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Mrs Queen Takes the Train
An absolute delight of a debut novel by William Kuhn—author of Reading Her Autobiography in Books — Mrs Queen Takes the Train wittily imagines the kerfuffle that transpires when a bored Queen Elizabeth strolls out of the palace in search of a little fun, leaving behind a desperate team of courtiers who must find the missing Windsor before a national scandal erupts. Reminiscent of Alan Bennett’s The Uncommon Reader , this lively, wonderfully inventive romp takes readers into the mind of the grand matriarch of Britain’s Royal Family, bringing us an endearing runaway Queen Elizabeth on the town—and leading us behind the Buckingham Palace walls and into the upstairs/downstairs spaces of England’s monarchy.
374 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
437 people are currently reading
5431 people want to read
About the author
William Kuhn
18 books140 followersMy new biography of Lord Byron tells the story of a man famous as a lover 200 years ago. But he fascinated me because of the way he performed miracles of self-healing and rebirth through his writing. SWIMMING WITH LORD BYRON shows how Byron the lover and Byron the writer were also combined, surprisingly, with Byron the swimmer. JACKIE STORIES describes my interviews with Jacqueline Onassis's friends. I went to their houses. I noticed their clothes. I listened to their views on the woman they knew well. READING JACKIE is a look at Jackie's private library. She revealed herself in ways she probably didn't intend during her lifelong romance with books. Two cheerful fictions about life inside the Royal Household are MRS QUEEN TAKES THE TRAIN and PRINCE HARRY BOY TO MAN.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,637 reviews
March 5, 2025
2 1/2 stars
I was EXCITED to read this novel. I EXPECTED to like this novel. I WANTED to like this novel. I did not like this novel.
If you’ll pardon the seasonal analogy, this book was like being given a beautifully wrapped Christmas present, only to open it up and find… socks :(
First, you have to understand something about me. I am a rabid Anglophile. If I am reading a romance set in Miami where the heroine is strutting around in a bathing suit, ho-hum. But put that same heroine in a crinoline or have her sipping weak tea at Almack's, then I am very happy indeed. I have read hundreds, if not thousands, of books having to do with anything English (way too many to recreate for my GoodReads read list), and have never tired of the subject matter. So I was very excited when I got this book. I bumped it to the top of my to-read list, put on my Pajamas, and settled in my most comfortable chair. I was prepared to be delighted!
What a disappointment! My main problem with the book is the construction and the pacing. There is so much flitting back and forth between several characters, their past and present. And there is so much back-story on all of these characters! I was not in the least interested in their stories, except as to how they related to the Queen. I did not care about Luke and Andy, I did not care about Rajiv and his Eton years, I did not care about Rebecca and the guy she met at the rally. The best part of the book for me was when the Queen interacted with 3 strangers on the train. Ahh, I thought, THIS is what I want to read about. I read happily for several pages, then BAM / WHOOSH, I was suddenly reading back-story about The Marquess, Anne’s nephew.
I took some notes while reading. Here are some of them:
1) Wow, where did this conversation come from?
2) Damn, this book jumps all over the place.
3) This could be a good story, but the author is mangling it
4) Why did Luke and Andy become such fast friends so quickly? Why do I even care?
5) Ok, the beginning of this book was very poorly constructed, but now that I know all of the main players, the story is moving along apace. Too bad the introduction of characters was handled so clumsily.
6) Damn, we’re back to all the random bouncing back and forth between the characters and their back-stories. ENOUGH!
To try and be fair, a small part of the problem may have been that I read this on my Nook. There was double spacing between every paragraph, and there was never a change of format to indicate that there was a change of story. It was still just the same double spacing until you came to a new "Part". I must say it was very jarring, and hard to ascertain where you were in the story at any given time.
But I do applaud the author for coming up with an interesting plot that is not the typical cookie cutter story. Also, the book appears to be well researched and reasonably well thought out. Some effort was expended here. For those reasons, I’ll bump up my 2 star rating to a 2 1/2 (rounded up to 3 since GR does not allow 1/2 stars).
I was EXCITED to read this novel. I EXPECTED to like this novel. I WANTED to like this novel. I did not like this novel.
If you’ll pardon the seasonal analogy, this book was like being given a beautifully wrapped Christmas present, only to open it up and find… socks :(
First, you have to understand something about me. I am a rabid Anglophile. If I am reading a romance set in Miami where the heroine is strutting around in a bathing suit, ho-hum. But put that same heroine in a crinoline or have her sipping weak tea at Almack's, then I am very happy indeed. I have read hundreds, if not thousands, of books having to do with anything English (way too many to recreate for my GoodReads read list), and have never tired of the subject matter. So I was very excited when I got this book. I bumped it to the top of my to-read list, put on my Pajamas, and settled in my most comfortable chair. I was prepared to be delighted!
What a disappointment! My main problem with the book is the construction and the pacing. There is so much flitting back and forth between several characters, their past and present. And there is so much back-story on all of these characters! I was not in the least interested in their stories, except as to how they related to the Queen. I did not care about Luke and Andy, I did not care about Rajiv and his Eton years, I did not care about Rebecca and the guy she met at the rally. The best part of the book for me was when the Queen interacted with 3 strangers on the train. Ahh, I thought, THIS is what I want to read about. I read happily for several pages, then BAM / WHOOSH, I was suddenly reading back-story about The Marquess, Anne’s nephew.
I took some notes while reading. Here are some of them:
1) Wow, where did this conversation come from?
2) Damn, this book jumps all over the place.
3) This could be a good story, but the author is mangling it
4) Why did Luke and Andy become such fast friends so quickly? Why do I even care?
5) Ok, the beginning of this book was very poorly constructed, but now that I know all of the main players, the story is moving along apace. Too bad the introduction of characters was handled so clumsily.
6) Damn, we’re back to all the random bouncing back and forth between the characters and their back-stories. ENOUGH!
To try and be fair, a small part of the problem may have been that I read this on my Nook. There was double spacing between every paragraph, and there was never a change of format to indicate that there was a change of story. It was still just the same double spacing until you came to a new "Part". I must say it was very jarring, and hard to ascertain where you were in the story at any given time.
But I do applaud the author for coming up with an interesting plot that is not the typical cookie cutter story. Also, the book appears to be well researched and reasonably well thought out. Some effort was expended here. For those reasons, I’ll bump up my 2 star rating to a 2 1/2 (rounded up to 3 since GR does not allow 1/2 stars).
July 3, 2023
Queen Elizabeth is feeling a bit low when she walks over to her London stables to visit her horses on a particularly blustery day.
Young Rebecca, who tends the horses, lends the sovereign her hoody jacket and soon afterwards the unrecognizable Queen takes off for Scotland to visit her beloved Britannia - the former royal yacht that's now a tourist attraction.
The royal staff makes frantic plans to catch up with the Queen and return her to Buckingham Palace. This includes William the butler, Luke the equerry, Shirley the dresser, Anne the lady-in-waiting, Rebecca the horse caretaker, and Rajiv - a cheese seller who sold the queen some cheddar. MI-6 even gets in on the act.
Though this is a work of fiction the feelings attributed to the Queen ring true. She is still reeling from the 'annus horribilus' of a few years before when all of her children's marriages fell apart, the most scandalous being the divorce of Charles and Diana.
Her majesty is also bewildered by the public's hostility to her following Diana's death when all Queen Elizabeth did was 'keep a stiff upper lip' - as she was trained to do. Computers, Twitter, and Facebook also puzzle the Queen. In short, the world is changing and the Queen is having a hard time keeping up.
The book contains both drama and humor. We learn about the background of each of the characters: Luke's tragic war experience, William's homosexuality, Anne's estrangement from her son, Shirley's financial worries, Rebecca's eco-terrorist boyfriend, and Rajiv's harassment by bigots.
