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lisyda's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
For someone who hasn't read a ton of different biographies about the royal family, this was a very interesting read. I was recommended this book after I finished The Crown (loved that final scene!) and I'm really glad I picked it up.
Although it's a non-fiction book, it's written in a storytelling style, which makes it quite easy to read. Facts have been stringed together into depictions of moments in the sisters' lives. Since visual mediums – e.g. shows like The Crown in this case – have an easier time of implanting their stories in our minds, the lines between fact and fiction get blurred and muddied, so I appreciated getting a more factual overview of some of the stories that had already taken root in my brain from the TV show.
While the book tells the story of both Elizabeth and Margaret, it felt like there was more of an emphasis on Margaret's narrative, especially in the later half of the book. Based on a couple of other reviews, I'm not alone in feeling that way, but it seems to make sense as there have been more works published on the life of Elizabeth already. Nonetheless, it was a very interesting read and I always find it fascinating to glimpse these times gone by.
The part I found most intriguing was the truth about Margaret and Peter Townsend's relationship and the marriage that didn't happen. It was also interesting to note that their correspondence will be made public in 2030, so I'm predicting Margaret & Peter books being published in the future.
If you're like me and haven't read every royal biography out there but are still interested in learning more about the history, I'd recommend picking this one up.
Although it's a non-fiction book, it's written in a storytelling style, which makes it quite easy to read. Facts have been stringed together into depictions of moments in the sisters' lives. Since visual mediums – e.g. shows like The Crown in this case – have an easier time of implanting their stories in our minds, the lines between fact and fiction get blurred and muddied, so I appreciated getting a more factual overview of some of the stories that had already taken root in my brain from the TV show.
While the book tells the story of both Elizabeth and Margaret, it felt like there was more of an emphasis on Margaret's narrative, especially in the later half of the book. Based on a couple of other reviews, I'm not alone in feeling that way, but it seems to make sense as there have been more works published on the life of Elizabeth already. Nonetheless, it was a very interesting read and I always find it fascinating to glimpse these times gone by.
The part I found most intriguing was the truth about Margaret and Peter Townsend's relationship and the marriage that didn't happen. It was also interesting to note that their correspondence will be made public in 2030, so I'm predicting Margaret & Peter books being published in the future.
If you're like me and haven't read every royal biography out there but are still interested in learning more about the history, I'd recommend picking this one up.
kdurham2's review against another edition
4.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
If you are a fan of The Crown and feel as though you have read all the things about the royals, I would still suggest you read this one.
With a title of Elizabeth & Margaret, this book covers both sisters and how ascending to a thrown can really change the sister relationship. While reading this book there weren't too many surprises when it came to Elizabeth's life as there are many books and tv shows that have covered her life and reign, but what surprised me most were the details of Margaret's life that are left out of those experiences.
I have read very little that focuses on Margaret's life apart from her sister and I appreciated this author putting a spotlight on Margaret but also giving the context of what is going on in Elizabeth's life and how their lives intertwined.
If you are a fan of The Crown and feel as though you have read all the things about the royals, I would still suggest you read this one.
With a title of Elizabeth & Margaret, this book covers both sisters and how ascending to a thrown can really change the sister relationship. While reading this book there weren't too many surprises when it came to Elizabeth's life as there are many books and tv shows that have covered her life and reign, but what surprised me most were the details of Margaret's life that are left out of those experiences.
I have read very little that focuses on Margaret's life apart from her sister and I appreciated this author putting a spotlight on Margaret but also giving the context of what is going on in Elizabeth's life and how their lives intertwined.
katscribefever's review against another edition
4.0
I found that this biography flowed almost like a narrative novel rather than a nonfiction piece, which always makes for the best kinds of biographies. Packed with information about the sisters Windsor, the book allows the reader to take "a peek through the keyhole" to see the lives of these two remarkable women. A cliché at this point, writings like this help us to understand that, no matter how much money royals may have in their possession, the lives they lead are far from idyllic fairy tales. Interestingly, this dense work seems to focus a bit more on Margaret than on Elizabeth, but I can't know for sure if that's due to an intentional choice on Andrew Morton's part; perhaps Morton feels there are already plenty of works on the Queen. Alternately, it's possible Morton feels Margaret is the more captivating of the sisters, as the Queen has spent her entire life toeing the lines of the Firm's strict royal code, and Margaret's refusal to do the same makes her a more interesting subject to focus on. Or, it's possible that the book seems to favor Margaret simply because of my own biased interest in the capricious princess. In whichever case, I can heartily recommend this biography to anyone wanting to learn about the lives of King George IV's daughters.