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The King's War
The broadcast that George VI made to the nation on the outbreak of war in September 1939 - which formed the climax of the multi Oscar-winning film The King's Speech - was the product of years of hard work with Lionel Logue, his iconoclastic Australian-born speech therapist. Yet the relationship between the two men did not end there. Far from in the years that followed, Logue was to play an even more important role at the monarch's side.The King's War follows this relationship through the dark days of Dunkirk and the drama of D-Day to eventual victory in 1945 - and beyond. It is written by Peter Conradi, a Sunday Times journalist, and Mark Logue, Lionel's grandson, whose previous book, The King's How One Man Saved the British Monarchy, was a best-seller in Britain and America and translated into more than 20 languages.The book draws on exclusive material from the Logue Archive - the collection of diaries, letters and other documents left by Lionel and his feisty wife, Myrtle. It provides a fascinating portrait of two men and their respective families - the Windsors and the Logues - as they together faced up to the greatest challenge in Britain's history.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 3, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
November 11, 2019
"The King's War", by Mark Logue and Peter Conradi, is the sequel-of-sorts to their previous book, "The King's Speech". This was the wildly popular book and much-honored movie about Lionel Logue - the grandfather of Mark - and his speech therapist work with King George VI. George - or "Bertie" as he was called by his family - was the second son, but the one who succeeded to the throne in 1936 when his brother abdicated. Lionel Logue was an Australian ex-pat who emigrated to England with his wife and three sons to work with speech impediments. He was never "recognised" by the establishment because he had little formal training. He had learned his methods from working with WW1 soldiers injured in that war.
The first book, "The King's Speech". was an engaging confection which gave personal looks at George, who began therapy when he was still the "second son"; not expected to have a royal role past that of "brother-to-the-King". All that changed, of course, in 1936 ("The Year of the Three Kings"), when King George V died in January, Edward VIII abdicated in December to "marry the woman, etc, etc;" and George VI succeeded to the throne. From having to give occasional speeches in the past, George, once King, would have more reasons to speak in public. The book ends right after his being crowned King.
"The King's War begins in the year before WW2 begins and tells a basic history of the war, with special regard to both Lionel Logue and his family, and George VI and his family. The book is well-written but somehow a bit superfluous. It's a book about homelife during war-time, featuring as much about the two main characters as they could come up with.
Truthfully, after having read it, I'm not sure what the authors were seeking to do when writing the book. It's half-history and half-personal, but not even the "personal" is that personal.
It's well-written enough for me to recommend it to you to read, but I'm not sure you'll remember it in six months.
The first book, "The King's Speech". was an engaging confection which gave personal looks at George, who began therapy when he was still the "second son"; not expected to have a royal role past that of "brother-to-the-King". All that changed, of course, in 1936 ("The Year of the Three Kings"), when King George V died in January, Edward VIII abdicated in December to "marry the woman, etc, etc;" and George VI succeeded to the throne. From having to give occasional speeches in the past, George, once King, would have more reasons to speak in public. The book ends right after his being crowned King.
"The King's War begins in the year before WW2 begins and tells a basic history of the war, with special regard to both Lionel Logue and his family, and George VI and his family. The book is well-written but somehow a bit superfluous. It's a book about homelife during war-time, featuring as much about the two main characters as they could come up with.
Truthfully, after having read it, I'm not sure what the authors were seeking to do when writing the book. It's half-history and half-personal, but not even the "personal" is that personal.
It's well-written enough for me to recommend it to you to read, but I'm not sure you'll remember it in six months.
November 1, 2018
Following on from The King’s Speech, The King’s War examines the relationship between Lionel Logue and King George VI throughout the war years and beyond, up until the deaths of both men. More than this though, it is a detailed account of Britain at war, specifically, Londoners, and what they endured for the six long years of WWII. Intimate and anecdotal, The King’s War reads in a way that is as accessible as fiction, yet its content is grounded in facts. I found this book to be incredibly engaging, and it really opened my eyes to the war years in Britain, a history that I have only ever explored in the most casual of ways.