But the Queen's 'escape' has fun aspects as well: the sovereign befriends many people she meets on her way to Scotland, and some think she seems familiar but they just can't place her. At different times the Queen is mistaken for a cleaning lady, a drinker, and a homeless person.
The author apparently did his research and the scenes in the palace - as well as the thoughts and feelings attributed to the Queen - seem authentic. From the Queen's point of view her life isn't that much fun; her royal duties require her to constantly attend functions she doesn't enjoy and make small talk with people who aren't interesting.
One thing that struck me was how sheltered Queen Elizabeth's life probably is and how out of touch she is with the lives of 'common people' - who shop for groceries, buy cars, rent apartments, make doctor appointments, drive their kids to school, go to soccer games, eat fast food, and so on - things the Queen has probably never done. In that respect, William and Kate (and Harry and Meghan) are likely to be much more savvy.
I thought the story was interesting but it moved too slowly. Several times I felt bored and thought about abandoning the book but I kept going - and I'm glad I did. I think I have a little more insight into the Queen's life now.
You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com/
September 27, 2015
Mrs Queen Takes The Train is the first novel by American biographer, historian, author and self-confessed Anglophile, William Kuhn. Not feeling quite her usual self, The Queen pops down to the Mews to check on Elizabeth, the mare born on her own birthday. Then, in a hoodie borrowed from Rebecca, the young stable lass, she sets off to Paxton and Whitfield (OK, this is not the actual shop she went to, this is the Stratford-upon-Avon branch
) to get some of the mare’s favourite cheddar, before heading to King’s Cross station. The Royal Yacht Britannia is moored up in Leith, and she feels maybe a visit to one of her “happy” places might improve her mood. And seeing as that irritating Prime Minister is telling her the Royal Train is too costly to maintain, she’ll take the Great North Eastern Railway to Edinburgh Waverley.
When the Palace staff realise she’s missing, their first concern is for her safety. They do, however, want to minimise any sensationalist tabloid headlines, so a loyal young equerry joins forces with a senior butler, a lady in waiting, The Queen’s Dresser, Rebecca from the Mews and budding poet and cheese seller, Etonian Rajiv Laroia, to track her down whilst keeping an aggressive MI5 at bay. Kuhn’s narrative jumps from the present to past events as The Queen reminisces, and as the other major characters are fleshed out. Kuhn touches on some topical subjects: racial prejudice, the relevance of the monarchy, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, ageing, the cost of rail travel, homosexuality in the forces, fox hunting and the cost of maintaining tradition.
Yoga, cheddar cheese, a blind couple, an Alsatian named Hohenzollern, a much-pierced youth, Julie Andrews, a social worker, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, Shakespeare’s Henry V, a late-night tea van and a Hermes scarf all play a part. This novel has plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, much dry wit and also the odd lump-in-the-throat moment. Kuhn’s characters are easy to like and more than one-dimensional; Kuhn’s version of The Queen is wholly credible. This novel is an absolute pleasure to read, and fans will be hoping for more from Kuhn soon.
) to get some of the mare’s favourite cheddar, before heading to King’s Cross station. The Royal Yacht Britannia is moored up in Leith, and she feels maybe a visit to one of her “happy” places might improve her mood. And seeing as that irritating Prime Minister is telling her the Royal Train is too costly to maintain, she’ll take the Great North Eastern Railway to Edinburgh Waverley. When the Palace staff realise she’s missing, their first concern is for her safety. They do, however, want to minimise any sensationalist tabloid headlines, so a loyal young equerry joins forces with a senior butler, a lady in waiting, The Queen’s Dresser, Rebecca from the Mews and budding poet and cheese seller, Etonian Rajiv Laroia, to track her down whilst keeping an aggressive MI5 at bay. Kuhn’s narrative jumps from the present to past events as The Queen reminisces, and as the other major characters are fleshed out. Kuhn touches on some topical subjects: racial prejudice, the relevance of the monarchy, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, ageing, the cost of rail travel, homosexuality in the forces, fox hunting and the cost of maintaining tradition.
Yoga, cheddar cheese, a blind couple, an Alsatian named Hohenzollern, a much-pierced youth, Julie Andrews, a social worker, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, Shakespeare’s Henry V, a late-night tea van and a Hermes scarf all play a part. This novel has plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, much dry wit and also the odd lump-in-the-throat moment. Kuhn’s characters are easy to like and more than one-dimensional; Kuhn’s version of The Queen is wholly credible. This novel is an absolute pleasure to read, and fans will be hoping for more from Kuhn soon.
December 3, 2012
The Good Stuff
Delightfully odd and uniquely refreshing
Richly developed unusual characters who feel very real
Makes you realize that the Queen is a living human being and not just a figure head (yes this is a fictionalized version of the Queen - but still)
Discusses race & class differences but in a non preachy in your face sort of way - almost light and playful - but at the same time makes you see the absurdity of judging someone based on race or class (Hope that makes sense probably should have taken the cold medicine AFTER I finished this review)
Adored the character of Rajiv and found his back story intriguing - don't want to put any spoilers but his interactions with other characters in terms of his race are funny yet sad and true
The Queen's journey is that of most women dealing with mid life crisis & depression and the age old question of "Did I do any good in this life?"
Found myself wondering actually how the Queen feels and what makes her happy
Actually learned a few things about the inner workings of the Royal Household
A wonderful healing journey
Within characters various discussions they discuss frankly serious issues such as homosexuality, post-traumatic stress and depression - again never done in a preachy way, just matter of fact and out in the open
The Not So Good Stuff
Jumps around a lot which I found quite disconcerting -- but hey I was also very sick while reading -- so take that with a grain of salt
Felt the yoga bits didn't really work - that they were just thrown in to make it even quirkier - but hey it could be that I just couldn't imagine H.R.H. actually doing a child's pose
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"She recalled with shame how little she'd taken it seriously when Diana Wales was suffering from depression. None of them had. In her depression was only something that soldiers returning from battle suffered, 'shell shock' yes, but everyone felt dejected every now and again. You didn't take medicine for it. You pulled up your socks. Went for a walk. The whole Diana business had taught her that depression was an illness and that there were drugs that would help if it didn't lift after a month or two of feeling unhappy."
"This time it was Anne's turn to shoot Luke a resentful glance. He was after all a young man of about her nephew's age, and sometimes she wondered whether all young men weren't in league against all old ladies. Young men hadn't looked at her on the street for a long time and she still minded."
"Now he'd inherited the earldom and was old enough to stand in the pulpit, he thought he could give her a lecture in how to behave. That was gratitude for you. Had she the power, she certainly would have thrown him in the Tower at that moment. But no, she was quite powerless, she had to do as she was told."
Who Should/Shouldn't Read
Wonderful book for a book club. Would lead to fabulous discussions on the Monarchy, Depression, public figures, fame, racism & class
Would definitely appeal to those fascinated by the British Monarchy
Keeping my copy for when my Mother-in-Law comes to visit as I think she would really enjoy this one
4.5/5 Dewey's
I received this from HarperCollins as part of our Indigo Insiders program & am in no way required to review
Delightfully odd and uniquely refreshing
Richly developed unusual characters who feel very real
Makes you realize that the Queen is a living human being and not just a figure head (yes this is a fictionalized version of the Queen - but still)
Discusses race & class differences but in a non preachy in your face sort of way - almost light and playful - but at the same time makes you see the absurdity of judging someone based on race or class (Hope that makes sense probably should have taken the cold medicine AFTER I finished this review)
Adored the character of Rajiv and found his back story intriguing - don't want to put any spoilers but his interactions with other characters in terms of his race are funny yet sad and true
The Queen's journey is that of most women dealing with mid life crisis & depression and the age old question of "Did I do any good in this life?"
Found myself wondering actually how the Queen feels and what makes her happy
Actually learned a few things about the inner workings of the Royal Household
A wonderful healing journey
Within characters various discussions they discuss frankly serious issues such as homosexuality, post-traumatic stress and depression - again never done in a preachy way, just matter of fact and out in the open
The Not So Good Stuff
Jumps around a lot which I found quite disconcerting -- but hey I was also very sick while reading -- so take that with a grain of salt
Felt the yoga bits didn't really work - that they were just thrown in to make it even quirkier - but hey it could be that I just couldn't imagine H.R.H. actually doing a child's pose
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"She recalled with shame how little she'd taken it seriously when Diana Wales was suffering from depression. None of them had. In her depression was only something that soldiers returning from battle suffered, 'shell shock' yes, but everyone felt dejected every now and again. You didn't take medicine for it. You pulled up your socks. Went for a walk. The whole Diana business had taught her that depression was an illness and that there were drugs that would help if it didn't lift after a month or two of feeling unhappy."
"This time it was Anne's turn to shoot Luke a resentful glance. He was after all a young man of about her nephew's age, and sometimes she wondered whether all young men weren't in league against all old ladies. Young men hadn't looked at her on the street for a long time and she still minded."
"Now he'd inherited the earldom and was old enough to stand in the pulpit, he thought he could give her a lecture in how to behave. That was gratitude for you. Had she the power, she certainly would have thrown him in the Tower at that moment. But no, she was quite powerless, she had to do as she was told."
Who Should/Shouldn't Read
Wonderful book for a book club. Would lead to fabulous discussions on the Monarchy, Depression, public figures, fame, racism & class
Would definitely appeal to those fascinated by the British Monarchy
Keeping my copy for when my Mother-in-Law comes to visit as I think she would really enjoy this one
4.5/5 Dewey's
I received this from HarperCollins as part of our Indigo Insiders program & am in no way required to review
February 2, 2016
To an unrepentant Anglophile like me, "Mrs. Queen Takes the Train" was as refreshing as a strong cup of tea on a cold day. While it's true that the device the author uses to facilitate and prolong the Queen's escape will strain the bounds of credulity for any reader, thankfully the more you read the less it matters. This is thanks to strong character development by the author, so that even if certain parts of the story seem ludicrous, you'll want to keep reading until the end to see what happens to your favorite characters.
The author goes off on many tangents from the main storyline, often using flashbacks to fill in backstory, this was mildly confusing at best, and completely annoying at worst. Fortunately,the main story of the Queen's day out was so delightful that taken as a whole this novel is the perfect confection!
The author goes off on many tangents from the main storyline, often using flashbacks to fill in backstory, this was mildly confusing at best, and completely annoying at worst. Fortunately,the main story of the Queen's day out was so delightful that taken as a whole this novel is the perfect confection!
March 25, 2014
Well this was a really delightful little find. I can not remember which of my friends recommended this to me, but thank you anyway.
It is a sweetly heartwarming tale of a few fictitious days in the life of the modern monarch. And I will add here that I am no dyed in the wool monarchist, not by a long shot. Oh how I wish that this was a true mini biography. It brings to us an elderly lady who has always done her duty and now finds herself reflecting that she is not really appreciated for that, nor content to keep on.
A wonderful read for a rainy day, when nothing was so important and pressing that I had to put it down and get on with real life. The cast of unlikely characters that all come together for the common goal is fun, but each has a story of their own that surfaces as the tale develops. I did feel a little let down in the final chapter when everyone, except the queen, was perfectly paired and it felt like a bit of sickly sweet happily ever after. However, I now think that William Kuhn used this to cleverly highlight the solitary state of the queens position and her strength.
I really really hope that at some stage in the future I will read that the queen actually is a practitioner of yoga, that would make my day.
It is a sweetly heartwarming tale of a few fictitious days in the life of the modern monarch. And I will add here that I am no dyed in the wool monarchist, not by a long shot. Oh how I wish that this was a true mini biography. It brings to us an elderly lady who has always done her duty and now finds herself reflecting that she is not really appreciated for that, nor content to keep on.
A wonderful read for a rainy day, when nothing was so important and pressing that I had to put it down and get on with real life. The cast of unlikely characters that all come together for the common goal is fun, but each has a story of their own that surfaces as the tale develops. I did feel a little let down in the final chapter when everyone, except the queen, was perfectly paired and it felt like a bit of sickly sweet happily ever after. However, I now think that William Kuhn used this to cleverly highlight the solitary state of the queens position and her strength.
I really really hope that at some stage in the future I will read that the queen actually is a practitioner of yoga, that would make my day.
April 29, 2015
If a cup of tea ever manifested itself as a book, it would be this one. It is warm, comforting, and the perfect thing to make a bad day better. I loved it and have nothing negative to say about it at all. (I did find the character Rebecca to be a little inconsistent, but perhaps I just need to read it again to understand her better.) This book is utterly charming and I have thoroughly enjoyed every word of it. Mrs Queen Takes The Train is a book I would heartily recommend to everyone because it is an absolute delight.
January 13, 2019
This was a book that I wanted to love — the Queen escapes the Palace and takes a trip! — but it was such a mess that I had to abandon it a quarter of the way through. I had hoped it would be like "The Uncommon Reader" by Alan Bennett, a book I love and have read multiple times, but "Mrs Queen" jumps all over the place and introduces so many side characters and makes such a muddle of the story that I didn't have the patience to see if it got any better. (Based on some GR friend reviews, it doesn't.) But maybe you will like it more.
November 16, 2012
It's like that movie Baby's Day Out (1994), or, less flippantly, Roman Holiday (1953), also Chasing Liberty (2004), man they do this kind of thing a surprising lot in the movies.
Why wasn't this released during the Olympics when people were Anglo-jonesing? Or right after, when they had the Anglo-munchies? This far out, I think we're all just Anglo-over-it. Except for me. I'm an Anglo-slut. And no, I do not think I'm clever or creative.
Mrs. Queen Takes the Train is such a cute book. I mean the Queen does yoga! That is a wrinkly cute-splosion. I wish Kuhn had included some more moments of this invented mythos (At least I think it's invented; a quick google reveals nothing concrete). Apparently Kuhn did a lot of research for this, which I know because he shoves it all in to prove this. I get that, but if he did his homework he wouldn't need to shove. The research should inform the writing and not dictate content so much. It is the invented moments, the yoga, the sweet, but stern voice, the Queen's majority gay male staff (is that real? because if so, haha and awesome), that make the book shine. The "real" moments revealed by research have such a heady deja-vu feeling that makes them feel perfunctory. Also, he totally took that Annie Leibovitz thing from the brouhaha over the Beeb editing that trailer to that documentary and from the doc itself.
The other characters have their own charm (except for Rajiv; boy did I hate Rajiv). The upstairs-downstairs-ness of their relationships is a bit too deliberate. The same could be said for the structure, which flings the two opposites together with such force that we can see the wires as they herky-jerk their way to the finish. It didn't really hinder my enjoyment though. It's obvious, but oh well. Also, I hated Rajiv! That's my own pettiness though. He had redeeming qualities as a character. Was it just me was he supposed to be the hero of the whole thing? Kuhn seemed to love him. He was the only character who didn't really get put in his/her place. Maybe I just think that because he annoyed me.
My one big complaint is the length of the chunks each character gets. It seems like they just get going and then whoosh! we're off to the next one. There's seven characters and instead of a pleasing Altman-esque quality, it produces a speed-dating quality. I think one section is literally two or three pages.
