majaisabella's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
4.0
Always interesting to read a royal biography as a republican… but I enjoyed this book! The drama and intrigue appeal to me greatly as a history student, but the overall pro royalist message was a little heavy handed at times. Also got a bit try at the 70% ish mark but recovered itself at the end.
bigotterbooks's review against another edition
4.0
4 big fat stars! Marvelous, detailed, engrossing. Sally Bedell Smith does it again with a very readable and approachable look at “The Marriage That Saved the Monarchy”. George VI and Elizabeth are revealed to be a loving couple that are stronger together against all the things they must endure. From the lengthy courtship to the stutter, the betrayal of Edward VIII’s abdication, WWII, and the realization that Princess Elizabeth is the future of the monarchy, this exhaustively researched book shows us their real devotion to each other as they play their part in history. I always enjoy Sally’s writing-she is so good at painting a picture with words and giving facts in an interesting way, this book reads like a novel. I couldn’t put it down. I was given a copy; this is my opinion.
momey's review against another edition
5.0
this bio was really excellent. i learned a lot about political moves during the interwar years as well as the british royal family and it was very readable while still being scholarly.
anniegroover's review against another edition
4.0
Ridley is a great writer and this biography was superb. The narrator was wonderful.
msmandrake's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 As biographies go, this is quite good, so my lukewarm enthusiasm is not for the book itself, just the subject. I DO find George V to be dull. And I can't get past the animal slaughtering, I mean, the thousands of birds and deer are quite bad enough, but when I read about him killing six tigers I really did have to force myself to keep reading. And yes, I realize that most all royals did (and still do) shoot things but George V was one of the most egregious of the bunch. AND he wouldn't give the Romanovs asylum AND he wasn't that nice to his kids. I just don't like him.