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Night of Triumph
The future Queen must use all her wit and courage to get out of a very sticky situation... With sharp but affectionate humour, this is an enjoyable fictional crime caper and is sure to attract comment.
144 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
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About the author
Peter Bradshaw
27 books8 followersPeter Bradshaw is a British writer and film critic. He was a pupil at the independent Haberdashers' Aske's school in Hertfordshire,[1] and studied Modern Languages at Cambridge University, where he was president of Footlights.
Bradshaw is the film critic for The Guardian. Before joining The Guardian, Bradshaw was employed by the Evening Standard for whom he wrote a series of parodic diary entries purporting to written by the Conservative MP and historian Alan Clark which he thought deceptive and were the subject of a court case resolved in January 1998. The court found in Clark's favour, granting an injunction, deciding that Bradshaw's articles were then being published in a form that "a substantial number of readers" would believe they were genuinely being written by Alan Clark.[2] Bradshaw found it "the most bizarre and surreal business of my professional life. I'm very flattered that Mr Clark should go to all this trouble and expense in suing me like this."[3]
Peter Bradshaw has written a novel, Dr Sweet and his Daughter, published in 2004. He also wrote and performed a BBC radio programme titled For One Horrible Moment, recorded 10 October 1998 and first broadcast 20 January 1999. The programme chronicled a young man's coming of age in 1970s Cambridgeshire. He also co-wrote and acted in David Baddiel's sitcom Baddiel's Syndrome.
Bradshaw is the film critic for The Guardian. Before joining The Guardian, Bradshaw was employed by the Evening Standard for whom he wrote a series of parodic diary entries purporting to written by the Conservative MP and historian Alan Clark which he thought deceptive and were the subject of a court case resolved in January 1998. The court found in Clark's favour, granting an injunction, deciding that Bradshaw's articles were then being published in a form that "a substantial number of readers" would believe they were genuinely being written by Alan Clark.[2] Bradshaw found it "the most bizarre and surreal business of my professional life. I'm very flattered that Mr Clark should go to all this trouble and expense in suing me like this."[3]
Peter Bradshaw has written a novel, Dr Sweet and his Daughter, published in 2004. He also wrote and performed a BBC radio programme titled For One Horrible Moment, recorded 10 October 1998 and first broadcast 20 January 1999. The programme chronicled a young man's coming of age in 1970s Cambridgeshire. He also co-wrote and acted in David Baddiel's sitcom Baddiel's Syndrome.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 26, 2013
I have to admit I had no intention of reading Peter Bradshaw’s Night of Triumph. Although a work of fiction that includes a hint of history surrounding VE Day – for which I do have an interest – it didn’t really appeal to me. The idea of reading a book following two young women on a night on the town in 1940’s London, well I didn’t think it was for me!
How wrong could I be!
The book itself is small, 144 pages small, and it has a charm all of its own that only small books possess. I picked it up, turned over the first couple of pages and settled down to read Elizabeth and Margaret’s adventure from the Palace to The Ritz and a few other less reputable establishments in-between. The book flowed effortlessly, the narrative sumptuously addictive, compelling me to keep reading only pausing to refill my cooling mug of tea every once in a while. Truth be told once I’d read the first chapter I couldn’t and didn’t want to put the book down.
From one scene to the next, from one character to another, the book is an intriguing concoction of a well-crafted story and a spellbinding narrative. Bradshaw doesn’t over complicate things, he simply tells an endearing story of two young ladies desperate for one night away from the confines of Buckingham Palace. But the book is so much more than that.
Humorous at times, thanks to some well thought out and presented dialogue Night of Triumph will entertain from beginning to end, you simply can’t help smile when reading this book. I particularly loved the way Bradshaw introduces a cheeky dig at the Windsor family tree during a discussion between the two chaperones whose only role in the book is to keep the Princesses safe.
For a little balance Bradshaw introduces darkness via a colourful character in Mr Ware- truth be told he’s a despicable character - a man hell-bent on making his financial killing on a night when guards are down, no matter the cost. I enjoyed how Bradshaw tied things up at the end but if I’m being hyper critical I would have liked a slightly different and extended ending – but for fear of giving away any spoilers I won’t mention that here!
Utterly charming, intensely satisfying, Night of Triumph is a wonderful read and comes highly recommended.
How wrong could I be!
The book itself is small, 144 pages small, and it has a charm all of its own that only small books possess. I picked it up, turned over the first couple of pages and settled down to read Elizabeth and Margaret’s adventure from the Palace to The Ritz and a few other less reputable establishments in-between. The book flowed effortlessly, the narrative sumptuously addictive, compelling me to keep reading only pausing to refill my cooling mug of tea every once in a while. Truth be told once I’d read the first chapter I couldn’t and didn’t want to put the book down.
From one scene to the next, from one character to another, the book is an intriguing concoction of a well-crafted story and a spellbinding narrative. Bradshaw doesn’t over complicate things, he simply tells an endearing story of two young ladies desperate for one night away from the confines of Buckingham Palace. But the book is so much more than that.
Humorous at times, thanks to some well thought out and presented dialogue Night of Triumph will entertain from beginning to end, you simply can’t help smile when reading this book. I particularly loved the way Bradshaw introduces a cheeky dig at the Windsor family tree during a discussion between the two chaperones whose only role in the book is to keep the Princesses safe.
For a little balance Bradshaw introduces darkness via a colourful character in Mr Ware- truth be told he’s a despicable character - a man hell-bent on making his financial killing on a night when guards are down, no matter the cost. I enjoyed how Bradshaw tied things up at the end but if I’m being hyper critical I would have liked a slightly different and extended ending – but for fear of giving away any spoilers I won’t mention that here!
Utterly charming, intensely satisfying, Night of Triumph is a wonderful read and comes highly recommended.
April 20, 2025
The book's blurb says that this is the story of Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret going out on the town on VE day, but it actually has three different narrators: the royals, an old Etonian guardsman tasked with chaperoning Lilibet and Margot, and Mr Ware, a small time criminal, straight out of central Patrick Hamilton or early Graham Greene, a shabby petty crook who's done pretty well out of the war and is not particularly happy that it's ended.
These three narratives obviously collide and it's a more interesting story than it might seem and is not particularly deferential towards the future monarch. I'm not a royal watcher so I don't know how many of the finer details are true, but I wonder if the publishers passed it by The Palace before publication.
These three narratives obviously collide and it's a more interesting story than it might seem and is not particularly deferential towards the future monarch. I'm not a royal watcher so I don't know how many of the finer details are true, but I wonder if the publishers passed it by The Palace before publication.
October 1, 2022
A brief speculative story that posits an evening in Princess Elizabeth's and Princess Margaret's lives should they have managed to slip past their security to join the masses in celebrating the end of WWII in Europe.
January 29, 2013
I was sold on the premise - a written Roman Holiday! Very enjoyable, nice look into the royal princesses' world, even if fictional. And Princess Elizabeth made a great heroine! It was fun to see her trying to understand the commoners, her future subjects, whilst maintaining her dignity and poise. Short and sweet.
February 6, 2014
Fun short story really, Imagine Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret go out on the tiles on VE night and you have the premise for this story. Very tongue in cheek and a nice little read taking little time to read.
July 19, 2013
A brilliant idea, wittily realised. This little known true life incident was fleshed out with a fantasy that really packed a punch.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews