Elizabeth II: The Steadfast

by Douglas Hurd

Just as this book is being published, Elizabeth II will become the longest-serving monarch who ever sat on the English or British throne. Yet her personality and influence remain elusive. This book, by a senior politician who has spent significant periods of time in her company, and is also a distinguished historian, portrays her more credibly than any other yet published.

In September 2015 Queen Elizabeth II becomes Britain's longest-reigning monarch. During her long lifetime Britain and the world have changed beyond recognition, yet throughout she has stood steadfast as a lasting emblem of stability, continuity and public service.

Historian and senior politician Douglas Hurd has seen the Queen at close quarters, as Home Secretary and then on overseas expeditions as Foreign Secretary. Here he considers the life and role of Britain's most greatly admired monarch, who, inheriting a deep sense of duty from her father George VI, has weathered national and family crises, seen the end of an Empire and heard voices raised in favour of the break-up of the United Kingdom.

Hurd creates an arresting portrait of a woman deeply conservative by nature yet possessing a ready acceptance of modern life and the awareness that, for things to stay the same, they must change.

With a preface by HRH Prince William, Duke of Cambridge

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Royalty

120 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 13, 2015

About the author

Douglas Hurd, Baron (born 1930), is a British Conservative politician and novelist, who served in the governments of Margaret Thatcher and John Major between 1979 and his retirement in 1995.

Born in Marlborough, Wiltshire, Hurd first entered parliament in February 1974, as MP for the Mid Oxfordshire constituency. His first government post was as Minister for Europe, and he served in several cabinet posts from 1984 onwards, including Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1984-85), Home Secretary (1985-89) and Foreign Secretary (1989-95). He stood unsuccessfully for the Conservative Party leadership in 1990 and retired from frontline politics during a cabinet re-shuffle in 1995.

In 1997, Hurd entered the House of Lords. Viewed as one of the Conservative Party's senior elder statesmen, he is a patron of the Tory Reform Group, and remains an active figure in public life. Hurd is a writer of political thrillers including The Image in the Water, and a collection of short stories in Ten Minutes to Turn the Devil.

Reviews

[Steffi ~mereadingbooks~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short book is a really good introduction to Queen Elizabeth's life and the workings a modern monarchy.
It is such a short book, though, that it cannot really be anything else but a quick and superficial overview. As part of a series about Britain's monarchs it doesn't want to be anything else.

If you're interested in Queen Elizabeth but not sure if you can stomach a whole biography, or if you want a quick reminder what was going on in the first two seasons of "The Crown" (plus a bit of context), then this is the book for you.

[Suphap Duangsan · Rating 3 out of 5]

"...บรรยากาศของฝูงชนมีอารมณ์โล่งอกที่ได้เห็นสมเด็จพระราชินีนาถเสด็จฯกลับพระราชวัง เวลานี้ไม่ใช่เวลาที่ประชาชนจะโห่ร้องต้อนรับเสด็จ แต่วินาทีที่จับบรรยากาศได้ถูกต้องคือ เมื่อมีสุภาพสตรีนางหนึ่งทูลเกล้าฯ ถวายดอกไม้ช่อหนึ่งแด่สมเด็จพระราชินีนาถ พระองค์รับสั่งว่าจะนำดอกไม้ช่อนั้นไปวางรวมกับดอกไม้อื่น ๆ ที่ประชาชนวางเพื่อไว้อาลัยแด่เจ้าหญิงไดอาน่า แต่สุภาพสตรีผู้นั้นกราบทูลแต่เพียงสั้น ๆ ว่า "สมเด็จฯเพคะ นี่สำหรับพระองค์เพคะ…"

A Flower For The Queen
ช่อดอกไม้ถวายพระราชินี

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Elizabeth II
The Steadfast

เอลิซาเบธที่ 2
แน่วในปณิธาน

ดักลาส เฮิร์ด เขียน
ธงทอง จันทรางศุ และ นรชิต สิงหเสนี แปล

สำนักพิมพ์ openbooks

_______________________________________

เป็นหนังสือเล่มเล็กที่อัดแน่นไปด้วยเหตุการณ์ว่าด้วยพระราชประวัติและพระราชกรณียกิจ ตั้งแต่ทรงประสูติจนถึงปัจจุบัน และเล่มที่ผมถืออยู่ในมือนี้ก็ตีพิมพ์ในปีฉลองพระชนมพรรษาครบ 90 พรรษา

