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Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch
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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 glamou ...more
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 glamou ...more
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Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch by Sally Bedell Smith is a 2012 Random House publication.
Well written, very interesting, and detailed accounting Queen Elizabeth’s life-
I will be completely honest – I’m not really a ‘royal watcher’. Before Diana married Price Charles and the media circus surrounding the wedding, I couldn’t have cared less about the royal family. I never gave Queen Elizabeth a second thought.
But, like many other American girls my age, Diana captured my teenage ...more
Well written, very interesting, and detailed accounting Queen Elizabeth’s life-
I will be completely honest – I’m not really a ‘royal watcher’. Before Diana married Price Charles and the media circus surrounding the wedding, I couldn’t have cared less about the royal family. I never gave Queen Elizabeth a second thought.
But, like many other American girls my age, Diana captured my teenage ...more
Hands down the most comprehensive, well-researched and interesting biography I have ever come across. As an Anglophile and a royal watcher fascinated by the history of the monarchy, I was keen to read this book especially after it was recommended to me by two friends I trust.
The portrait drawn here is of a mighty remarkable woman, one who was called to the throne early in life, but who assumed her role with dignity, grace and more pluck than most credit her with. More than anything else, this bi ...more
The portrait drawn here is of a mighty remarkable woman, one who was called to the throne early in life, but who assumed her role with dignity, grace and more pluck than most credit her with. More than anything else, this bi ...more
The Hook - I rarely write a hook for non-fiction but in the case of Elizabeth The Queen I felt the urge to tell you how this title made my list.
I’ve never been a royal watcher or much of a royal fan, until I had my DNA tested. I went through my whole life thinking I was pretty much Italian. Imagine my shock when my test showed I was only 47% Italian with a smattering of other regions including 11% Great Britain. I realize 11% is not a great deal and though I knew there was a chance I had some Br ...more
I’ve never been a royal watcher or much of a royal fan, until I had my DNA tested. I went through my whole life thinking I was pretty much Italian. Imagine my shock when my test showed I was only 47% Italian with a smattering of other regions including 11% Great Britain. I realize 11% is not a great deal and though I knew there was a chance I had some Br ...more
This is a marvelously entertaining biography about Queen Elizabeth II.
Sally Bedell Smith's book covers the queen's life from her childhood up to the wedding of Kate & William in 2011. I especially enjoyed the stories that were similar to scenes from the show "The Crown." After finishing the book I have more admiration for Elizabeth's dignified leadership and a better appreciation of the role that she plays.
Recommended for readers interested in learning more about the royal family.
Personal Note ...more
Sally Bedell Smith's book covers the queen's life from her childhood up to the wedding of Kate & William in 2011. I especially enjoyed the stories that were similar to scenes from the show "The Crown." After finishing the book I have more admiration for Elizabeth's dignified leadership and a better appreciation of the role that she plays.
Recommended for readers interested in learning more about the royal family.
Personal Note ...more
This was a fantastic portrait of perhaps the most constant, consistent persona of the 20th and early 21st centuries. Especially now, as we follow the Queen into her nineties (and minimal signs of slowing down, as with her eighties), it's mind-boggling to think of all the people she has come in contact with and all the policies she's had a hand in advising.
I'd love to see an updated edition in a year or so to include William and Kate's kids and Harry & Meghan's wedding. Back to rewatching The Cr ...more
I'd love to see an updated edition in a year or so to include William and Kate's kids and Harry & Meghan's wedding. Back to rewatching The Cr ...more
Just awful, if an author is going to propose a biography of a well known figure, at least have the courage to acknowledge a bias or predisposition to a certain viewpoint. This so-called biography is laughable. Yes she had access to "never before seen documents", but shouldn't we have heard some of this before? Somehow the author knows what Princess Diana's children and Tony Blair were thinking and their thoughts always paint Diana in the worst light possible. Really! Very National Enquirer-like.
...more
This is a fascinating book about an extraordinary woman.