‘…and then one by one, as a switch was pulled, each area went dark, the dazzle becoming a patchwork of lights being snuffed out here and there until a last one remained, and it too went out. What was left was more than just wartime blackout, it was a fearful portent of what war was to be. We had not thought that we would have to fight in darkness, or that light would be our enemy.’ – Felicity Goodall, Life during the blackout, Guardian, 1 Nov 2009.
I have not read The King’s Speech but I did watch the film and enjoyed it immensely. From that film, I then hopscotched over to The Crown, which I also enjoyed. George VI is a King that interests me greatly. He came to the job with reluctance and an impediment, both of which he overcame, becoming a most beloved monarch. My views on him have been confirmed through reading The King’s War, and I feel as though he was a man to be greatly admired. His working relationship with Logue spilled into friendship, and this was really heart-warming to read about. There was so much respect and admiration evident between the two men, and the appreciation that the immediate royal family and household had for Logue was apparent. When you think back to that speech the King made at the beginning of the war, the progress he charts over the course of his life is phenomenal. There are so many people who never control their stammers to the degree that he was able to accomplish, and for one in such a high profile position, that he did overcome it is testimony to the hard work on the part of both the King and Logue.
‘I wonder if you realise how grateful I am to you for having made it possible for me to carry out this vital part of my job. I cannot thank you enough.’ – King George VI in a letter to Lionel Logue
‘When a fresh patient comes to me the usual query is – “Will I be able to speak like the King?”, and my reply is, “Yes, if you will work like he does” – I will cure anyone of intelligence if they will only work like you did – for you are now reaping the benefit of this tremendously hard work you did at the beginning. I look forward to the initial preparation of your speeches with keen pleasure, knowing that the delivery will be all that is required, as the greatest pleasure in my life has been the honour of working with you.’ – Lionel Logue in a letter to King George VI
‘I think that I know perhaps better than anyone just how much you helped the King, not only with his speech, but through his whole life and outlook on life. I shall always be deeply grateful to you for all you did for him.’ Elizabeth – Queen Mother in a letter to Lionel Logue after the passing of her husband King George VI
The King’s War is a fine achievement, well researched, but put together with the reader in mind. I enjoyed the anecdotal accounts of the ins and outs of life during the war. The sacrifice that was stoically borne, the deprivations, the relentless attacks from the German air raiders. This is all interwoven with the daily lives of the King and Queen, along with the Logue family, and the ties that bound these two families together. Extracts from the key speeches given throughout the war years, by both Churchill and King George VI, are included, and on more than one occasion the poignancy of these words gave me goose-bumps. The King’s War is an inspiring read. I highly recommend it.
Thanks is extended to Hachette Australia for providing me with a copy of The King’s War for review.
‘…and then one by one, as a switch was pulled, each area went dark, the dazzle becoming a patchwork of lights being snuffed out here and there until a last one remained, and it too went out. What was left was more than just wartime blackout, it was a fearful portent of what war was to be. We had not thought that we would have to fight in darkness, or that light would be our enemy.’ – Felicity Goodall, Life during the blackout, Guardian, 1 Nov 2009.
I have not read The King’s Speech but I did watch the film and enjoyed it immensely. From that film, I then hopscotched over to The Crown, which I also enjoyed. George VI is a King that interests me greatly. He came to the job with reluctance and an impediment, both of which he overcame, becoming a most beloved monarch. My views on him have been confirmed through reading The King’s War, and I feel as though he was a man to be greatly admired. His working relationship with Logue spilled into friendship, and this was really heart-warming to read about. There was so much respect and admiration evident between the two men, and the appreciation that the immediate royal family and household had for Logue was apparent. When you think back to that speech the King made at the beginning of the war, the progress he charts over the course of his life is phenomenal. There are so many people who never control their stammers to the degree that he was able to accomplish, and for one in such a high profile position, that he did overcome it is testimony to the hard work on the part of both the King and Logue.