And then we have the Diana-ness. This sort of goes along with the invention argument. Just because a lot of the material about the Queen and the monarchy talks about Diana, does that mean the Queen actually obsesses as much about Diana as the media does? I wouldn't think so, but what do I know. It was just a lot of obsessing, but if Kuhn's point was to bring the Queen back to Earth, to say that she's one of us (not me though, I'm Texan, ya'll), maybe he's saying that her Diana-obsession makes her no different than the bourgeoisie. Imagine that, the Queen is just a dotty old lady wearing a skull hoodie.
Why wasn't this released during the Olympics when people were Anglo-jonesing? Or right after, when they had the Anglo-munchies? This far out, I think we're all just Anglo-over-it. Except for me. I'm an Anglo-slut. And no, I do not think I'm clever or creative.
Mrs. Queen Takes the Train is such a cute book. I mean the Queen does yoga! That is a wrinkly cute-splosion. I wish Kuhn had included some more moments of this invented mythos (At least I think it's invented; a quick google reveals nothing concrete). Apparently Kuhn did a lot of research for this, which I know because he shoves it all in to prove this. I get that, but if he did his homework he wouldn't need to shove. The research should inform the writing and not dictate content so much. It is the invented moments, the yoga, the sweet, but stern voice, the Queen's majority gay male staff (is that real? because if so, haha and awesome), that make the book shine. The "real" moments revealed by research have such a heady deja-vu feeling that makes them feel perfunctory. Also, he totally took that Annie Leibovitz thing from the brouhaha over the Beeb editing that trailer to that documentary and from the doc itself.
The other characters have their own charm (except for Rajiv; boy did I hate Rajiv). The upstairs-downstairs-ness of their relationships is a bit too deliberate. The same could be said for the structure, which flings the two opposites together with such force that we can see the wires as they herky-jerk their way to the finish. It didn't really hinder my enjoyment though. It's obvious, but oh well. Also, I hated Rajiv! That's my own pettiness though. He had redeeming qualities as a character. Was it just me was he supposed to be the hero of the whole thing? Kuhn seemed to love him. He was the only character who didn't really get put in his/her place. Maybe I just think that because he annoyed me.
My one big complaint is the length of the chunks each character gets. It seems like they just get going and then whoosh! we're off to the next one. There's seven characters and instead of a pleasing Altman-esque quality, it produces a speed-dating quality. I think one section is literally two or three pages.
And then we have the Diana-ness. This sort of goes along with the invention argument. Just because a lot of the material about the Queen and the monarchy talks about Diana, does that mean the Queen actually obsesses as much about Diana as the media does? I wouldn't think so, but what do I know. It was just a lot of obsessing, but if Kuhn's point was to bring the Queen back to Earth, to say that she's one of us (not me though, I'm Texan, ya'll), maybe he's saying that her Diana-obsession makes her no different than the bourgeoisie. Imagine that, the Queen is just a dotty old lady wearing a skull hoodie.
December 13, 2024
I admit it.
I am a British Royal fan.
I am fascinated by their history, scandals, drama...and...
I cry at their weddings (from a far, of course)!
So when I saw this book on my travels, I had to read it.
After all, the basic description was about an 80+ year old Queen Elizabeth who decides to go off on her own little adventure with out any of her staff or security.
Can you ever imagine this really happening? I was captivated by the idea.
I truly was excited to join her on this adventure. So much so, I expected to like this book. I wanted to like this book.
But...the storytelling was disjointed.
There was so much flitting back and forth between several characters- past and present, I got so confused it felt like whiplash!
Eventually I lost interest and gave up before page 120. Sorry 😐.
Concept idea good.
Maybe you will have better patience with it?
I am a British Royal fan.
I am fascinated by their history, scandals, drama...and...
I cry at their weddings (from a far, of course)!
So when I saw this book on my travels, I had to read it.
After all, the basic description was about an 80+ year old Queen Elizabeth who decides to go off on her own little adventure with out any of her staff or security.
Can you ever imagine this really happening? I was captivated by the idea.
I truly was excited to join her on this adventure. So much so, I expected to like this book. I wanted to like this book.
But...the storytelling was disjointed.
There was so much flitting back and forth between several characters- past and present, I got so confused it felt like whiplash!
Eventually I lost interest and gave up before page 120. Sorry 😐.
Concept idea good.
Maybe you will have better patience with it?
March 1, 2013
Trite. Shallow. Silly.
I wanted to like this book. I was on a streak of anglophile reading, and I was looking for something light and charming. But this book was devoid of charm and humor which is a cardinal sin when writing this type of book. Making the Queen a bit of an out of touch, dithering old lady just seemed silly to me, not funny. Characters in the book reference both the movie The Queen and the book Uncommon Reader. Both works that are superior to this one.
For the most part the book focuses on members of the Queens staff that have decided to go fetch her when she takes a holiday and toddles off on her own in search of the yacht Brittania. Here is where the novel just does nothing for me. It is extremely obvious as soon as we are introduced to the characters exactly who is going to fall in love with who, who is going to become friends, and that somehow all of them being thrown together will magically solve their problems (of course the author makes sure to give each a problem/hangup that they must resolve by the end of the novel)
Its just all so formulaic and pat. I forced myself to finish - but I knew I was underwhelmed by the first 20 pages.
I will say -there is an audience for this book. If you like the 'At Home in Mitford' novels this may be for you. On the other hand if you are looking for the wit and satire of Nancy Mitford - I don't think it will.
I wanted to like this book. I was on a streak of anglophile reading, and I was looking for something light and charming. But this book was devoid of charm and humor which is a cardinal sin when writing this type of book. Making the Queen a bit of an out of touch, dithering old lady just seemed silly to me, not funny. Characters in the book reference both the movie The Queen and the book Uncommon Reader. Both works that are superior to this one.
For the most part the book focuses on members of the Queens staff that have decided to go fetch her when she takes a holiday and toddles off on her own in search of the yacht Brittania. Here is where the novel just does nothing for me. It is extremely obvious as soon as we are introduced to the characters exactly who is going to fall in love with who, who is going to become friends, and that somehow all of them being thrown together will magically solve their problems (of course the author makes sure to give each a problem/hangup that they must resolve by the end of the novel)
Its just all so formulaic and pat. I forced myself to finish - but I knew I was underwhelmed by the first 20 pages.
I will say -there is an audience for this book. If you like the 'At Home in Mitford' novels this may be for you. On the other hand if you are looking for the wit and satire of Nancy Mitford - I don't think it will.
March 30, 2013
What would happen if the Queen of England left the palace one rainy day, unnoticed, to walk a few blocks for a bit of cheese? And then took a train to Edinburgh? And what does this have to do with Henry V? This charming story answers these questions, and more; easy to read but not exactly lightweight, funny and moving, will make a great movie.
** Please support your local independent bookstore when buying this book! Buying from Amazon.com hurts your local economy. If you don't know where to go, check here: http://www.indiebound.org/indie-store... **
** Please support your local independent bookstore when buying this book! Buying from Amazon.com hurts your local economy. If you don't know where to go, check here: http://www.indiebound.org/indie-store... **
June 7, 2015
Time to come clean......Mrs. Queen Takes The Train has been on my to-read shelf since I won it on GR a few years back (my apologies) and after trying to read it a couple of times now, I just could not a get into it. The book arrived marked "uncorrected manuscript-not for sale".....perhaps that put me off too...am not sure. Anyway, I have not entered a giveaway since feeling I should have given it my all.......
June 9, 2014
This was a book club selection, so I had no choice but to read it. What a surprise! I expected it to be rather trite, but found it instead to be quite touching.
