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Prince Harry Boy to Man
It's 2007, Harry's twenty-three and he's up against a wall. The army considers him a security risk. The press thinks he’s a spoiled brat. Girls like him for the prince he doesn't want to be. He hopes service in Afghanistan will let him prove he's an ordinary guy who can do a rough job under less than royal conditions. Instead, deployment exposes the vulnerability under his bad boy persona and results in a comic coming of age he definitely didn't see coming.
But what's his former nanny doing on the plane to Kabul? And what's a press-shy prince to do when he falls for the disguise of a female CNN reporter? She threatens to have him sent home before he's even gotten started. Nor does he anticipate making an ally and gay best friend in a brother officer named Mustafa. There's also a warlord driving a Mercedes and a colonel who’d much rather be reading Shakespeare. Together they stumble upon buried trauma from Harry’s childhood.
If he can learn how to cope with all that, our hero may glimpse horizons he never dreamed were possible.
But what's his former nanny doing on the plane to Kabul? And what's a press-shy prince to do when he falls for the disguise of a female CNN reporter? She threatens to have him sent home before he's even gotten started. Nor does he anticipate making an ally and gay best friend in a brother officer named Mustafa. There's also a warlord driving a Mercedes and a colonel who’d much rather be reading Shakespeare. Together they stumble upon buried trauma from Harry’s childhood.
If he can learn how to cope with all that, our hero may glimpse horizons he never dreamed were possible.
311 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 22, 2017
24 people are currently reading
522 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 - 25 of 25 reviews
September 14, 2017
I received this from Goodreads Giveaways (thanks!) in exchange for an honest review... all opinions are my own :).
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I entered this giveaway on a whim. The book sounded different and one of my reading goals this year was to try some new things I wouldn't normally try. I don't know a whole lot about the Royal Family *sheepish* and don't really follow celebrity gossip (although certain things mentioned in the book I did remember hearing about) so I wasn't sure how this book would go.
*points to rating* Pleasant surprise, love when that happens :)
Comedy is a tricky thing... not everyone loves the same type of jokes or humor. What I find funny, you might find boring/offensive/stupid and vice versa *shrugs* So whenever I see books or movies being described as "laugh out loud funny", "hilarious" , "best comedy", or the like I usually don't pay attention to that. If the story sounds interesting enough to me, I'll check it out for myself (Jessie, Holly, and Stephanie are exceptions sometimes... but we're all the same type of crazy ;-P).
This one for me was very enjoyable. I didn't roar with laughter, but I did find it very amusing. It kept my attention and lifted my mood on a couple bad work nights and made me forget where I was .
It took a bit for the book to pick up for me (never boring), once everyone arrived overseas something 'clicked' and I found myself ignoring the other books I brought with me to focus on this one.
Cindy: at first I was indifferent towards her though I admired her drive and guts (with the exception of one moment that was out of line) to make her way in the news world and get a story that mattered.
She grew on me after . The romance bit was subtle and well done in the case of her and Harry.
Frances: She turned out to be awesome... I wanted to go out and find her and adopt her as a Grandma:) She struggles at first but gets stronger and comes into her own as the story went on.
Mustafa: loved him right away. Interesting guy. :)
(His and Harry's friendship back and forth was so much fun)
Some moments were outlandish and require some suspension of disbelief but it was all in good fun, so to speak, and fit the story perfectly. Some of them I would love to see on the big screen, I think they would play very well to audiences.
The humor element for me, worked... there was nothing over the top or just for cheap laughs/shock value (certain R rated comedies I've seen).
I did like the way Harry was written in here. It was nice to get a look at what it might be like to be him and get inside his head. I only wish we had gotten a more personal POV from him as well, to see more of his thoughts.
A few of my favorite moments (minor spoilers, skip if you don't want to see):
One reviewer described this as a comedy of errors, and I think that's an apt description. It has the charm and silliness along with physical comedy and some serious situations that somehow works together very well and pokes fun at itself too.