‘I wonder if you realise how grateful I am to you for having made it possible for me to carry out this vital part of my job. I cannot thank you enough.’ – King George VI in a letter to Lionel Logue
‘When a fresh patient comes to me the usual query is – “Will I be able to speak like the King?”, and my reply is, “Yes, if you will work like he does” – I will cure anyone of intelligence if they will only work like you did – for you are now reaping the benefit of this tremendously hard work you did at the beginning. I look forward to the initial preparation of your speeches with keen pleasure, knowing that the delivery will be all that is required, as the greatest pleasure in my life has been the honour of working with you.’ – Lionel Logue in a letter to King George VI
‘I think that I know perhaps better than anyone just how much you helped the King, not only with his speech, but through his whole life and outlook on life. I shall always be deeply grateful to you for all you did for him.’ Elizabeth – Queen Mother in a letter to Lionel Logue after the passing of her husband King George VI
The King’s War is a fine achievement, well researched, but put together with the reader in mind. I enjoyed the anecdotal accounts of the ins and outs of life during the war. The sacrifice that was stoically borne, the deprivations, the relentless attacks from the German air raiders. This is all interwoven with the daily lives of the King and Queen, along with the Logue family, and the ties that bound these two families together. Extracts from the key speeches given throughout the war years, by both Churchill and King George VI, are included, and on more than one occasion the poignancy of these words gave me goose-bumps. The King’s War is an inspiring read. I highly recommend it.
Thanks is extended to Hachette Australia for providing me with a copy of The King’s War for review.
November 10, 2019
This is such a great book - I'm probably the only person in the world not to have seen or read 'The Kings Speech' from the same author. This book follows the friendship and professional relationship between King George VI and his speech therapist, Lionel Logue, throughout the war years.
Through the letters and diaries left my Lionel Logue, the authors have been able to create a book that reads like a story yet combines the real life events going on at the time to provide the context for the events the reader sees through the eyes of the King and Lionel Logue.
It's a very personal and insightful account of the war years - particularly the impact on London and its inhabitants. The very British motto of 'Keep calm and carry on' is evident throughout and clearly came from the monarchy, through parliament and all the way down to the average person. It's a book that really brings to life some of the most famous names and faces of the era - I feel like I know them!
This is a fantastic book on so many levels - it would appeal to anyone interested in British history, the monarchy, politics the war and the day to life of those around during war time Britain. The tone of the letter writing says so much about the attitudes and beliefs at the time. There is real sadness here too - the war, the loss of life and the atrocities committed are not glossed over - but neither are they dwelt on. It's a very educational book told with an almost fictional story type narrative so consequently it is a surprisingly easy read.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Through the letters and diaries left my Lionel Logue, the authors have been able to create a book that reads like a story yet combines the real life events going on at the time to provide the context for the events the reader sees through the eyes of the King and Lionel Logue.
It's a very personal and insightful account of the war years - particularly the impact on London and its inhabitants. The very British motto of 'Keep calm and carry on' is evident throughout and clearly came from the monarchy, through parliament and all the way down to the average person. It's a book that really brings to life some of the most famous names and faces of the era - I feel like I know them!
This is a fantastic book on so many levels - it would appeal to anyone interested in British history, the monarchy, politics the war and the day to life of those around during war time Britain. The tone of the letter writing says so much about the attitudes and beliefs at the time. There is real sadness here too - the war, the loss of life and the atrocities committed are not glossed over - but neither are they dwelt on. It's a very educational book told with an almost fictional story type narrative so consequently it is a surprisingly easy read.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 6, 2025
After having read Mark Logues first book about the cooperation between his grandfather and King George VI I was intrigued about their relation in WWI. The book didn't disappoint me, because not only was it a fine description about the support Lionel Logue has given to the king during the years of war, but I also learn a lot about air raids on de British Isles and the devastation the V1 and V2 missiles had caused. Being Dutch, my mother has told me a lot about the missiles, which were launched for a spot in the nabourhood of The Hague. Sometimes those missiles took a wrong turn and exploded in the city.
January 20, 2020
I saw and very much enjoyed the Oscar-winning movie "The King's Speech." The success of that movie inspired this book, written by a journalist and the grandson of the speech therapist who helped King George VI master his crippling stutter.
