NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • 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 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 Commonwealth through the wars and upheavals of the last sixty years with unparalleled composure; intelligence; and grace. In Elizabeth the Queen; we meet the young girl who suddenly becomes “heiress presumptive†when her uncle abdicates the throne. We meet the thirteen-year-old Lilibet as she falls in love with a young navy cadet named Philip and becomes determined to marry him; even though her parents prefer wealthier English aristocrats. We see the teenage Lilibet repairing army trucks during World War II and standing with Winston Churchill on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on V-E Day. We see the young Queen struggling to balance the demands of her job with her role as the mother of two young children. Sally Bedell Smith brings us inside the palace doors and into the Queen’s daily routines—the “red boxes†of documents she reviews each day; the weekly meetings she has had with twelve prime ministers; her physically demanding tours abroad; and the constant scrutiny of the press—as well as her personal relationships: with Prince Philip; her husband of sixty-four years and the love of her life; her children and their often-disastrous marriages; her grandchildren and friends.Praise for Elizabeth the Queen“An excellent; all-embracing new biography.â€â€”The New York Times“[An] imposing; yet nimbly written; biography [that] dwarfs the field . . . a most satisfying and enjoyable read; one to be savored at length.â€â€”Minneapolis Star Tribune“Fascinating . . . After sixty years on the throne; the monarch of Britain is better known for her poker face than for sly wit or easy charm. Yet in biographer Sally Bedell Smith’s Elizabeth the Queen; Her Majesty sparkles with both.â€â€”More“Smith breaks new ground; [with the cooperation of] more than two hundred people; [including] the Queen’s relatives and friends. . . . [A] smart and satisfying book.â€â€”Los Angeles Times“A fresh and admiring look at Elizabeth II; a woman whose life has been chronicled in numerous books; but perhaps never with such intimacy.â€â€”Richmond Times-Dispatch
#526750 in Books 2009-02-10 2009-02-10Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.99 x .74 x 5.20l; .55 #File Name: 0812969464352 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Four StarsBy MAGAn excellent book that covers a part of Jeffersons life that is not often covered.2 of 3 people found the following review helpful. An Objective and fascinating look at the 'Sage of Monticello'By Daniel HurleyAccording to Clay Jenkinson; this is a better profile of the final years of Jefferson that is more objective then Dumas Malone's 6th volume 'The Sage'. Aside from Jefferson's financial issues that are quite fascinating; his desire to keep his family close created a large number of dependents and made relations within the families complex and strained. His grandson Randolph is remarkable giving up his education to work the lands; later assuming Jefferson's debts; selling lands and household materials from Monticelloafter TJ's death and he protected TJ from the Hemmings controversy by pointing to other family members. Fascinating too is the discussion of Monticello's design and offers they Jefferson bedroom and library were very private with restricted access( however; providing discrete access to the house servant who maintained his quarters. That was Sally whose room was not directly connected to Jefferson but an access say was. Also; provided background on TJs role in the creation of UVA; his late life writings to John Adams and his complicated view on slavery.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Twilight Sheds New LightBy Tamara J LawsonTwilight at Monticello has put new light on Thomas Jefferson; one of our most complex; fascinating Founding Fathers. Having lived in Virginia for a number of decades; it's impossible to be anywhere without feeling the impact of his life and leadership. However; after reading this biography which reads like a novel; I have a greater understanding and appreciation for his legacy. Of course; I'm hungry to read more about him. Jefferson was complicated; a conflicted and almost tortured soul who put country and family first. He learned that the policies he put in place as president weren't always easy to live with as a private citizen; and; as a private citizen; what he thought should be done wasn't simple despite being president. He struggled with the slavery issue; foreign policy; economics; and how to govern a young republic. He was taken ruthless advantage of by family and friends; and suffered mightily - but stoicly. What an example. What a fascinating life.Twilight at Monticello merely whet my appetite to explore this complex; heroic; compelling man who wanted only for his fellow citizens - and those who followed (us!) to be free.