The Queen, feeling melancholy, essentially wanders off on her own to make her way to Scotland to visit the decommissioned Royal Yacht Britannia in the hopes of rekindling some pleasant memories. Six people, all but one connected with the royal household, pair off in pursuit to retrieve her and ensure her safety. This isn't merely about the Queen "going walkabout", however. We get insight into the lives of each of these people.
Rajiv, a young man of Indian descent, still treated by many as a foreigner despite both he and his parents having been born in Britain, is smitten with Rebecca, who is employed at the royal stables, or Mews, and is far more comfortable in the company of horses than of people.
Luke is a young military officer, assigned to the household as an Equerry, had served in Iraq, is likely suffering from PTSD, and is filled with loneliness, grief, and guilt over the loss of a very close friend. He is thrown together with William, who has made the royal household his career, and finds himself strongly attracted to Luke as he shepherds him through the crisis of the Queen's disappearance.
Anne, only 10 years younger than the Queen and an outcast from a noble family, is a Lady in Waiting. She is a widow and is estranged from her son, and dreads the prospect of her approaching retirement. In the pursuit she is paired off with Shirley, the Queen's dresser, who for historic family reasons is openly hostile to Ladies in Waiting. For her part, Anne resents the intimacy of the relationship between Shirley and the Queen. The crisis reveals common experiences, and engenders mutual respect.
I find it odd that some people have complained about the details of all these characters as being a distraction from what they think is the point of the story: namely the Queen's unplanned excursion. They seemed to have a preconceived notion of how the story should go, rather than just letting the story take them where it wants to go.
I enjoyed this story because it touches so sensitively and so well on so many parts of the human condition: aging, sadness, finding purpose, grief, loss, prejudice, and most importantly, love. It also gave me a new appreciation for Shakespeare's Henry V.
The Queen, feeling melancholy, essentially wanders off on her own to make her way to Scotland to visit the decommissioned Royal Yacht Britannia in the hopes of rekindling some pleasant memories. Six people, all but one connected with the royal household, pair off in pursuit to retrieve her and ensure her safety. This isn't merely about the Queen "going walkabout", however. We get insight into the lives of each of these people.
Rajiv, a young man of Indian descent, still treated by many as a foreigner despite both he and his parents having been born in Britain, is smitten with Rebecca, who is employed at the royal stables, or Mews, and is far more comfortable in the company of horses than of people.
Luke is a young military officer, assigned to the household as an Equerry, had served in Iraq, is likely suffering from PTSD, and is filled with loneliness, grief, and guilt over the loss of a very close friend. He is thrown together with William, who has made the royal household his career, and finds himself strongly attracted to Luke as he shepherds him through the crisis of the Queen's disappearance.
Anne, only 10 years younger than the Queen and an outcast from a noble family, is a Lady in Waiting. She is a widow and is estranged from her son, and dreads the prospect of her approaching retirement. In the pursuit she is paired off with Shirley, the Queen's dresser, who for historic family reasons is openly hostile to Ladies in Waiting. For her part, Anne resents the intimacy of the relationship between Shirley and the Queen. The crisis reveals common experiences, and engenders mutual respect.
I find it odd that some people have complained about the details of all these characters as being a distraction from what they think is the point of the story: namely the Queen's unplanned excursion. They seemed to have a preconceived notion of how the story should go, rather than just letting the story take them where it wants to go.
I enjoyed this story because it touches so sensitively and so well on so many parts of the human condition: aging, sadness, finding purpose, grief, loss, prejudice, and most importantly, love. It also gave me a new appreciation for Shakespeare's Henry V.
May 26, 2018
Things I learned from this book:
1) If you're a male, and you think a woman is beautiful, ANY attention she pays to you is a signal that you may accost, harass or assault her.
2) If you follow 1), and she protests, she's just being moody and/or playing hard to get. It's part of the fun! Try harder, you'll get what you want, regardless what the little vixen thinks.
3) If she's STILL being difficult, the little minx, explain to her that what she thinks is wrong, that it's her fault that men are accosting, harassing or objectifying her, then force yourself onto her. She'll eventually come around.
I'm not kidding. This author just took the reasons why there are so many female-centric protests in India, rolled them into one big ball of stereotype, and molded into the deeply annoying, tragically central character of Rajiv. I'm not of Indian descent, but have known a number of men and women who are, and this book is a cause for alarm and upset. He LITERALLY ASSAULTS REBECCA. Oh, but the Queen thinks they're cute or some BS, so it's perfectly fine. Someone call the Met's unsolved rapes division and give them William Kuhn's name; this book is reason enough to suspect that his attitude towards females is more than a little off (by a couple of centuries, anyway).
The only reason I gave any stars at all was because the other characters are sort of treated nicely. No, not really. The queen is a doddering, selfish idiot; the dresser-woman is a sour-faced crone with a decades-long chip on her shoulder and an inexplicable case of homophobia; the lady in waiting has a son who is an ass, and another son who makes an-almost-appearance but inexplicably disappears; the butler...is he 40? 50? 90? Kuhn just can't seem to decide, and resorts to old-gay-man tropes to get by (WE GET IT, HE WANTS TO WATCH PRISCILLA); Luke is probably the most sympathetic character, but his inability to act is completely contrary to his character or his position. Together, they almost make a whole character!! So that's something.
DO NOT recommend.
1) If you're a male, and you think a woman is beautiful, ANY attention she pays to you is a signal that you may accost, harass or assault her.
2) If you follow 1), and she protests, she's just being moody and/or playing hard to get. It's part of the fun! Try harder, you'll get what you want, regardless what the little vixen thinks.
3) If she's STILL being difficult, the little minx, explain to her that what she thinks is wrong, that it's her fault that men are accosting, harassing or objectifying her, then force yourself onto her. She'll eventually come around.
I'm not kidding. This author just took the reasons why there are so many female-centric protests in India, rolled them into one big ball of stereotype, and molded into the deeply annoying, tragically central character of Rajiv. I'm not of Indian descent, but have known a number of men and women who are, and this book is a cause for alarm and upset. He LITERALLY ASSAULTS REBECCA. Oh, but the Queen thinks they're cute or some BS, so it's perfectly fine. Someone call the Met's unsolved rapes division and give them William Kuhn's name; this book is reason enough to suspect that his attitude towards females is more than a little off (by a couple of centuries, anyway).
The only reason I gave any stars at all was because the other characters are sort of treated nicely. No, not really. The queen is a doddering, selfish idiot; the dresser-woman is a sour-faced crone with a decades-long chip on her shoulder and an inexplicable case of homophobia; the lady in waiting has a son who is an ass, and another son who makes an-almost-appearance but inexplicably disappears; the butler...is he 40? 50? 90? Kuhn just can't seem to decide, and resorts to old-gay-man tropes to get by (WE GET IT, HE WANTS TO WATCH PRISCILLA); Luke is probably the most sympathetic character, but his inability to act is completely contrary to his character or his position. Together, they almost make a whole character!! So that's something.
DO NOT recommend.
January 22, 2014
Curl up with a cuppa, watch the snow fall and prepare to be delighted.
It's not a must read, or even a very good read, it was just a nice simple tale for a nice simple day.
god save the queen and her train.
It's not a must read, or even a very good read, it was just a nice simple tale for a nice simple day.
god save the queen and her train.
November 16, 2012
Things have gotten in a rut for Elizabeth, Queen of England, and the prime minister has just told her that her royal train is to be sold. Frustrated by the unfairness of it, after all she has lost her plane and yacht, she decides to go somewhere where she has spent some happy times. She decides to visit the royal yacht, Britannia, moored near Edinburgh. Not used to travelling on her own and disguised by a skull and crossbones hoodie, Elizabeth sets off to do that.