Speech therapy was in its infancy during World War II when the Australian Lionel Logue worked with the British monarch. He remained a secretive member of the King's inner circle but rehearsed all the monarch's speeches with him until the end of the war. His grandson, with access to Lionel Logue's files and personal papers, wrote this book detailing not only how the King but the Logue family endured those difficult years. Perhaps most touching are the letters exchanged between the King and his speech therapist that reveal a genuine friendship beyond that of patient and therapist.
While the book delves into Logue's pioneering techniques, basics to today's more sophisticated practitioners, it also lays out war events which Logue witnessed from behind the scenes with his royal patient. The reader is given glimpses of famous characters such as the rascally but endearing Prime Minister Winston Churchill and the ever calm, encouraging Queen Consort.
Worn down by the stress of a position he never wanted, the King died less than a decade after the war. His therapist followed not long after. Both men left the world a better place for their having entered it. I wish I could say the same for some of our more recent leaders.
Speech therapy was in its infancy during World War II when the Australian Lionel Logue worked with the British monarch. He remained a secretive member of the King's inner circle but rehearsed all the monarch's speeches with him until the end of the war. His grandson, with access to Lionel Logue's files and personal papers, wrote this book detailing not only how the King but the Logue family endured those difficult years. Perhaps most touching are the letters exchanged between the King and his speech therapist that reveal a genuine friendship beyond that of patient and therapist.
While the book delves into Logue's pioneering techniques, basics to today's more sophisticated practitioners, it also lays out war events which Logue witnessed from behind the scenes with his royal patient. The reader is given glimpses of famous characters such as the rascally but endearing Prime Minister Winston Churchill and the ever calm, encouraging Queen Consort.
Worn down by the stress of a position he never wanted, the King died less than a decade after the war. His therapist followed not long after. Both men left the world a better place for their having entered it. I wish I could say the same for some of our more recent leaders.
July 16, 2025
So I had this one on my shelves for a while but wanted to read “The King’s Speech” first as this is a sequel of a sort. This again followed the relationship between King George V and his speech therapist, Lionel Louge but it goes into more specific detail about the period covering the build up to the Second World War and the war years specifically, which is only briefly covered in the first book, as that sort of wraps up around the time of his coronation. For me, this was as well written as the first book but I didn’t feel like it was really as necessary a story to be told. Yes, it’s gone into a lot more detail about a very tumultuous time and I liked some of the snippets into the life of the royal family during the bombing of London and the palace etc but I just felt like it was cashing in a bit on the interest generated from the film and it somehow felt like it was a bit surplus to requirements. It’s an interesting mix of historical record and personal experience but it doesn’t really come across very “personable” as I don’t feel like I really met the two men as much as I did in the first book. It held my attention but I wouldn’t re-read and I don’t think it will stick with me so I probably would only really recommend the first book and I would only really go to 3 stars for this one.
March 7, 2020
The King's War is an absorbing sequel to The King's Speech. It is written by Mark Logue the grandson of George V's speech therapist. It is a very good study of the king's role in WWII which is often overlooked. The King was central to keeping morale high and setting an example.
The awkwardness of the King due to his speech problems was readily apparent in his speeches while Duke of York. Many of the problems were reduced by Logue. The king and Logue were great friends and Logue greatly assisted the king when he gave radio broadcasts. Logue would edit out hard to pronounce words and coach the king on delivery. A mark of Logue's importance was that Logue was next to the king during important broadcasts accompanied only by a BBC radio engineer and sometimes the head of the BBC
More importantly the book shows the privations of the English during the war. Rationing cold and the bombings were a constant threat. The English gave their blood sweat and tears to keep their island nation being overrun.
An interesting error is on the book jacket. It shows King George V saluting as a group of bombers fly overhead. They are American B-17's rather than more appropriate British Lancasters. Certainly a fault of the American publisher of this edition.
Highly recommended as a great read.
The awkwardness of the King due to his speech problems was readily apparent in his speeches while Duke of York. Many of the problems were reduced by Logue. The king and Logue were great friends and Logue greatly assisted the king when he gave radio broadcasts. Logue would edit out hard to pronounce words and coach the king on delivery. A mark of Logue's importance was that Logue was next to the king during important broadcasts accompanied only by a BBC radio engineer and sometimes the head of the BBC
More importantly the book shows the privations of the English during the war. Rationing cold and the bombings were a constant threat. The English gave their blood sweat and tears to keep their island nation being overrun.
