The Life and Times of Edward VII. Introduction By Antonia Fraser

Kings and Queens of England

by Keith Middlemas

A portrait of Edward VII in all his as the young Prince of Wales, bon viveur and leader of a fashionable and scandalous set; as husband to Alexandra and father to six; and as a statesman adapting the monarchy to a new role in the Constitution.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, History, Royalty

Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

Reviews

[Rick Rapp · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have always been fascinated with the British monarchy. I regularly read about various monarchs and the corresponding historical times. Edward VII and Prince Charles have been regularly compared since both of their mothers held (or are holding off) abdicating in favor of their eldest son. (Charles has led a much more varied and productive life, imo.) But Edward VII had quite a flair and was larger than life in his appetites and in his influence. He was the last English monarch to have direct personal ties with most of the crowned heads of Europe. His surviving son who became George V is routinely referred to as "dull." Not so for Edward VII. Not by a longshot. This book does a good job of recounting his days before and after accession to the throne. It has excellent photographs and political cartoons of the king and his cronies. My biggest issue with it is in its thoroughness. As such, there are oodles of titles and characters on the scene and keeping even a fraction of them straight becomes a distraction and best and tedium at worst. Still, for an understanding of England the mores before the Empire began to crumble, this book definitely serves its purpose.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent overview od both the king and the times in which he grew up, and then presided over. The photos are also particularly good selections and for a book published in 1973, it has an impressive amount of color images.