It's very humorous how the Queen makes the journey through a series of haphazard actions and a lack of understanding how the world works without attendants. She runs into a wide variety of people and, at times, with an impervious manner she makes the train ride to Scotland.
Meanwhile, her loyal attendants set out to find her before the media gets wind of her disappearance. The book is mainly about them and how they got in service and the subsequent search for the Queen. It's a lot of fun discovering how the palace keeps track of the linen and various other household tasks. Most of all, it's fun to think of the Queen doing yoga, trying to work a computer and sneaking cheese to feed her horses. I doubt it's real but how fun it is to think it might be.
It's very humorous how the Queen makes the journey through a series of haphazard actions and a lack of understanding how the world works without attendants. She runs into a wide variety of people and, at times, with an impervious manner she makes the train ride to Scotland.
Meanwhile, her loyal attendants set out to find her before the media gets wind of her disappearance. The book is mainly about them and how they got in service and the subsequent search for the Queen. It's a lot of fun discovering how the palace keeps track of the linen and various other household tasks. Most of all, it's fun to think of the Queen doing yoga, trying to work a computer and sneaking cheese to feed her horses. I doubt it's real but how fun it is to think it might be.
July 4, 2013
I really really really enjoyed this book! It was ... really clever and smart. Imagine the Queen of England gets a little depressed and decides to wander out of Buckingham palace, get to Kings Cross train station and take the public train to Edinburgh? Followed by 6 of the most unlikely group of people - a lady in waiting, her dresser, a butler, an equerry, a girl from the stables and a guy who sells cheese. Seriously. That's the premise of the story. It sounds ridiculous. And yet ... it's not. I could hear The Queen's voice while reading, I could imagine her feelings of discontentment. Each supporting character added different perspectives to living in the Palace; to serving Her Majesty, and making the storyline more believable.
If you love the royal family, but especially the Queen - I highly recommend picking up this book. It's a fun read ... it doesn't take itself too seriously and you might appreciate Her Majesty even more once you're done!
If you love the royal family, but especially the Queen - I highly recommend picking up this book. It's a fun read ... it doesn't take itself too seriously and you might appreciate Her Majesty even more once you're done!
January 24, 2021
I was so looking forward to this book—I love a good fish-out-of-water story, and Queen Elizabeth II gone AWOL seemed like such a good premise. I expected tons of absurdity and deft charm. Unfortunately, this book didn’t provide that for me.
The Queen is feeling a bit mopey and useless, and in a moment of serendipity she finds herself outside Buckingham Palace and decides to go on the lam, take a train to Edinburgh and visit her decommissioned royal yacht. Not wanting a public scandal, various people from her household and outside it set off in pursuit to make sure she’s safe and get her home. There are many characters, perhaps too many for the author to juggle at once, which causes the story to lose momentum and direction at times. Everybody got some version of their story told but nobody was the central focus.
The beginning was quite slow, with tons of exposition and explanation—who the characters were, how the royal household functions. Some of it was interesting but far too much was told to the reader. When characters’ motivations were still being explained on page 225 I was pretty fed up: just tell me the story already and let me judge for myself! Also, all of the characters were inhabiting their lives with a degree of awkwardness and dissatisfaction that made them read a bit implausibly to me.
What I missed was the sense of recognition that makes an improbable tale ring true. Everyone, including the Queen, felt like a manufactured character rather than a person. For instance, the Queen has been married for more than half a century but we are 150 pages in before her husband is even mentioned. The woman tending her horses is cartoonishly unsure of herself around people, and for someone so devoted to animals I couldn’t accept that she goes haring off for twenty-four hours without a thought for the care of her pet badger. There were loose threads of psychological probability like this scattered all over the book. People were both crankier and more familiar in the presence of the Queen than I would imagine possible, and the Queen seemed to like it.
The book is competently written and seemed fairly accurate in its depiction of the royal household and British life, but too much of it felt a bit off for me to really enjoy myself.
The Queen is feeling a bit mopey and useless, and in a moment of serendipity she finds herself outside Buckingham Palace and decides to go on the lam, take a train to Edinburgh and visit her decommissioned royal yacht. Not wanting a public scandal, various people from her household and outside it set off in pursuit to make sure she’s safe and get her home. There are many characters, perhaps too many for the author to juggle at once, which causes the story to lose momentum and direction at times. Everybody got some version of their story told but nobody was the central focus.
The beginning was quite slow, with tons of exposition and explanation—who the characters were, how the royal household functions. Some of it was interesting but far too much was told to the reader. When characters’ motivations were still being explained on page 225 I was pretty fed up: just tell me the story already and let me judge for myself! Also, all of the characters were inhabiting their lives with a degree of awkwardness and dissatisfaction that made them read a bit implausibly to me.
What I missed was the sense of recognition that makes an improbable tale ring true. Everyone, including the Queen, felt like a manufactured character rather than a person. For instance, the Queen has been married for more than half a century but we are 150 pages in before her husband is even mentioned. The woman tending her horses is cartoonishly unsure of herself around people, and for someone so devoted to animals I couldn’t accept that she goes haring off for twenty-four hours without a thought for the care of her pet badger. There were loose threads of psychological probability like this scattered all over the book. People were both crankier and more familiar in the presence of the Queen than I would imagine possible, and the Queen seemed to like it.
The book is competently written and seemed fairly accurate in its depiction of the royal household and British life, but too much of it felt a bit off for me to really enjoy myself.
August 13, 2021
The Queen of England has gone rogue!
Not so much Sarah Palin-style, but she has slipped her handlers. It started innocuously enough. Elizabeth (or “Little Bit” as she addresses herself) has been feeling rather blue. The monarchy has taken more than a few hits in the last several years. After a visit to her favorite horse, the stable girl loans the Queen a “hoodie,” as it has begun sleeting outside. This unusual attire, adorned with skull and crossbones, lends her instant anonymity, and she simply can’t resist embarking upon a small adventure. A jaunt to the local cheese shop segues into an impromptu trip to Scotland.
Back at the palace, panic ensues. A small band of the Queen’s most loyal staff brainstorm about where she could have gone. They’re determined to corral her back home before the press and public get wind of the fact that she’s missing and unattended.
This is non-fiction writer William Kuhn’s debut novel, and he’s off to a winning start. There have been many comparisons between Mrs. Queen Takes the Train and Alan Bennett’s perennial favorite, The Uncommon Reader. The comparisons are somewhat apt, and not even Kuhn is dodging them:
“’Did you read the one about the Queen becoming a reader?’ said the woman in spectacles to the young man at her side. ‘I did enjoy that one. So funny. And of course, being a reader myself, I liked that side of it.’”
That’s the sort of awkward subject that can crop up when you’re a queen conversing with commoners in mufti. But actually, the Queen’s interactions with her subjects are gentle and surely eye-opening.
Kuhn’s story is told not only from the monarch’s POV, but also from that of the staff pursuing her. These are likeable and only slightly damaged individuals. Their pursuit becomes a bonding experience, giving Kuhn a canvas on which to paint several different shades of relationship forming. He spends a fair amount of time at the top of the book introducing his cast, developing the characters, and establishing the workings of the palace.
It’s all rather sweet. But Kuhn isn’t ignoring the real world as he spins his tale. There is social commentary on subjects that include racism, homelessness, terrorism, animal rights, and mental illness, making Kuhn’s novel slightly less twee than Bennett’s novella. I’m not one of those Americans infatuated with royalty, but I found it all rather charming. And who couldn’t find it in their heart to empathize with a queen? 4.5 stars.
