well-advised to keep Sally Bedell Smith in the
Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in the life of this fascinating woman!
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running. This is a comprehensive and thoroughly-researched story of Queen Elizabeth, from the notification of her uncle's abdication to the wedding of her grandson Prince William. It's obvious that the author has great respect for the queen, but that doesn't keep her from presenting an even-handed approach. The detail is amazing, the pictures are great fun, and the writing is comfortable and easy to read. At over 500 pages, that is important!Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in the life of this fascinating woman!
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LibraryThing member gma2lana
At first I was entertained by the book. I have always been curious about the Queen and now I have some idea of how she is and was through the years. I did get bored with the book, and skimmed a couple of the last chapters. I enjoyed the pictures in the book as well. I saw that many people gave 4 -
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5 star reviews, I just can't go there. Glad to be moving on to something else. Show Less
LibraryThing member RoseCityReader
Elizabeth the Queen is Sally Bedell Smith's friendly biography of Britain's popular queen. Elizabeth has reigned over the UK since 1952, making her the premier monarch of the television age, which may explain why Smith's book reads a bit like a celebrity biography. The book is entertaining,
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informative, and accessible, if not particularly hard-hitting. But who really wants hard-hitting when reading about Queen Elizabeth? Show Less
LibraryThing member atheist_goat
This book has something of a fluffy celebrity biography feel to it, but is surprisingly informative about the politics of Britain over the last sixty years and the way the monarchy has been perceived during that time. Unfortunately, the last couple chapters are just Bedell Smith gushing
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uncontrollably about William and Kate - "this is the LOVE of the CENTURY, and she's SO much better than Diana, and didn't her waist just look TINY in that AMAZING dress" - which is frankly embarrassing. The prologue is the same thing: it feels totally tacked on and is just the last chapter condensed, as if some publisher decided that no one would read a book about Queen Elizabeth unless they're fooled into thinking it's actually about Catherine Middleton. That makes my gorge rise a little bit. Otherwise I liked it. Show Less
LibraryThing member briandrewz
This was a highly enjoyable biography from Sally Bedell Smith. Written for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, this book gives us a candid look at the way the monarch has done her job with considerable skill and humanity. The book is extremely easy to read and moves along at a fast pace. Recommended!
LibraryThing member hobbitprincess
While this was a good book and I rated it fairly high, it would have been more interesting were I a student of English politics. I got a bit lost in some of the political stuff. Still, the book is thorough and covered the life of this incredible monarch well.
LibraryThing member amy2011
I loved this book and I am a bit heartbroken that it is over.The author wrote about the Queen's everyday life in a way that I felt I was part of it all.The book is written in favor of the Queen and with respect for all that she has done in her duty as the Queen in all her many years on the
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throne.It truly is amazing all the years she has been in power and all the many things she has had to face.I found the book full of information on all the daily tasks the Queen undertakes yet still it was never boring for me.The author filled the book with many wonderful little stories and quotes from the Queen and the people that surround her that it helped keep the book from becoming a stuffy read.I am truly in awe of everything the Queen does at her age.I loved how the author made the Queen more human for me by letting you know how people's attitudes and ideas of the Queen changed after meeting her such as each prime minister.I loved how she would put people at ease in different ways many times with humor.I was surprised a bit by the way the author wrote about Dianna just because you never really hear unflattering things said about her.The things said were not harsh in any means just unusual for me because in a way Dianna has become untouchable since her death.I respect the Queen and Dianna both for many of the same things.Both women are remarkable women of their time that can never be replaced.I have a much deeper respect for the Queen after reading this book and wish the Queen many more years on the throne. Show Less
LibraryThing member JanaRose1
I knew very little about Queen Elizabeth, II before reading this book. It begins with her learning that she is heir apparent to the throne when her father becomes King. It continues by giving very detailed accounts of her life and reign. I thought the book was a bit dense. Although I am interested
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in the monarchy, the book just seemed a bit long. Not bad, it was very well written. The book focused on the routines of her daily life and emphasized the Queen's personal vs. public life, but I felt that I still don't know who the Queen really is. Show Less
LibraryThing member hbgoble
_Elizabeth the Queen_ is a breezy (for a 500 page book) bio that covers the highs and lows of Elizabeth II's reign. It's serviceable book, although I found it strange to read a biography and get almost no glimpse of the person behind the public persona. Admittedly, that seems to be because of how
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well the monarchy does in protecting the private person or Elizabeth's sense of duty, but unlike other biographies, I didn't finish it with a sense of what the Queen's personality is really like. There is also very little critical analysis of the Queen, her decisions, or the monarchy in general. That said, it is an engaging read and well-researched book. Show Less
LibraryThing member emperatrix
A surprisingly thorough introduction to 20th century British politics and a candid look at the Queen's daily life. The narrative is engaging and well-researched. An enjoyable biography.
