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lprnana6572's review
5.0
This book was published in 1996 so it is a bit out of date and probably a bit more fawning that some later books might be, but it gave me a lot of insight into her life.
khoerner7's review against another edition
2.0
This was a giant sized book but there are a lot of years to cover in the 85 yr old monarch's life. This must have been an authorized bio because there was little or no dirt or even surprises. The author was surprisingly critical and angry sounding about Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson.
jaymeeloo's review
4.0
I have to admit that the royal family is really a guilty pleasure of mine. And this book did not disappoint. Elizabeth had/has such a fascinating life and is a very interesting woman.
I must say though that I was surprised by the light in which Princess Diana was presented. I haven't read much about Princess Diana but in this book she is presented as a misguided and silly girl.
However, overall, I enjoyed the style in which it was written and the flow, except the few boring and unneccessary chapters of detailed finances and logistics.
A long but good read if you are interested in the royal family.
I must say though that I was surprised by the light in which Princess Diana was presented. I haven't read much about Princess Diana but in this book she is presented as a misguided and silly girl.
However, overall, I enjoyed the style in which it was written and the flow, except the few boring and unneccessary chapters of detailed finances and logistics.
A long but good read if you are interested in the royal family.
stephybara's review
4.0
I enjoyed this biography of the Queen, but since I admire her generally, this mostly admiring and positive biography was right up my alley. The author did not shy away from mistakes or poor decisions the Queen may have made. It took me ages to get through it - almost 600 pages and none of them gimmes - but I enjoyed it a lot.
Here is my favourite bit, a quote from the wife of the Foreign Secretary in 1976, about being on the royal yacht during a Force 9 gale:
"She appeared, however, looking philosophical, almost merry, twenty yards of chiffon scaft flung over one shoulder. Half a pace behind her was her Consort, his face less fresh than usual, ashen and drawn, in fact. [... After dinner and coffee] the Queen rose to say goodnight, resting one hand against the handle of the open sliding door which at that moment began sliding over again. The Queen gripped the handle firmly, pressed her back to the door and moved with it as it slid slowly shut, the chiffon scarf flying in the opposite direction. 'Wheeeeee,' said the Queen. Britannia shuddered, reeled again. The chiffon scarf blew the other way. 'Wheeeeee,' said the Queen. Britannia hesitated before the next heave. 'Goodnight,' said the Queen, slipping through the door, Prince Phillip half a pace behind her ..." pg 375
Here is my favourite bit, a quote from the wife of the Foreign Secretary in 1976, about being on the royal yacht during a Force 9 gale:
"She appeared, however, looking philosophical, almost merry, twenty yards of chiffon scaft flung over one shoulder. Half a pace behind her was her Consort, his face less fresh than usual, ashen and drawn, in fact. [... After dinner and coffee] the Queen rose to say goodnight, resting one hand against the handle of the open sliding door which at that moment began sliding over again. The Queen gripped the handle firmly, pressed her back to the door and moved with it as it slid slowly shut, the chiffon scarf flying in the opposite direction. 'Wheeeeee,' said the Queen. Britannia shuddered, reeled again. The chiffon scarf blew the other way. 'Wheeeeee,' said the Queen. Britannia hesitated before the next heave. 'Goodnight,' said the Queen, slipping through the door, Prince Phillip half a pace behind her ..." pg 375
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