Queen of Our Times

February 1, 2022
A celebration of the queen. For his latest book on the monarchy, Daily Mail journalist Hardman has drawn on interviews, confidential conversations, official and unofficial biographies, declassified Cabinet papers, and unpublished diaries, all of which give his account authority and heft. Elizabeth, who will celebrate her Platinum Jubilee on Feb. 6, 2022, has faced daunting political, economic, and family crises during her seven decades in power, including her sister's romance with a married man; the assassination of Prince Philip's uncle Lord Mountbatten; the Suez Canal conflict; disagreements with Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher; her children's divorces; the deaths of Diana and Prince Philip; unrest in some parts of the realm; cultural upheaval in response to British colonialism; anti-monarchists; and, most recently, the decision of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to withdraw from their royal obligations. No monarch, Hardman writes, "has weathered more change, both within and without the institution, than Elizabeth II. She has done so by avoiding grand, overarching masterplans and targets, by sticking to her strategy of 'small steps.' " With unwavering admiration, the author portrays Elizabeth as a head of state who exemplifies "the prudent application of soft power" and who "genuinely likes being Queen." He praises her restraint, which he believes comes from innate modesty and which often masks deep feelings. Even as a teenager in war-torn Britain, "Elizabeth was dutiful, reserved, reluctant to be the centre of attention, reticent with emotions and opinions." In 1966, when she was criticized for not rushing to the scene of a devastating colliery accident in Wales, Hardman explains that she was afraid of publicly displaying overwhelming sorrow. More than his previous books, this one is structured as a detailed chronology, following Elizabeth on diplomatic voyages throughout the world and dutifully reporting on interactions domestic and foreign. He debunks critics and especially delights in exposing fictions perpetrated by The Crown. A boon for royal-watchers.

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March 11, 2022

Hardman (Queen of the World) commemorates Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee with an engaging, in-depth biography covering key events in the 95-year-old monarch's life. Among these events are her childhood with sister Princess Margaret Rose, the wartime years, her wedding to Philip Mountbatten, her father's illness and early death, becoming Queen in 1952, the Coronation, the births of her four children, their weddings, and births of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Crises faced by the Queen over the years include: Princess Margaret's doomed romance with Peter Townsend; the divorces of three of her four children; the 1979 assassination of Lord Mountbatten in a terrorist attack; the fire at Windsor, the death of Princess Diana and its aftermath, and the latest scandal involving her son Prince Andrew. Hardman also covers the Queen's relationships with her various Prime Ministers (including Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher, and Tony Blair). Hardman's evenhanded treatment includes both criticism and praise the Queen has received during her life of service. Bibliographical notes are included for further reading. VERDICT An excellent biography of Queen Elizabeth II, a fitting tribute to a dedicated monarch. Especially recommended to those interested in the British royal family.--Lucy Heckman

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Starred review from March 1, 2022
February 2022 marks Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee. Nearing 96 years old and on the throne for 70 years, she is the longest reigning monarch in England's history. This publication honors that momentous occasion, and while some might wonder if the world really needs another biography of the queen (especially one that runs almost 700 pages), this offering is truly noteworthy. Readers will find political history, social commentary, and fresh observations mixed in with interviews and anecdotes from an array of twentieth- and twenty-first-century luminaries, devotees and detractors alike. Royal Family chronicler Hardman (Her Majesty, 2012; Queen of the World, 2019), an avowed royalist, sorts fact from fiction, covers an amazing amount of territory (coverage extends through the end of 2021), and seeks to mitigate misconceptions arising from recent media creations, like television shows The Crown and Downton Abbey. It's all here: the scandals, the triumphs, the minutiae of court life, and the grandeur of the British Empire, all framed within heartfelt appreciation for a woman who has dedicated her entire life to her country. As long as Queen Elizabeth reigns, consider this to be Her Majesty's definitive biography.

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