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A review by june_englit_phd
The Mountbattens: Their Lives & Loves by Andrew Lownie
3.0
This is an interesting and well-researched biography of Lord Louis Mountbatten (as he came to be known) and his wife, Edwina. As the title of the book suggests, it focuses on their turbulent marriage and the many extra-marital flings that first Edwina, and then Louis (known as ‘Dickie’) had. Edwina appears initially to have taken lovers to lighten her ennui of being married to the organised and Navy-focussed Dickie; indeed, Lownie portrays their incompatibility as arising very early on in their marriage. However, Edwina later thrives in caring for refugees, or families affected by war, carving a niche for herself which altered my perception of her from being a real-life Emma Bovary to a more decent human being. However, it isn’t long until both Edwina and Dickie have more flings (one of Edwina’s being Nehru, the Indian Prime Minister), the effects of these on their marriage and afterwards forming the bulk of the book.
The narrative also looks at Dickie’s roles in the Navy (before and after World War 2) and in becoming the Last Viceroy (and First Governor General) of India, immediately prior to Indian independence. His high standing within the Royal Family is also examined, Lownie showing how Dickie was a favourite of Prince Charles – almost becoming a surrogate father to him. Edwina’s globe-trotting lifestyle is also alluded to, with the book concluding with Mountbatten’s assassination, his legacy, and the many rumours that have circulated in more recent years about Dickie’s sexuality and potential links with paedophilia. In three separate sections throughout the book, there are sets of personal family photographs – some of these are Edwina’s lovers, some Dickie’s, while others show their children, or even a young Princess Elizabeth and Philip.
Having known very little about Louis Mountbatten before reading this book, I have learned a lot from it. The narrative style is accessible and engaging; at no point did it appear to drag on.
The narrative also looks at Dickie’s roles in the Navy (before and after World War 2) and in becoming the Last Viceroy (and First Governor General) of India, immediately prior to Indian independence. His high standing within the Royal Family is also examined, Lownie showing how Dickie was a favourite of Prince Charles – almost becoming a surrogate father to him. Edwina’s globe-trotting lifestyle is also alluded to, with the book concluding with Mountbatten’s assassination, his legacy, and the many rumours that have circulated in more recent years about Dickie’s sexuality and potential links with paedophilia. In three separate sections throughout the book, there are sets of personal family photographs – some of these are Edwina’s lovers, some Dickie’s, while others show their children, or even a young Princess Elizabeth and Philip.
Having known very little about Louis Mountbatten before reading this book, I have learned a lot from it. The narrative style is accessible and engaging; at no point did it appear to drag on.