Would recommend :)
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I entered this giveaway on a whim. The book sounded different and one of my reading goals this year was to try some new things I wouldn't normally try. I don't know a whole lot about the Royal Family *sheepish* and don't really follow celebrity gossip (although certain things mentioned in the book I did remember hearing about) so I wasn't sure how this book would go.
*points to rating* Pleasant surprise, love when that happens :)
Comedy is a tricky thing... not everyone loves the same type of jokes or humor. What I find funny, you might find boring/offensive/stupid and vice versa *shrugs* So whenever I see books or movies being described as "laugh out loud funny", "hilarious" , "best comedy", or the like I usually don't pay attention to that. If the story sounds interesting enough to me, I'll check it out for myself (Jessie, Holly, and Stephanie are exceptions sometimes... but we're all the same type of crazy ;-P).
This one for me was very enjoyable. I didn't roar with laughter, but I did find it very amusing. It kept my attention and lifted my mood on a couple bad work nights and made me forget where I was .
It took a bit for the book to pick up for me (never boring), once everyone arrived overseas something 'clicked' and I found myself ignoring the other books I brought with me to focus on this one.
Cindy: at first I was indifferent towards her though I admired her drive and guts (with the exception of one moment that was out of line) to make her way in the news world and get a story that mattered.
She grew on me after . The romance bit was subtle and well done in the case of her and Harry.
Frances: She turned out to be awesome... I wanted to go out and find her and adopt her as a Grandma:) She struggles at first but gets stronger and comes into her own as the story went on.
Mustafa: loved him right away. Interesting guy. :)
(His and Harry's friendship back and forth was so much fun)
Some moments were outlandish and require some suspension of disbelief but it was all in good fun, so to speak, and fit the story perfectly. Some of them I would love to see on the big screen, I think they would play very well to audiences.
The humor element for me, worked... there was nothing over the top or just for cheap laughs/shock value (certain R rated comedies I've seen).
I did like the way Harry was written in here. It was nice to get a look at what it might be like to be him and get inside his head. I only wish we had gotten a more personal POV from him as well, to see more of his thoughts.
A few of my favorite moments (minor spoilers, skip if you don't want to see):
One reviewer described this as a comedy of errors, and I think that's an apt description. It has the charm and silliness along with physical comedy and some serious situations that somehow works together very well and pokes fun at itself too.
Would recommend :)
June 9, 2017
Prince Harry: Boy to Man is the second novel by American biographer, historian, author and self-confessed Anglophile, William Kuhn. It’s 2007 and twenty-three-year-old Prince Harry is on his way to Afghanistan. It does present a security risk, but the British press has agreed to keep the destination quiet. What no one has reckoned on is that it’s a joint operation with the Americans who have reporters (exclusively male) embedded with their troops. And these reporters haven’t agreed to anything. For CNN, that’s Cindy Reed, who has resorted to extreme measures to prove herself capable of serious journalism. With her hair under a cap, sunglasses and a lowered voice, she becomes Sandy Reed, and she’s got everyone fooled.
Harry’s commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Arbuthnot is on this mission under sufferance: he’d much rather be reading Shakespeare than babysitting the spoiled young prince. Harry’s behaviour generally, but also to the CNN reporter, and especially toward his fellow officer, Lieutenant Mustafa Khan, has already sparked the Colonel’s annoyance. And then, as if he doesn’t have enough to deal with, he discovers Frances de Mornay, former nanny to the prince, on board the same flight to Kabul.
Readers of Kuhn’s first novel will notice that this one starts off quite a bit more soberly than Mrs Queen, but patience is certainly rewarded by an abundance of laugh-out-loud moments as the story progresses. Kuhn’s sympathies for the Royal Family are apparent, but he also touches on themes both topical and perennial: sexual orientation in the armed forces; romantic relationships with a large age gap; the role of press in armed combat; and the expectations and restrictions placed on royalty by fact of birth.
Kuhn’s characters are appealing and more than one-dimensional, a quirky and diverse bunch whose escapade includes pastel robes, Henry IV, the Kabul Hilton, valuable artefacts, black eyeliner, pink club chairs, mountain caves, and football. And as with Mrs Queen, his plot does not require too much suspension of disbelief. This is a very enjoyable read that gains validity from recent media interviews on mental health for the Heads Together campaign by William and Harry. A delightful, funny, feel-good read.