LibraryThing member dpappas
For someone who didn't know much about Queen Elizabeth II before reading this book, this was a fascinating look into the life of Elizabeth II. To me the whole Royal Family has always had a certain majestic and mysterious quality to them.
I found the most interesting parts of this book to be the
This book covers Elizabeth II's reign quite thoroughly. It was a great look into Elizabeth II's life and her family and I would recommend this book to those interested in the Royal Family.
I found the most interesting parts of this book to be the
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things that I did not know about Elizabeth II. I enjoyed reading about her childhood and the early days of her reign of Queen. I also loved reading about the other side to Elizabeth II, the side that her family knows the best.This book covers Elizabeth II's reign quite thoroughly. It was a great look into Elizabeth II's life and her family and I would recommend this book to those interested in the Royal Family.
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LibraryThing member PensiveCat
I avoided biographies about the modern-day royals for a long time. They seemed to me to be either gossipy tell-alls or dry school-aged accounts. Plus it's pretty rare for me to read any biographies about the living. It's inevitably an unfinished story. In this case, I decided to give it a go,
The timing of the release of this book coincides with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee year (60 years on the throne) so Elizabeth II is on the minds of most potential readers. The jubilees are usually a positive celebration, and Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch reflects that. It's well-researched, and favorable without being gushy. The title says it all. What does a modern monarch do? Well here's the story, and it's a story of duty, and the balance between duty and family. It's actually not an easy job, and personal preferences must always be put to the side.
It's also the story of Britain as a whole, since in the Queen's lifetime it went from an empire to a kingdom with a Commonwealth. The relationship between the Queen and the Commonwealth is just as complicated as the one between her and her family.
So I enjoyed all 500+ pages. My only complaint is that, once she becomes Queen she is only referred to as the Queen or Elizabeth II. The Roman numerals got on my nerves, but that's just me. Otherwise, it ran well: even the account of all of her racing horses didn't bore me, which is no mean feat.
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mainly because it was offered as an Early Reviewer book. I was tired of Elizabeth I, anyway.The timing of the release of this book coincides with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee year (60 years on the throne) so Elizabeth II is on the minds of most potential readers. The jubilees are usually a positive celebration, and Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch reflects that. It's well-researched, and favorable without being gushy. The title says it all. What does a modern monarch do? Well here's the story, and it's a story of duty, and the balance between duty and family. It's actually not an easy job, and personal preferences must always be put to the side.
It's also the story of Britain as a whole, since in the Queen's lifetime it went from an empire to a kingdom with a Commonwealth. The relationship between the Queen and the Commonwealth is just as complicated as the one between her and her family.
So I enjoyed all 500+ pages. My only complaint is that, once she becomes Queen she is only referred to as the Queen or Elizabeth II. The Roman numerals got on my nerves, but that's just me. Otherwise, it ran well: even the account of all of her racing horses didn't bore me, which is no mean feat.
