It was impossible to read this book without picturing the main characters as Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush! But it was Lionel Logue, the speech teacher, who most fascinated me and my favorite parts of the book were the ones in which his personal story emerged. His first inkling about the direction in which he should head with a career was his high school fascination with the rhythm in Longfellow's poem, The Song of Hiawatha. Interest in elocution was high as entertainment in this time of no television, movies, or computers, and Logue gave many "recitals." His on-going speech work with others did much toward helping develop the field of Speech Therapy as a respected one, especially by the medical community. His daughter-in-law was asked what was his secret of success with the King after many others had failed. Her reply, "Anyone can do tongue twisters and breathing exercises, but he was a first class psychotherapist, a super good daddy. . . ." echoing David Brooks on a recent radio show. Brooks said that it was the loving relationship between teacher and student that made learning possible. I found parts of the book very repetitive, containing descriptions of endless phone calls, notes, and letters of requests for his assistance on important speeches by the King through the years, and later thank you's for it. It is the rest that made it very worthwhile for me.