The author provided this uncorrected proof copy without obligation: this review is entirely voluntary and impartial.
Harry’s commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Arbuthnot is on this mission under sufferance: he’d much rather be reading Shakespeare than babysitting the spoiled young prince. Harry’s behaviour generally, but also to the CNN reporter, and especially toward his fellow officer, Lieutenant Mustafa Khan, has already sparked the Colonel’s annoyance. And then, as if he doesn’t have enough to deal with, he discovers Frances de Mornay, former nanny to the prince, on board the same flight to Kabul.
Readers of Kuhn’s first novel will notice that this one starts off quite a bit more soberly than Mrs Queen, but patience is certainly rewarded by an abundance of laugh-out-loud moments as the story progresses. Kuhn’s sympathies for the Royal Family are apparent, but he also touches on themes both topical and perennial: sexual orientation in the armed forces; romantic relationships with a large age gap; the role of press in armed combat; and the expectations and restrictions placed on royalty by fact of birth.
Kuhn’s characters are appealing and more than one-dimensional, a quirky and diverse bunch whose escapade includes pastel robes, Henry IV, the Kabul Hilton, valuable artefacts, black eyeliner, pink club chairs, mountain caves, and football. And as with Mrs Queen, his plot does not require too much suspension of disbelief. This is a very enjoyable read that gains validity from recent media interviews on mental health for the Heads Together campaign by William and Harry. A delightful, funny, feel-good read.
The author provided this uncorrected proof copy without obligation: this review is entirely voluntary and impartial.
June 4, 2017
I received an ARC from the author for an unbiased review.
I have been waiting for more from Mr Kuhn since reading on a whim (thanks grocery store book table!) Mrs Queen Takes the Train. The same irreverent yet respectful humor is present in this book. Taking place during the time Prince Harry was in Afghanistan, we go along for the ride. Much like Mrs Queen Harry feels hemmed in by his duty (the spare) and his public persona. We also have some interesting side kicks. Here we get an Afghani Brit fellow soldier, the grandson of an old equerry drafted into the role of Harry's commanding officer, his former nanny who has a bit of drink problem serving as a church relief person, and a female CNN reporter pretending to be a man so she can be embedded with the troops. The motley crew has quite the adventure and learn some lessons along the way. Quite entertaining and definitely charming.
I have been waiting for more from Mr Kuhn since reading on a whim (thanks grocery store book table!) Mrs Queen Takes the Train. The same irreverent yet respectful humor is present in this book. Taking place during the time Prince Harry was in Afghanistan, we go along for the ride. Much like Mrs Queen Harry feels hemmed in by his duty (the spare) and his public persona. We also have some interesting side kicks. Here we get an Afghani Brit fellow soldier, the grandson of an old equerry drafted into the role of Harry's commanding officer, his former nanny who has a bit of drink problem serving as a church relief person, and a female CNN reporter pretending to be a man so she can be embedded with the troops. The motley crew has quite the adventure and learn some lessons along the way. Quite entertaining and definitely charming.
June 8, 2017
Occasionally I have wished that, as with movies, comedy was considered a literature genre. This is one of those times. Honestly, I think that Mr. Kuhn has missed his calling and should be writing screenplays. Maybe then we could see some movies that were actually funny.
Prince Harry Boy to Man had the satirical elements down. One particularly memorable scene had an angry Afghan war-lord yelling at a British officer because they were money loving, godless people who worshiped Apple, but who also carried a iPhone. I frequently found myself laughing out loud at the hypocrisies of the characters.
Kuhn's strong suit as an author is writing comical but lovable characters. In Prince Harry I especially loved Frances, an aging former royal-nanny who likes her whisky now and then (and most of the time), but who is full of enough gumption to hop on a plane to a war zone just so she might get to talk to Harry. Andrew, Harry's commanding officer who is looking forward to teaching Harry some discipline and putting him in his placce, yet decides the best way to do this might be Shakespeare. Cindy, a reporter so deperate to be taken seriously that she literally dresses up as a boy. And then, of course, Harry is always playing the class clown and making the cast and reader alike laugh.
