On Royalty: A Very Polite Inquiry into Some Strangely Related Families
by Jeremy Paxman
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 77)
Actually, the third star is a reflection more of my own weakness for royal gossip and similar trivia. Paxman's treatment isn't particularly lively. One senses that an overdeveloped sense of deference is possibly cramping his style, and a deference is the kiss of death to liveliness.
After I'd dutifully slogged through to the end, I remembered that Christopher Hitchens had written a review which appeared in The New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07...
Rea...more
After I'd dutifully slogged through to the end, I remembered that Christopher Hitchens had written a review which appeared in The New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07...
Rea...more
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Read in August, 2007
Paxman's insider's look into the closed off, eccentric lives of the European (mostly British) royals is irreverent and wickedly entertaining. The colorful historical anecdotes about such matters as the abnormally large head of a Spanish king due to inbreeding and the baby talk that Edward VIII was prone to doing around Wallis Simpson, provide great brain candy under the guise of becoming more educated in European history. Paxman is a bit long-winded at times, but those passages are worth slogg...more
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Read in March, 2008
An interesting history/critique of the latter years of the British monarchy (primary focus is from George III, onwards although, really, the attention paid to the Georgians is rather scant) and Paxman seems to do his best to present all sides when asking the questions "What's the point of the British monarchy? Should we keep it?" but he's very, very careful to avoid giving a committed answer of his own beyond "Why should we bother getting rid of it?" (although he presents oth...more
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Read in August, 2007
Before seeing the movie 'The Queen' I again wondered why do the Brits still have the Royals? This book then appeared on the new book shelf at the library. It is low key entertaining, I had to check the book out twice to get through it. You can only take so much at a time. I did learn one thing I had wondered about over the years; Eliz I died from infected tonsils, most authors just mentioned she nodded her head and died. Also saw the movie at the library for free, saved $$. The portrayal o...more
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Read in January, 2008
recommends it for:
Camilla Parker Bowles
So the Queen is wittier, shorter and nicer than everyone expects, Charles continues to moan about how unhappy his privileged position is and the rest of them are probably nuts (allegedly!).
Saving grace was the historical content and comparison to other mainly European royalty. There was some interesting insight into the role of the monarchy and the church in the institutions of UK government, but otherwise it was a well written and at times witty recount of one of he more boring UK institut...more
Saving grace was the historical content and comparison to other mainly European royalty. There was some interesting insight into the role of the monarchy and the church in the institutions of UK government, but otherwise it was a well written and at times witty recount of one of he more boring UK institut...more
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I wanted less Brit talk towards the end, and more historical shit (this was written by a British journalist so....) But that's a personal thing.
The author discussed the history of royalty, and compared that to its place/function today. Read it after or before you see that Helen Mirren movie, The Queen - they mirror each other. A bit queer they came out the same year even.
The author discussed the history of royalty, and compared that to its place/function today. Read it after or before you see that Helen Mirren movie, The Queen - they mirror each other. A bit queer they came out the same year even.
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A fun romp throught he world of European royalty from its origins to the present. Paxman's style is pleasantly anecdotal and non-polemic. His conculsions are surprising comong from a BBC newsreader -- that he'd rather have an imperfect but strictly ceremonial head of state in the form of a king or queen than a dangerously powerful combination of prime minister and head of state.
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Read in May, 2007
For some reason, I am strangely interested in royalty. I have no idea why, but it just boggles my mind that this system still exists. I find the kings and queen of history to be so exciting, mainly because they got away with it (for the most part). This book examines are obsession with royalty and what it takes to be royal (either good or bad, doesn't matter).
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Read in May, 2008
recommends it for:
History Buffs/ Tidbit Lovers
Very interesting book. Read if you like history, interesting tidbits, or royalty (obviously). The author writes in a british dialect and humorously, as all English authors do. Good, quick read.
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Read in June, 2008
Some interesting facts about the minor European royalties, and the Brits up to Geo V, but not much new about the current monarchy.
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Read in January, 2008
What I learned from this book...there was once a Prince Zog of Albania who gained his position by answering an ad in a paper.
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Interesting fact: the king of Albania was chosen from a group of applicants answering an ad in the newspaper.
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Read in January, 2008
Fascinating look inside the monarchy, particularly British monarchy, and why it survives.
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Read in January, 2007
A good read for any of you royal-watchers out there.
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