An interesting error is on the book jacket. It shows King George V saluting as a group of bombers fly overhead. They are American B-17's rather than more appropriate British Lancasters. Certainly a fault of the American publisher of this edition.
Highly recommended as a great read.
September 30, 2020
This is written as a sequel to the King’s Speech by Peter Logue, the grandson of Lionel Logue who was George VI’s speech therapist. This non-fiction account is how their relationship fared during the WWII and is an interesting narrative on life for the Logue family and their three adult sons as WWII progressed.
It was a fairly easy read, not really telling me anything new that I had not read before, but a couple of interesting anecdotes that I hadn’t heard before, for example, George VI and Churchill planned to watch the D-Day landings from a British wartime in the English channel. Apparently they were like a pair of boys planning an adventure and were confident nothing bad could happen as it didn’t even count as leaving England. It was private secretary Tommy Lascelles who told them that before they went, they had to brief the 18 year old Princess Elizabeth on choosing a Prime Minister, in the event that the King and the Prime Minister went down on the same ship. This brought them back down to earth and the plan was aborted.
A pleasant enough read.
It was a fairly easy read, not really telling me anything new that I had not read before, but a couple of interesting anecdotes that I hadn’t heard before, for example, George VI and Churchill planned to watch the D-Day landings from a British wartime in the English channel. Apparently they were like a pair of boys planning an adventure and were confident nothing bad could happen as it didn’t even count as leaving England. It was private secretary Tommy Lascelles who told them that before they went, they had to brief the 18 year old Princess Elizabeth on choosing a Prime Minister, in the event that the King and the Prime Minister went down on the same ship. This brought them back down to earth and the plan was aborted.
A pleasant enough read.
October 16, 2019
An extension of the first book, the King's Speech, this book carries us through the continuing relationship between speech therapist Lionel Logue and King George as Britain and the rest of the world plunge into war. The authors go into great detail about the effects of the war on Britain; I skipped through some of these passages to focus more on Logue and his continuing aid to the King during the high-stress times when the King was due to address the nation. While this is not the most scintillating of reads it is still interesting and good-hearted, if a bit fawning at times. I can't quite get over the odd acknowledgments page, in which Mark Logue thanks his wife yet wishes there had been more support with the first one. Joke? Pettiness? Who knows. Adult.
November 6, 2021
A very smooth walk through World War 2 through the eyes of King George VI’s speech therapist Lionel Logue. Now well known through his grandson’s first book and subsequent movie: “The King’s Speech”, the story of Logue’s support during the King’s most difficult times forms the basis for Mark Logue’s second book. The main events are well known but hearing of the machinations within the Palace as war was declared or when the palace was bombed are well told. Also of note are the stories for the suburbs of London as they were battered by the Luftwaffe.
February 13, 2020
Lionel Logue, King George's speech coach, continued his work with King George through World War Two, although only on a part-time basis. There's not as much day-to-day detail as I'd expected, but I did find this an interesting read. It explains (rather quickly) how the British royalty, and the British people as exemplified by Mr. Logue, got through World War II on the home front. It's useful for Americans to remember how much the British suffered.
March 2, 2019
I loved this book. As someone born in 1993, I knew small elements or ‘facts’ about WW2 but this book really helped to express the personal experiences of the war. It also shed an important light on King George’s dedication and hard work during his time on the throne. A great, touching book that I highly recommend!
April 8, 2020
A great addition to my knowledge of WW2 and King George VI as well as the brilliance of Lionel Logue and his teaching methods. I’m very pleased to have read this book especially now during the COVID-19 pandemic. It illustrates how the population of Britain, in particular London, coped during WW2 with the bombing raids that killed and injured so many - many parallels with life at the moment.
May 17, 2021
A very specific look at George VI during the war through the relationship with his speech coach, Lionel Logue. Clearly written and a good description of life in London during the Blitz and afterwards. Anyone who enjoyed The King's Speech would appreciate this story of what happened in the following years.