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LibraryThing member kaulsu
At nearly 550 pages, this book covers the Monarchy as well as the reign of Elizabeth II in depth. Like many (and acknowledged by Smith), I first began to like (instead of laugh at) the Queen when I watched the Helen Mirren's portrayal in the movie "The Queen" a few years back. Mirren made her
We don't have continuity of government here in the United States. While certainly any bid to create a monarchy here would die an instantaneous death by laughter, Queen Elizabeth II has done her job. She figured out how to walk the narrow line given her to walk and yet as an elder statesman, she learned to move with the times and has allowed herself to change. This is not a nothing!
The wealth of historical data gleaned from reading this book was wonderful. Of course I knew so much of it in a bare bones manner--but Smith fleshed it out wonderfully. All-in-all, I heartily recommend this book.
Thank you, LibraryThing Early Reviewers, for bringing this title to my attention!
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human. I began to have warm feelings of appreciation for the Monarchy as an entity after watching "The King's Speech" last year.We don't have continuity of government here in the United States. While certainly any bid to create a monarchy here would die an instantaneous death by laughter, Queen Elizabeth II has done her job. She figured out how to walk the narrow line given her to walk and yet as an elder statesman, she learned to move with the times and has allowed herself to change. This is not a nothing!
The wealth of historical data gleaned from reading this book was wonderful. Of course I knew so much of it in a bare bones manner--but Smith fleshed it out wonderfully. All-in-all, I heartily recommend this book.
Thank you, LibraryThing Early Reviewers, for bringing this title to my attention!
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LibraryThing member maryreinert
As an American who knows "just enough" about the royal family, I was rather interested in reading this book after hearing the author interviewed on radio. Regardless of what your position might be on monarchies in general, this makes for fascinating reading simply because of the interesting and
I found the book to be extremely well researched. It seemed every little bit of trivia that I had read about the monarch was included. I specifically remember a news article about an intruder into her bedroom; that story is there along with the ones that are better known such as Diana's death, etc.
Elizabeth is indeed a unique and extremely strong woman. Her life has been directed by others yet she managed to carve out her own style and develop as much of a personality and independent life as possible. Yes, she made mistakes; yes, she might see detached; yes, she isn't like us "normal folk." However, she certainly was able to maintain not only her health (which is difficult if one is extremely unhappy), but her own sense of who she is. I wound up with admiration for her as a woman in a very unique circumstance.
The book is very readable and the pictures lend a great deal. I do feel it has a pro-monarchy point of view and perhaps could have been a bit more evenly balanced at times, thus the four stars. However, it was well worth the read and very interesting.
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unusual life that Elizabeth has led. Her personal life which in itself is interesting is then laid on top of so many historical events from the last decades.I found the book to be extremely well researched. It seemed every little bit of trivia that I had read about the monarch was included. I specifically remember a news article about an intruder into her bedroom; that story is there along with the ones that are better known such as Diana's death, etc.
Elizabeth is indeed a unique and extremely strong woman. Her life has been directed by others yet she managed to carve out her own style and develop as much of a personality and independent life as possible. Yes, she made mistakes; yes, she might see detached; yes, she isn't like us "normal folk." However, she certainly was able to maintain not only her health (which is difficult if one is extremely unhappy), but her own sense of who she is. I wound up with admiration for her as a woman in a very unique circumstance.
The book is very readable and the pictures lend a great deal. I do feel it has a pro-monarchy point of view and perhaps could have been a bit more evenly balanced at times, thus the four stars. However, it was well worth the read and very interesting.
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LibraryThing member kateashenden
While this book was a bit more hagiographic than I was expecting, I learned a lot from it and really enjoyed it. I do feel that I almost know the Queen after reading this.
Subjects
Language
Original publication date
2011
Physical description
34 p.; 24 inches
ISBN
0812979796 / 9780812979794
Other editions
Elizabeth the Queen : the life of a modern monarch by Sally Bedell Smith (Paper Book)