Not so much Sarah Palin-style, but she has slipped her handlers. It started innocuously enough. Elizabeth (or “Little Bit” as she addresses herself) has been feeling rather blue. The monarchy has taken more than a few hits in the last several years. After a visit to her favorite horse, the stable girl loans the Queen a “hoodie,” as it has begun sleeting outside. This unusual attire, adorned with skull and crossbones, lends her instant anonymity, and she simply can’t resist embarking upon a small adventure. A jaunt to the local cheese shop segues into an impromptu trip to Scotland.
Back at the palace, panic ensues. A small band of the Queen’s most loyal staff brainstorm about where she could have gone. They’re determined to corral her back home before the press and public get wind of the fact that she’s missing and unattended.
This is non-fiction writer William Kuhn’s debut novel, and he’s off to a winning start. There have been many comparisons between Mrs. Queen Takes the Train and Alan Bennett’s perennial favorite, The Uncommon Reader. The comparisons are somewhat apt, and not even Kuhn is dodging them:
“’Did you read the one about the Queen becoming a reader?’ said the woman in spectacles to the young man at her side. ‘I did enjoy that one. So funny. And of course, being a reader myself, I liked that side of it.’”
That’s the sort of awkward subject that can crop up when you’re a queen conversing with commoners in mufti. But actually, the Queen’s interactions with her subjects are gentle and surely eye-opening.
Kuhn’s story is told not only from the monarch’s POV, but also from that of the staff pursuing her. These are likeable and only slightly damaged individuals. Their pursuit becomes a bonding experience, giving Kuhn a canvas on which to paint several different shades of relationship forming. He spends a fair amount of time at the top of the book introducing his cast, developing the characters, and establishing the workings of the palace.
It’s all rather sweet. But Kuhn isn’t ignoring the real world as he spins his tale. There is social commentary on subjects that include racism, homelessness, terrorism, animal rights, and mental illness, making Kuhn’s novel slightly less twee than Bennett’s novella. I’m not one of those Americans infatuated with royalty, but I found it all rather charming. And who couldn’t find it in their heart to empathize with a queen? 4.5 stars.
August 15, 2016
A friend of mine took a trip to British Columbia and visited Victoria. She purchased this book “Mrs. Queen Takes the Train” by William Kuhn, at Munro’s bookstore, to read on the trip home. She enjoyed it so much she passed it on to me to read.
The story is a delightful fairy tale (fiction) about Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen is feeling down and frustrated attempting to learn to use the computer. She decides to walk down to the Mews to visit her horses and give them some treats. Even thou the weather is nasty, she only puts on a scarf and grabs her purse with some treats. The weather turns to sleet so a female groom loans the Queen her hoodie to go back to the main house. Some workmen are repairing the door and not recognizing the Queen they turn her away to use a different door. The Queen decides to walk down to a cheese shop nearby to buy the horses their favorite cheddar cheese. No one recognizes her so she decides on the spur of the moment to take the train to Scotland to see the HMS Britannia open to the public for tours. She had little money with her so she travels second class. The staff discovers she is gone and the hunt is on.
The book is well written and researched. The story is told both from the viewpoint of the Queen but also from some of her staff who are on her trail. The story was a delight to read. The Queen begins to feel like a real person during the story. The book has lots of true information about the Queen worked into the story as well as photographs of the Queen when she was young and other members of the family. The author is a well know historian but this is his first book of fiction. The book is 374 pages long and is published by Harper Perennial. It is a fast and fun read.
The story is a delightful fairy tale (fiction) about Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen is feeling down and frustrated attempting to learn to use the computer. She decides to walk down to the Mews to visit her horses and give them some treats. Even thou the weather is nasty, she only puts on a scarf and grabs her purse with some treats. The weather turns to sleet so a female groom loans the Queen her hoodie to go back to the main house. Some workmen are repairing the door and not recognizing the Queen they turn her away to use a different door. The Queen decides to walk down to a cheese shop nearby to buy the horses their favorite cheddar cheese. No one recognizes her so she decides on the spur of the moment to take the train to Scotland to see the HMS Britannia open to the public for tours. She had little money with her so she travels second class. The staff discovers she is gone and the hunt is on.
The book is well written and researched. The story is told both from the viewpoint of the Queen but also from some of her staff who are on her trail. The story was a delight to read. The Queen begins to feel like a real person during the story. The book has lots of true information about the Queen worked into the story as well as photographs of the Queen when she was young and other members of the family. The author is a well know historian but this is his first book of fiction. The book is 374 pages long and is published by Harper Perennial. It is a fast and fun read.
February 17, 2013
Review originally published at The Bookwyrm's Hoard.
I can’t remember where I first stumbled across a mention of Mrs Queen Takes the Train, but the premise grabbed me immediately: Queen Elizabeth, who is feeling a bit depressed, decides to visit the decommissioned royal yacht Brittania, scene of many happy memories. The yacht is moored in Scotland, so The Queen* slips out incognito, makes her way with a stranger’s assistance to King’s Cross, and boards the night train to Edinburgh. She is followed by her equerry, her butler, her dresser, one of her ladies-in-waiting, a stablehand from the Palace Mews, and the young man who took her to the railway station, all of them concerned for her safety and eager to return The Queen to the Palace without incident.
Given the description, I expected a lighthearted and possibly madcap adventure. Instead I discovered a thoughtful literary novel which moves back and forth in time, exploring each character’s life and experiences before finally settling into a more sequential narrative in the last part of the book. Kuhn portrays each character and the sometimes uneasy relationships between them with sympathy and sensitivity. By the end of the book, I felt as though they had all, from the sales clerk to The Queen, become my friends. And even though the book is light on action, it moves toward a very satisfying conclusion.
FCC disclosure: I borrowed this from the public library.
Read more of my reviews at The Bookwyrm’s Hoard.
I can’t remember where I first stumbled across a mention of Mrs Queen Takes the Train, but the premise grabbed me immediately: Queen Elizabeth, who is feeling a bit depressed, decides to visit the decommissioned royal yacht Brittania, scene of many happy memories. The yacht is moored in Scotland, so The Queen* slips out incognito, makes her way with a stranger’s assistance to King’s Cross, and boards the night train to Edinburgh. She is followed by her equerry, her butler, her dresser, one of her ladies-in-waiting, a stablehand from the Palace Mews, and the young man who took her to the railway station, all of them concerned for her safety and eager to return The Queen to the Palace without incident.
Given the description, I expected a lighthearted and possibly madcap adventure. Instead I discovered a thoughtful literary novel which moves back and forth in time, exploring each character’s life and experiences before finally settling into a more sequential narrative in the last part of the book. Kuhn portrays each character and the sometimes uneasy relationships between them with sympathy and sensitivity. By the end of the book, I felt as though they had all, from the sales clerk to The Queen, become my friends. And even though the book is light on action, it moves toward a very satisfying conclusion.
FCC disclosure: I borrowed this from the public library.
Read more of my reviews at The Bookwyrm’s Hoard.
October 17, 2018
What a great book to read during the royal wedding of Princess Eugenie and the Duchess of Sussex's baby announcement! I learned many little things about the running of the Queen's household (such as retirement benefits) and that her popularity went up when she had her two younger sons.
This was written some time ago, so when the Queen was on her adventure in the book, I kept thinking, "Someone help that 92 year old lady!" When the comment is made that she knew Churchill it makes you realize what all she's lived through, both professionally and personally. I didn't realize her sister and mother died the same year. While I remember all the grief she was given during Diana and Charles's troubles, it really boiled down to how Charles treated Diana and the Queen's attitude was pretty far down on the list.
Prince Philip is only mentioned in passing. I didn't know he was born in Greece and to the royal family there.
A side note: There's a new season of Tracey Ullman's show on HBO and she does a hilarious take on Camilla babysitting George and Charlotte (and soon Louis I'm guessing.)