Princess Elizabeth has a fairly normal upbringing for a member of the Royal family, given that she was not raised to become Queen. But when her uncle, King Edward VIII abdicated the throne for Wallis Simpson, her father became King George VI and she became next in line for the throne. Upon her father’s untimely death in 1852, Elizabeth, at age 25 became Queen Elizabeth II. She took her duties very seriously, stating:
“I declare before you a ...more
Princess Elizabeth has a fairly normal upbringing for a member of the Royal family, given that she was not raised to become Queen. But when her uncle, King Edward VIII abdicated the throne for Wallis Simpson, her father became King George VI and she became next in line for the throne. Upon her father’s untimely death in 1852, Elizabeth, at age 25 became Queen Elizabeth II. She took her duties very seriously, stating:
“I declare before you a ...more
A very detailed biography that gives one the feeling that the author cobbled together multiple People magazine articles. The treatment of the queen is sycophantic and the historical contextualization is superficial. Prince Charles comes off as a misguided but lovable dweeb; while Diana is villified. Even Camilla comes off as wonderful. I am not saying that Diana did not have problems and was not a manipulative person, but everyone comes off as well meaning in this book but her. The author's trea
...more
Before I went into reading (well, listening) to this book, I was convinced that Queen Elizabeth's husband had died. I knew that she inherited from her father, that she married some man and had at four kids, and all that. But, I didn't know what happened to him. Was it like she was some queen bee? Did he die after giving her all he needed? Or, was it an arranged marriage and he was hella old so she got off free after all? Apparently he's still living and they're a very happy couple.
That gives you ...more
That gives you ...more
I am an unashamed royalist and anglophile. I have read quite a few histories and biographies of twentieth century English history. If I had not done so much reading, I probably would have enjoyed this book more.
This is a superficial handling of the subject. It is a popular biography. It is also biased. I would not recommend this book to anyone seriously interested in anything other than entertainment.
This is a superficial handling of the subject. It is a popular biography. It is also biased. I would not recommend this book to anyone seriously interested in anything other than entertainment.
Sep 05, 2015
Bettie
rated it
it was ok
Shelves:
skim-through,
next,
tbr-busting-2015,
e-book,
biography,
autumn-2015,
nonfiction,
published-2012
Description: 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
...more
It seems fitting that this should be the currently-reading book as Elizabeth II becomes the longest reigning monarch in British history.
Jan 26, 2012
Lesa Parnham
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
Royal Watchers
Shelves:
2012-books-read
Parts were fascinating, parts were boring (one Prime Minister after another), I have read enough about the royal family to have doubts about how much of this is true. Quite possibly the author didn't want to make the queen angry. What happened to the c/c bracelet that Charles had for Camilla right before he was married to Diana? It is a proven fact that Charles carried on a relationship with Camilla throughout the marriage, Smith skipped over the part where while being interviewed on tv said he
...more
This is a book that is unapologetically PRO-Queen, or royalist, monarchist or as Dame Helen Mirren said "Queenist". This is also a fairly long book that is best read in small bits. The author does a great job of juxtaposing what is going on in England, the UK and the world with the details of Elizabeth II's reign.
We get to meet her Prime Ministers, her advisors, her friends. We learn about her hobbies; horses and horse racing, and horse breeding. Her family, her family dysfunction and more. If ...more
We get to meet her Prime Ministers, her advisors, her friends. We learn about her hobbies; horses and horse racing, and horse breeding. Her family, her family dysfunction and more. If ...more
Queen Elizabeth II is someone I've admired all my life. She was crowned in the second year of my life, so she has been my Queen for 60 years. I can't imagine having any other monarch, though I probably will have to get used to a change if I survive another decade. It's a change I don't look forward to.