But what I loved best was how Prince Harry was really a comedy of errors. It was silly in a very Shakespearean way. Cindy pretending to be a boy, and Harry liking her was straight out of Twelfth Night. The situations were so ludicrous that you would never in a million years think you were reading anything other than fiction. Of course an ambassador would never let some old woman in Kabul just drive him out into the dessert looking for a kidnapped officer. My favorite scene involved the prisoners, all sitting in chairs that are chained together, lifting their chairs and chains in unison and noisily scooting across the room and back. It was straight out of a cartoon or 60s sitcom. I don't know that I've ever read a book that successfully had physical comedy.
Comedy aside, it was also nice to get a look at what it might be like to be Harry. The difficulty of fame, how girls don't like him for him as much as for the crown. His hatred of the media and continuing grief of his mother. His odd justifications of his bad behavior. I only wish there had been a little more of that.
****I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review****
Prince Harry Boy to Man had the satirical elements down. One particularly memorable scene had an angry Afghan war-lord yelling at a British officer because they were money loving, godless people who worshiped Apple, but who also carried a iPhone. I frequently found myself laughing out loud at the hypocrisies of the characters.
Kuhn's strong suit as an author is writing comical but lovable characters. In Prince Harry I especially loved Frances, an aging former royal-nanny who likes her whisky now and then (and most of the time), but who is full of enough gumption to hop on a plane to a war zone just so she might get to talk to Harry. Andrew, Harry's commanding officer who is looking forward to teaching Harry some discipline and putting him in his placce, yet decides the best way to do this might be Shakespeare. Cindy, a reporter so deperate to be taken seriously that she literally dresses up as a boy. And then, of course, Harry is always playing the class clown and making the cast and reader alike laugh.
But what I loved best was how Prince Harry was really a comedy of errors. It was silly in a very Shakespearean way. Cindy pretending to be a boy, and Harry liking her was straight out of Twelfth Night. The situations were so ludicrous that you would never in a million years think you were reading anything other than fiction. Of course an ambassador would never let some old woman in Kabul just drive him out into the dessert looking for a kidnapped officer. My favorite scene involved the prisoners, all sitting in chairs that are chained together, lifting their chairs and chains in unison and noisily scooting across the room and back. It was straight out of a cartoon or 60s sitcom. I don't know that I've ever read a book that successfully had physical comedy.
Comedy aside, it was also nice to get a look at what it might be like to be Harry. The difficulty of fame, how girls don't like him for him as much as for the crown. His hatred of the media and continuing grief of his mother. His odd justifications of his bad behavior. I only wish there had been a little more of that.
****I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review****
June 13, 2017
I am a long-time fan of William Kuhn's books, going back to his biographies of Prime Minister Disraeli ("The Politics of Pleasure") and of Jackie Kennedy Onassis ("Reading Jackie"), and even more of his first novel, "Mrs. Queen Takes the Train." He combines a historian's eye for detail with a comic novelist's ear for funny dialogue and finding the humor in his character's struggles, whether the people are real or fictional. I loved "Prince Harry Boy to Man," which is a perfect follow up to "Mrs. Queen." The new novel follows the Prince to Afghanistan with the British Army and a cast of likeable characters, all with troubles of their own, including an ambitious and gorgeous CNN reporter who disguises herself as a man in order to get an inside story (and gets close to Harry in every sense), a fellow soldier of Afghan birth who may or may not betray Harry to the enemy, and an aging, tippling former nanny who ends up in Kabul with him. Full of humor and hilarious scenes, the novel presents Harry and his courtier companions as sympathetic people making the best of a messy conflict, the media spotlight, dealing with aging and sexuality, and the curse of being born royal.
