The Windsors: A Dynasty Revealed

by Piers Brendon

Fully revised and updated, an enthralling and revealing biography, coming in 2001 as a four-part TV documentary.From its foundation in 1917 to the present day, here is the story of The House of Windsor, based on private papers and personal reminiscences from George V to Prince Charles and Princess Diana. The authors explain and analyze how the monarchy has re-created itself down through the ages, surviving crises like WW1 (when the dynasty changed its German name), the abdication of King Edward VIII, royal divorces and the death of Diana. The authors also explore the crucial role of the press – from the organized silence which surrounded Wallis Simpson to the creation of Diana as a media icon.

Genres: History, British Literature

334 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Piers Brendon was educated at Shrewsbury School and Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he read History. From 1965–1978, he was Lecturer in History, then Principal Lecturer and Head of Department, at what is now the Anglia Polytechnic University. From 1979 onwards he has worked as a free-lance writer of books, journalism and for television. From 1995 he has been a Fellow of Churchill College, Cambridge and was Keeper of the Churchill Archives Centre from 1995 to 2001

Reviews

[Susan Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book, an accompaniment to the TV miniseries of the same name, is a highly detailed, but readable account of the British royal family from George V to the the year 2000. It was George V who established the English name of the royals in 1917, changing out the German Saxe-Cobourg-Gotha surname as Great Britain was at war with Germany. Authors Piers Brendon and Phillip Whitehead augment the official record with important information gleaned from diaries, letters, private documents and interviews to give a warts-and-all portrait of the House of Windsor. The men, from Edward VII through Georges V and VI, Edward VIII (who abdicated) down to Charles III, do not come off well. It was Queen Mary, wife of George V, Queen Elizabeth, wife of George VI and Queen Elizabeth II who managed the may crises of the 20th century. Most interesting, and most likely to turn one into an anti-monarchist, are the accounts of the wealth accrued by each reigning monarch and the amount they were nevertheless subsidized through the Civil List by the British taxpayer.

[Burt Schoeppe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty average.

Competent writing. Tells a not-very-interesting story well enough.