There have been many, many books and television shows about Queen Elizabeth, including the popular movie, which I loved, "The Queen", with Helen Mirren in 2006. They all have their own slant (there ...more
There have been many, many books and television shows about Queen Elizabeth, including the popular movie, which I loved, "The Queen", with Helen Mirren in 2006. They all have their own slant (there ...more
Pedestrian and anodyne biography of Elizabeth II. That's the problem with most biographies - you have to wait until the person is dead and can't be offended, and when the person is royalty you pretty much have to add another 100 years to that before getting anything like a clear, unpartisan perspective. Nevertheless, the 20th century is the one period of history I've formerly ignored, and I've got to have SOMETHING to tide me over till the advent of season 3 of everyone's favourite glitzy royal
...more
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 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 ...more
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 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 ...more
Books about royalty, British royalty in particular, are my secret passion. Victoria's Daughters, Tina Brown's biography of Diana....I hung on every word. Nothing better than good gossipy history. So I picked up the hefty 537 page autobiography of QE II with some excitement. I enjoyed reading it, but was frankly...a little boring.
The author interviewed many people with numerous anecdotes, all of which portrayed the Queen as smart, admirably devoted and loving at all times, but there was no analys ...more
The author interviewed many people with numerous anecdotes, all of which portrayed the Queen as smart, admirably devoted and loving at all times, but there was no analys ...more
I really, REALLY enjoyed this book! I was lucky enough to get an advanced reader copy. I found myself unable to put it down. It was a very easy read and you come away with a real sense of who the Queen is. Not an easy feat, I'm sure. You see both her public and hints of her private persona, along with her strengths and weaknesses. There is a lot to admire about her.
Smith also does a great job writing for an American audience, who might not be as knowledgable about some of the inner workings of t ...more
Smith also does a great job writing for an American audience, who might not be as knowledgable about some of the inner workings of t ...more
I started reading this because I love watching The Crown. There are actually a number of similarities between the show and the book (perhaps not surprising since it’s nonfiction afterall, but the perspectives on different events line up).
I think the most interesting part to me were the sections on Princess Diana, but for different reasons than I initially thought. Bedell Smith paints a less rosy picture of Diana than I think we typically see, but in retrospect I would say that it’s remarkably ob ...more
I think the most interesting part to me were the sections on Princess Diana, but for different reasons than I initially thought. Bedell Smith paints a less rosy picture of Diana than I think we typically see, but in retrospect I would say that it’s remarkably ob ...more
I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't this. The Life of a Modern Monarch is incredibly boring, if you go by this book. Score another victory for Elizabeth Windsor. No one ever seems to get under her skin and reveal what makes her tick. There may be two reasons for this. The first is that she is really adept a concealing what is going on underneath, and the second is that there isn't a whole lot going on. She comes across as a moderately intelligent snob for most of her life (Smith can
...more
I have never given a book that I've finished a one-star rating. I finished the book because I'm the stubborn type, but wanted to give the author the benefit of a doubt and hope that eventually there would be some even-handedness to what is supposed to be a biography. That never happened.
In a nutshell-- Elizabeth II--which is how she is referred to a million times in this book as if we might forget WHICH Elizabeth--is perfect and anything bad that has happened during her reign is all Diana's fau ...more
In a nutshell-- Elizabeth II--which is how she is referred to a million times in this book as if we might forget WHICH Elizabeth--is perfect and anything bad that has happened during her reign is all Diana's fau ...more
I received a free Advance Reader's Edition of this book. I found it a very readable biography, and quite absorbing, particularly in the first half.
I've read other books about George VI and Elizabeth II, so I already knew much of the information presented about the Queen's early life. A good bit of the material about the middle part of her life was new to me, and quite interesting. Some of the later stuff felt ripped from the headlines: Diana, Fergie, William & Kate, etc.
The author doesn't hesit ...more
I've read other books about George VI and Elizabeth II, so I already knew much of the information presented about the Queen's early life. A good bit of the material about the middle part of her life was new to me, and quite interesting. Some of the later stuff felt ripped from the headlines: Diana, Fergie, William & Kate, etc.