November 22, 2022
A continuation of The King's Speech, this is a workman-like account of the friendship between King George VI and Lionel Logue through WWII and the Blitz. The background history is familiar enough. This is a tale of royal patronage.
November 22, 2019
Non- fiction - facts on how England survised the bombing and WWII. Slow read but very good.
January 19, 2020
At times, too much trivial detail as up with excerpts from diaries.
February 1, 2020
A very interesting book giving an insight of King George's life through various intricated testimonies, but also a touching tribute to a man who dedicated his life to helping others.
Read
February 20, 2020Good story!
Read
March 15, 2021Excellent Book!
July 11, 2021
The story is interesting, but the writing could have been better.
April 9, 2022
It was really interesting to learn about the former king and the “issues” he had to deal with and how it affected him.
July 5, 2025
Before the infamous speech of King George VI, Lionel Logue was a rising speech therapist, a first in his field. And the unlikely freindship that grew from his point of view during WWII.
February 6, 2020
If you are interested in the history of King George VI and his family during WWII, choose a different book. The title is misleading. The Title should be Lionel Logue's relationship with the King of England and trivia about his family. Do we really care about Logue going to a psychic after his wife's death??? 90% of the "history" of the royal family during the war is derived from sources other than Logue - insufficiently cited sources and lots of newspaper articles. We have ad nauseum letters sent from Logue to the royal household and a few notes from the King. The "history" has so many gaps as to be laughable. We jump from Elizabeth being talked into delaying the announcement of her engagement to the birth of Charles. Wasn't there a wedding? The book tells about King George visiting Montgomery near the front lines after D-day ( how sweet) , but does not mention the disaster at Arnheim - a disaster due in large part to Montgomery's hubris. Apparently the King was unaware of the event. This book is a rip-off to capitalize on the popularity of the book and film "The King's Speech". I don't know why I finished this badly written drivel. What a waste of my time. Don't make the same mistake. Kristi & Abby Tabby
March 19, 2020
It's interesting to read this immediately after reading Erik Larson's new Churchill book. This one, by comparison, is gentler, lighter, more anecdotal, and much more polite. If you're familiar with WWII, much of the historical context will feel repetitious; I tended to gloss over much of that to get to the best bits: the lives of the King and Queen, their private thoughts, and Lionel Logue's continued interactions with the Royal Family. It's a pleasant, comfortable read, although I found the ending surprisingly muted...and even a bit coloured by the disappointment of the lack of a knighthood for Logue's efforts with the King. It's not the blazing, electrifying slice of history as presented by Erik Larson, but "The King's War" makes for a quiet & dignified companion to "The Splendid and the Vile".
May 20, 2020
This is a very interesting read - a personal look at London during WWII. It is written by Mark Logue who is the grandson of Lionel Logue - the speech therapist who helped King George VI with his stammer. It shows the developing relationship between Logie, his family, and the royals during this time.
It is also a social and at times quite personal history - how these two families coped with the war. They were very different from each other in many ways but like many other families, they suffered the same bombings, fears and saw similar horrors.
It is well written and not a difficult read. It is not a gripping story but it was sufficiently interesting for me to want to keep reading .
It is also a social and at times quite personal history - how these two families coped with the war. They were very different from each other in many ways but like many other families, they suffered the same bombings, fears and saw similar horrors.
It is well written and not a difficult read. It is not a gripping story but it was sufficiently interesting for me to want to keep reading .
October 7, 2021
A great follow up to the King's Speech with a weighted representation of the king, Lionel Logue his speech "coach" and the WW II quite evenly. A well balanced easy read that keeps you interested in the King's continued efforts with his speech while WW II has a profound change on England's present and future. Loved the historical tie-ins and enjoyed it as much as the King's Speech.
January 7, 2020
Loyalty & Royalty
Follow up book to The King’s Speech. An interesting description of the relationship during WWII and into the early 1950s between Logue and the King. Both men truly respected each other.
Follow up book to The King’s Speech. An interesting description of the relationship during WWII and into the early 1950s between Logue and the King. Both men truly respected each other.
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