แน่นอนหัวใจสำคัญของหนังสืออยู่ที่เหตุการณ์สิ้นพระชนม์ของเจ้าหญิงไดอาน่าที่ผู้เขียนเองก็เขียนอย่างตรงไปตรงมา ไม่ฟูมฟาย แต่เน้นเหตุการณ์สำคัญที่เกิดขึ้นอย่างเป็นลำดับแต่ก็เสนอความคิดเห็นส่วนตัวออกมาได้อย่างเป็นกลาง(พอสมควรในสายตาของคนไทยอย่างผม)

เหตุการณ์ต่างในรัชสมัยของพระองค์ท่านมีสีสันมากนะครับ เราต่างก็หาอ่านได้ตามเว็บไซต์ข่าวเพื่อหาข้อเท็จจริงได้เอง

และแน่นอนประวัติศาสตร์มันมีสองด้าน ผู้อ่านสามารถเลือกได้ว่าจะอ่านหนังสือเล่มนี้ด้วยสายตาแบบไหน

เท่าที่ผมอ่านมา Elizabeth II The Steadfast เป็นหนังสือเกี่ยวกับพระราชวงค์ที่อ่านได้แบบตรงไปตรงมา เน้นนำเสนอข้อเท็จจริง มีนำเสนอความคิดเห็นของผู้เขียนอย่างเป็นกลาง

เป็นหนังสือที่เขียนเกี่ยวกับสถาบันกษัตริย์ภายใต้การปกครองระบอบประชาธิปไตยอันมีพระมหากษัตริย์เป็นประมุขที่ต้องปรับตัวในโลกสมัยใหม่ที่อ่านสนุกเล่มหนึ่งจริง ๆ ครับ

[Nathalie (keepreadingbooks) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one did not really work for me. I had assumed it would be an introduction/overview, but with interesting and entertaining insights. It was neither very interesting nor entertaining.

Hurd goes through the Queen's life very superficially, which of course is to be expected to some extent, except for particular topics he apparently finds more interesting and thus more worthy of his opinion and analysis. That means significant space (considered the overall size) is dedicated to, for instance, advice to the Queen on how to improve her Parliament and Christmas speeches, and musings and arguments related to whether Eden lied to her or not during the Suez crisis. There was also lots of detail on the Commonwealth and how including more countries without historic links to Britain will weaken it. It is not irrelevant to her reign at all, but this level of detail is very irrelevant to such a short book - especially when the focus is on politics rather than the Queen's role. There were also very detailed descriptions of how she elects prime ministers, as well as the author's opinions on how the retirement of the Queen's Royal Yacht 'Britannia' should've been handled. I mean, YAWN.

It is mentioned again and again how the Queen is naturally shy and cautious, and how good her memory is. But that's about the only thing directly related to her as a person. The rest can be more aptly described as a political analysis of her reign. Perhaps they shouldn't have chosen a politician as the author.

I realize that space constraints have something to say. But the above is not just due to the shortness of the book. Shortness does not mean you can't say what you want to say - it just means you need to plan exactly what and how you will say it in such little space. And Hurd did not seem to have a plan. Paragraphs were flung in here and there with no bridge at all to the previous one, and the highlighted topics making up the chapters seemed random at best.

Because every book in this series has a different author, I'm still keen to read my copy of Victoria by Jane Ridley. Fingers crossed she knows what she's doing!

/NK

[Nicholas Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The "Penguin Monarchs" is a fantastic series for those wishing to get an overview of the reigns of the various kings and queens, many of whom have been overlooked by all but the most dedicated scholars. This book, based as it is on the current Queen, differs in someways, by looking at themes of the Queen's reign rather than a pure chronology. The book consciously avoids most controversies but does acknowledge they exist, so allowing the reader to explore if these are of interest. A brief but interesting read, written in a clear and very readable style. Recommended.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t like this as much as the other Penguin Monarch books I’ve read. Mostly because it wasn’t chronological, but more a collection of anekdotes and facts on Elizabeth II.

[Bettie]

"bootlicking obsequiousness" read here

[Allie Oosta · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little heavy handed and overly positive at times, but enjoyable and informative (and well written) nonetheless.

[Peter · Rating 2 out of 5]

In contrast to the majority of this otherwise excellent series of brief monographs, Douglas Hurd's biography eschews objectivity in favour of obsequiousness, and we are presented with a white-washed hagiography of a remarkable woman who I suspect had more depths than Douglas Hurd would wish to plumb. Prince Phillip gets off even lighter. I suppose a peerage will do that to a chap.

The author loses no opportunity to place himself in regal proximity and world events, much like a British Zelig or Forrest Gump. I wonder how much of his animosity to the Spitting Image portrayal of the Queen is due to his own depiction as Mr. Whippy?