July 11, 2017
William Kuhn has a knack of bringing the members of the royal family to life, showing the same human worries, desires, faults, etc. in a way which all the rest of us can relate to by seeing these very same traits in ourselves. You feel they could drop in for a cuppa and you would be as at home with them as any neighbour popping over. This has comedy, sex, love, a real feeling of empathy towards a young man starting up in the army with the heavy yoke of fame and royalty around his neck, getting along with new mates and the knowledge that the paparazzi are waiting to pounce on any error of judgement. This would dash any latent desires from childhood to be a prince or princess for any reader! The first lines of this set on the floor of the deserted airport terminal swept you into this story as you wanted to know this Harry more, he felt real, interesting, unpredictable and you wanted to know what he was going to do next.
Kuhn seems to be clairvoyant (or extremely well researched) as even as the book was launched broadcasters were reporting Harry(the real Harry) along the same lines, his early days in Afghanistan and his difficulty in facing the trauma of his mother's death amongst other things.
A quick read, a funny read, a thoughtful read, one that remains in your head a long time afterwards, and just like Mrs Queen, absolutely delightful.
Kuhn seems to be clairvoyant (or extremely well researched) as even as the book was launched broadcasters were reporting Harry(the real Harry) along the same lines, his early days in Afghanistan and his difficulty in facing the trauma of his mother's death amongst other things.
A quick read, a funny read, a thoughtful read, one that remains in your head a long time afterwards, and just like Mrs Queen, absolutely delightful.
June 14, 2017
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
2.5 stars
I am a huge fan of Mr. Kuhn's work, absolutely adore his work and persona, but this book was a difficult one for me. I couldn't relate to the prince at all - I found his personality deplorable and I didn't see the transition from boy to man by the end of the book. There was this beautiful flow to the book, a flow much like that found in Kuhn's last book about the Queen, where the story opens, characters are developed, the event occurs and then all of the pieces come together in a lovely ending.
There was a bit of the fantastic though in the plot- and I had to repeat to myself - this is a fun fiction book - don't get too caught up on the details!
I will say that if you are enamored with the royal family, and with Prince Harry in particular, you will like this book.
2.5 stars
I am a huge fan of Mr. Kuhn's work, absolutely adore his work and persona, but this book was a difficult one for me. I couldn't relate to the prince at all - I found his personality deplorable and I didn't see the transition from boy to man by the end of the book. There was this beautiful flow to the book, a flow much like that found in Kuhn's last book about the Queen, where the story opens, characters are developed, the event occurs and then all of the pieces come together in a lovely ending.
There was a bit of the fantastic though in the plot- and I had to repeat to myself - this is a fun fiction book - don't get too caught up on the details!
I will say that if you are enamored with the royal family, and with Prince Harry in particular, you will like this book.
June 6, 2017
I was given an ARC from the author for an unbiased review.
I really liked "Mrs Queen Takes the Train" by this author, and was looking forward to seeing how he dealt with Harry. This story is a fun, quirky look at how Prince Harry’s stint in Afghanistan may have turned out. It’s full of interesting side characters, including his former nanny and a Shakespearean loving Colonel, who had previously known each other years ago, and, of course, an attractive female CNN reporter. It’s necessary to suspend disbelief for a while as Harry and his friends spend time in Kabul, but I like humorous stories that also have some slightly serious undertones, so I gave it four stars.
I really liked "Mrs Queen Takes the Train" by this author, and was looking forward to seeing how he dealt with Harry. This story is a fun, quirky look at how Prince Harry’s stint in Afghanistan may have turned out. It’s full of interesting side characters, including his former nanny and a Shakespearean loving Colonel, who had previously known each other years ago, and, of course, an attractive female CNN reporter. It’s necessary to suspend disbelief for a while as Harry and his friends spend time in Kabul, but I like humorous stories that also have some slightly serious undertones, so I gave it four stars.
June 23, 2017
Cutting it a bit fine, but I made it! Woo!
I was very kindly sent a copy of this book by the author, in exchange for a review. This has in no way influenced my opinions.
Mrs Queen Takes the Train is one of my favourite books of all time and is, therefore, a hard act to follow, but I had faith that Prince Harry: Boy to Man would not let me down, and it didn't. It may not have warmed my soul quite like Mrs Queen, but it was the same kind of amusing, character-driven adventure that I looked forward to immersing myself in.