The author doesn't hesit ...more
Being an unabashed Anglophile, I looked forward to reading this biography by an author whose work I have enjoyed. And I was not disappointed. This is an illuminating profile of the woman who has been on the British throne for 60 years and has become a beloved icon to her people. We see her in her personal moments although, as the author states, "there is never a moment in her life that she is not the Queen". The author may not be totally unbiased but she gives us a glimpse into the joys and sorr
...more
If you're looking for a balanced and even handed review of Elizabeth II's reign, this book isn't it. It was so blatantly pro-monarchy, and so blindly partisan towards the Queen that even I found it too much to bear. And how the author dealt with Diana (and all the royal brides, frankly) was awful. A large investment of time and not near enough return.
...more
Sep 05, 2012
Gwen
rated it
liked it
Recommended to Gwen by:
browsing at the library
Shelves:
biography-memoir
A highly readable account of Elizabeth II's life from birth to Golden Jubilee. As a reader not fully versed in British politics, the bits about the various prime ministers went over my head (I think I need to find "British Political History for Dummies" or something similar.), but what Smith was able to write about Elizabeth's personal life was fascinating.
From what I could ascertain (not doing any further research into Smith's background, philosophies, etc...my history graduate professors would ...more
From what I could ascertain (not doing any further research into Smith's background, philosophies, etc...my history graduate professors would ...more
Watching The Crown on Netflix compelled me to read more about Queen Elizabeth II. An informative and intriguing read.
Good long summary of life events but nothing else than the Queen is perfect and keeps perfect neutrality. The author is obviously biased as there is no mention of any dissension. For example the Queen visit to Canada in 1964 is mentioned as absolutely perfect with adoring crowds and no mention is made of the booing and the people turning their back on her motorcade when she was visiting Quebec City, along with the protests against her visit. Naw, all was perfect in front of adoring crowds as per
...more
A sensational book that takes an in-depth look at the life of the British Monarch that has spanned 60 years. Smith uses extensive interviews, press clippings, and numerous background books to illustrate the multi-faceted nature of Elizabeth II's life and the numerous events that helped shape her life, both before she ascended to the throne and during her (ongoing) historic reign. While dealing with many subjects, the book is neither too shallow in its description, nor too weighed to give a prope
...more
I have a not so secret passion for monarchies, so when I read the excerpt of Elizabeth the Queen in Vanity Fair, I knew that it was time to indulge. Even less ardent monarchists than myself will find a lot to love in this well-researched, entertaining, and even somewhat loving chronicle of England's longest serving monarch. From her sheltered childhood and unexpectedly early ascent to the throne (when Elizabeth became The Queen she was literally in a treetop in Kenya), to the marriages and divor
...more
This is a well put together biography. I noticed some reviews said it was nothing that could not have been pieced together from the news media but I do not believe that. It is not the indepth tell all that some people have been known to write. But you do get a more personal look at the way the British Monarchy works, a solid overview of Queen Elizabeth II's life. There is barely anything on her childhood but that is because this is more about the Monarch than the woman. It really starts with lea
...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The History Book ...: QUEEN ELIZABETH II | 2 | 10 | Apr 18, 2018 09:38AM | |
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| Goodreads Choice ...: Elizabeth the Queen - July 2013 | 11 | 151 | Jul 24, 2013 11:18AM | |
| The History Book ...: GLOSSARY FOR ELIZABETH THE QUEEN (SPOILER THREAD) | 163 | 119 | Jun 13, 2013 07:48PM | |
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“Thatcher once said that if she were a visitor from Mars required to create a constitutional system, "I would set up ... a hereditary monarchy, wonderfully trained, in duty and in leadership which understands example, which is always there, which is above politics, for which the whole nation has an affection and which is a symbol of patriotism.”
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“Like the princess, Philip didn't believe in public displays of affection, which made it easy to mask his feelings. But he revealed them privately in a touching letter to Queen Elizabeth in which he wondered if he deserved "all the good things which have happened to me," especially "to have fallen in love completely and unreservedly.”
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