[Gary Holtzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neither a full biography of Queen Elizabeth II nor a deep exploration of the British monarchy, but a very concise introduction to the subject from the perspective of a longtime, leading Conservative politician and sometime historian. Not the place to look for anything especially original or thorough, but a quick overview of the Queen's life and some interesting thoughts from Lord Hurd on a wide range of topics related to her role and reign, and the position of the monarchy in Britain and the Commonwealth as she approached her 90th birthday.

[Callum Richardson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is largely an overview of Elizabeth’s reign, as opposed to delving into the character of the lady herself. Granted this was written whilst she still ruled, I think any deeper insights into Elizabeth’s manner or opinions will be few and far between. So this book will probably be as thorough as we’re likely to get - outside of watching The Crown

That being said the author makes very little effort to provide any depth. Chronology is thrown out of the window, especially in the final twenty pages, and many of the same points are repeated.

[Elissa Johnston · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is well written but I don’t think it quite meets the brief. I was expecting a concise overview of the reign of Elizabeth II. This book deviates from that. At times it seemed more a commentary on the political system with a throw away remark on how the Queen is neutral (we know, you’ve told us). Then other times the book skips into commentary on other monarchs. Which made it disappointing. I was hoping to learn more and tragically I didn’t.

[Anna Hamilton · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know who this book is written for. You simultanously need to know absolutely everything about the Queen, her ministers, prime ministers, former Kings and Queens and events throughout history while also wanting to read a 90 page book about HER WHOLE LIFE.

Purchased from Windsor castle gift shop and with a foreword from Prince William, this is a approved book about her life, I guess. But man oh man....

[Jamie · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF’ed at about the midway point. This wasn’t very engaging and felt quite impersonal. Also, I don’t care about the author’s personal viewpoint, which he readily and authoritatively offers up to the reader.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

Found the structure and focus oddly fluid. Much came across as overly flattering, focussed on the author’s personal experience and overly related to relations with Thatcher rather than a balanced biography of Elizabeth. Significantly poorer than others I’ve read in this series

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

A balanced introduction to this monarch, part of a great little series.

[Carolina · Rating 1 out of 5]

It’s not a biography but an ode to the Queen.

[TGIFD · Rating 3 out of 5]

หนังสือให้ภาพกว้างๆ เกี่ยวกับพระองค์ และราชวงศ์ อาจจะไม่ได้อะไรเป็นชิ้นเป็นอันมากมาย เหมือนเป็นเรื่องเล่าทั่วไปที่น่าสนใจ และที่สำคัญก็คือเป็นมุมมอง และกระบอกเสียงจากคนที่ทำงานใกล้ชิด และมีมุมมองที่จงรักภักดีต่อระบอบประชาธิปไตยอันมีพระมหากษัตริย์ ทรงเป็นพระประมุข
เนื้อหาหนังสืออาจจะไม่ได้ลงรายละเอียด หรือไม่ได้ลำดับเวลาที่ง่ายต่อการติดตาม แต่ก็ได้ให้ภาพกว้างๆ และเกร็ดเรื่องราวที่น่าสนใจ แต่เนื่องจากสำนักพิมพ์นี้มักเน้น Cosmetic ของหนังสือ ซึ่งอาจจะส่งผลให้หนังสือราคาสูงเกินจำเป็นเป็นผลซึ่งอาจส่งให้มีเกิดการจำกัดวงผู้อ่าน

[รพีพัฒน์ อิงคสิทธิ์ · Rating 3 out of 5]

ปกิณกะเกล็ดเล็กเกล็ดน้อยของอลิซาเบธที่ 2

การร้อยเรียงและเรียบเรียงขลุกขลัก ไม่มีเส้นการเล่าเรื่องที่ชัดเจน (อารมณ์คิดอะไรออกก็เขียน) ทำให้เรื่องอ่านยากโดยไม่จำเป็น

เหมาะสำหรับคนที่มีเงินเหลือ(เพราะหนังสือแพง) ชอบหนังสือสวย และต้องการแตะชิมบรรยากาศความเปิดกว้างและการปรับตัวของสถาบันกษัตริย์ในอังกฤษ

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating!

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit superficial, having just read a really good bio of her.

[Piper Winchester · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read into the life of our correct Queen. Forward by Prince William.

[Callum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting and genuinely quite enjoyable

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

A serviceable account of the life of Her Late Majesty which I did enjoy but didn't find as engaging as other books I have read on the late Queen.