Long live the Queen!
This was written some time ago, so when the Queen was on her adventure in the book, I kept thinking, "Someone help that 92 year old lady!" When the comment is made that she knew Churchill it makes you realize what all she's lived through, both professionally and personally. I didn't realize her sister and mother died the same year. While I remember all the grief she was given during Diana and Charles's troubles, it really boiled down to how Charles treated Diana and the Queen's attitude was pretty far down on the list.
Prince Philip is only mentioned in passing. I didn't know he was born in Greece and to the royal family there.
A side note: There's a new season of Tracey Ullman's show on HBO and she does a hilarious take on Camilla babysitting George and Charlotte (and soon Louis I'm guessing.)
Long live the Queen!
December 6, 2012
Though the structure makes it a bit difficult to follow, Kuhn delivers a comic and touching fabricated day in the life of Queen Elizabeth II. But this is no normal day. The Queen is feeling a bit sad and decides, quite suddenly, to travel to a place that once brought her happiness. The Queen's unusual (and alarming) absence brings together six unlikely people from all walks of life whose personal histories are revealed in stories from the past as well as the present. Paired off in uneasy alliances, they are nonetheless united by their commitment to getting "Mrs. Queen" safely back to Buckingham Palace. The Queen's physical journey (made easier by her practice of yoga) is nothing compared to her emotional one, as she copes with previous losses and new discoveries, demonstrating a warm heart beneath what is often perceived as a chilly exterior. An enjoyable read if you can stick with what appear to be divergent backstories until they eventually coalesce into a satisfying whole.
July 29, 2013
Cheery read as you take a ride with Mrs. Queen Elizabeth. Light weight book but holds rather interesting information about her household servants and daily logistics.
How did she stand it for SO MANY YEARS- all that formality and scrutiny and constant scheduling? Like royalty and with a strong backbone, that's how. And probably, most of the time, thinking about her horses?
Incognito jaunts, on occasion, even if very few in number over the years, they must be almost necessary.
I've always wondered what you talk about at any of those dinners! Nearly anything would seem too controversial that also holds interest.
Anglophile fun read.
How did she stand it for SO MANY YEARS- all that formality and scrutiny and constant scheduling? Like royalty and with a strong backbone, that's how. And probably, most of the time, thinking about her horses?
Incognito jaunts, on occasion, even if very few in number over the years, they must be almost necessary.
I've always wondered what you talk about at any of those dinners! Nearly anything would seem too controversial that also holds interest.
Anglophile fun read.
October 21, 2012
3.5 What a witty and clever idea for a novel, I felt like I was a fly on the wall observing royal etiquette, duties and jealousies. Loved the beginning when the queen expresses her opinion on modern technology, Gin and Camilla. A fun romp through modern day England meshed with old England traditions and a Queen who has been Queen for a very long time and longs for a little freedom. Enjoyed many of the characters we meet on her journey as well as those who job it is to attend to this long reigning monarch. Quite enjoyable.
June 13, 2013
I loved this book. It made me chuckle and I fell in love with all the characters.
December 17, 2018
המלכה אליזבת' מדוכדכת. היא לא כל כך חזרה לעצמה מאז השנה הגרועה בחייה (שנת 1992) ומאז מותה של הנסיכה דיאנה. היא כבר מבוגרת. הזמנים השתנו. הממשלה מצרה את צעדיה. היא חושבת על הדברים הקטנים שמשמחים אותה, ומחליטה בהחלטה של רגע לצאת לטיול קטן מחוץ לארמון, לבדה. בנוסף לסיפורה של המלכה, מובאים סיפוריהם של דמויות נוספות שגם עוזרות לה וגם לכל אחת מהן יש את הבעיות שלה.
אני מעריצה של המלכה אליזבת' והיא מאוד אהובה עליי. ממש אהבתי את הספר הזה. הכתיבה זורמת, אנושית, מלאה חמלה, משעשעת. העלילה אמיתית מאוד, והדמויות, וספציפית המלכה, אינן קריקטורות אלא דמויות אמיתיות עם התלבטויות אמיתיות וחיים אמיתיים. העובדות לגבי המלכה נכונות (הכותב הוא היסטוריון, ורואים את זה) ולא רכילותיות.
הצער העיקרי שלי הוא שהספר היה קצר מידי עבורי והייתי ממש שמחה להמשיך לקרוא על כל אחת מהדמויות הנוספות ומה קרה איתן אחר כך. ההתפתחות שלהן כאילו נקטעה באיבה ואני ממש מסוקרנת לדעת מה קרה איתן!
אני מעריצה של המלכה אליזבת' והיא מאוד אהובה עליי. ממש אהבתי את הספר הזה. הכתיבה זורמת, אנושית, מלאה חמלה, משעשעת. העלילה אמיתית מאוד, והדמויות, וספציפית המלכה, אינן קריקטורות אלא דמויות אמיתיות עם התלבטויות אמיתיות וחיים אמיתיים. העובדות לגבי המלכה נכונות (הכותב הוא היסטוריון, ורואים את זה) ולא רכילותיות.
הצער העיקרי שלי הוא שהספר היה קצר מידי עבורי והייתי ממש שמחה להמשיך לקרוא על כל אחת מהדמויות הנוספות ומה קרה איתן אחר כך. ההתפתחות שלהן כאילו נקטעה באיבה ואני ממש מסוקרנת לדעת מה קרה איתן!
December 28, 2024
I just reread this for about the 10th time, although I don't keep track in my reviews each time I read it.
This time, since the Queen's passing, I enjoyed it even more 12-28-24
After having read Major Pettigrew's Last Stand for the third time, I inquired at the local bookstore about something in that vain. Kristine suggested William Kuhn's "Mrs. Queen Takes the Train" his first novel - he is an historian, his most recent non-fiction book was "Reading Jackie".
William takes the reader and THE Queen on a most unusual and enjoyable journey. Mrs. Queen is tired of being bound by tradition, and decides one cold, stormy day to take a "walkabout". William develops all those around the Queen with utmost care and precision. Throughout the book are small black and white photos of the Queen and members of her family, this touch makes the fictional account of her journey more human. He uses many well known historic events to tie this story together.
I enjoyed this very much, and didn't want it to end.
This time, since the Queen's passing, I enjoyed it even more 12-28-24
After having read Major Pettigrew's Last Stand for the third time, I inquired at the local bookstore about something in that vain. Kristine suggested William Kuhn's "Mrs. Queen Takes the Train" his first novel - he is an historian, his most recent non-fiction book was "Reading Jackie".
William takes the reader and THE Queen on a most unusual and enjoyable journey. Mrs. Queen is tired of being bound by tradition, and decides one cold, stormy day to take a "walkabout". William develops all those around the Queen with utmost care and precision. Throughout the book are small black and white photos of the Queen and members of her family, this touch makes the fictional account of her journey more human. He uses many well known historic events to tie this story together.
I enjoyed this very much, and didn't want it to end.
July 10, 2015
On the book itself there is a quote from Goodreads which says "a wonderful novel that is simply and utterly a joy to read from beginning to end" and I wholeheartedly agree. There is another quote that says it is good for lovers of all thing British, I'm not sure if your average Anglophile would approve of the things that HRH got up to, but a clever read that had a realistic take on how the queen (The Queen) felt about events in the latter part of last century and the beginning of this one. I really enjoyed it. Loved the characters and plot. My only gripe is that the London bombings were in 2005 not 2007 and if you are going to use the exact date (at least three times) as an author you should check your dates - as much as 07/07/07 is such a pretty number! I hope the author is going to write about what happened to Rajiv and Rebecca next!
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