As with Mrs Queen, this follows a number of characters who all find themselves in the middle of a situation that none of them are quite prepared for: that is, Prince Harry's deployment to Afghanistan. Harry must figure out who he is beyond being the tabloid's favourite playboy prince and how he can best serve his country and the people of Afghanistan. There's also Cindy, a young reporter for CNN who is trying to make her way in a very male-dominated industry while remaining true to her own self; Mustafa, a lieutenant in the British Army who, somewhat unwillingly, finds himself Harry's only friend, and must reconcile his British upbringing with his Afghan roots (especially as he is returning to his parents' country of birth without their approval), as well as the burgeoning awareness that he is not straight.
The last two characters are Frances de Mornay, an ex-nanny of William and Harry's who was fired for the alcoholism that developed following her divorce from her husband and who is trying to figure out how to navigate her impending solitary old age and stay sober in the process; and Andrew Arbuthnot, a colonel tasked with being Harry's handler who once nursed a schoolboy crush for Frances when she was married and moved in the same circles as his parents, a crush that never went away.
Like in Mrs Queen, each character is presented carefully and realistically, and they are all allowed both virtues and faults, wise decisions and less wise ones, to the point where they begin to feel less like characters on a page and more like old friends. The little connections between Frances, Harry and Andrew were so pleasing and their reconnections were a joy to read.
Even the country of Afghanistan is painted with a delicate, nuanced brush: its rich history, far outdating the UK's own, sits side by side with the control of the Taliban who would seek to erase it all. The narrative is not at all biased about the conflict, and invites us to draw our own conclusions about the benefit of the West's involvement.
Even though this book is set in 2007, the thoughts it puts forward, mostly through Mustafa, about race, religion, heritage and belonging, are unfortunately still extremely relevant.
All in all this was a delightful, satisfying novel that I would be happy to read again and again. 4/5 stars.
I was very kindly sent a copy of this book by the author, in exchange for a review. This has in no way influenced my opinions.
Mrs Queen Takes the Train is one of my favourite books of all time and is, therefore, a hard act to follow, but I had faith that Prince Harry: Boy to Man would not let me down, and it didn't. It may not have warmed my soul quite like Mrs Queen, but it was the same kind of amusing, character-driven adventure that I looked forward to immersing myself in.
As with Mrs Queen, this follows a number of characters who all find themselves in the middle of a situation that none of them are quite prepared for: that is, Prince Harry's deployment to Afghanistan. Harry must figure out who he is beyond being the tabloid's favourite playboy prince and how he can best serve his country and the people of Afghanistan. There's also Cindy, a young reporter for CNN who is trying to make her way in a very male-dominated industry while remaining true to her own self; Mustafa, a lieutenant in the British Army who, somewhat unwillingly, finds himself Harry's only friend, and must reconcile his British upbringing with his Afghan roots (especially as he is returning to his parents' country of birth without their approval), as well as the burgeoning awareness that he is not straight.
The last two characters are Frances de Mornay, an ex-nanny of William and Harry's who was fired for the alcoholism that developed following her divorce from her husband and who is trying to figure out how to navigate her impending solitary old age and stay sober in the process; and Andrew Arbuthnot, a colonel tasked with being Harry's handler who once nursed a schoolboy crush for Frances when she was married and moved in the same circles as his parents, a crush that never went away.
Like in Mrs Queen, each character is presented carefully and realistically, and they are all allowed both virtues and faults, wise decisions and less wise ones, to the point where they begin to feel less like characters on a page and more like old friends. The little connections between Frances, Harry and Andrew were so pleasing and their reconnections were a joy to read.
Even the country of Afghanistan is painted with a delicate, nuanced brush: its rich history, far outdating the UK's own, sits side by side with the control of the Taliban who would seek to erase it all. The narrative is not at all biased about the conflict, and invites us to draw our own conclusions about the benefit of the West's involvement.
Even though this book is set in 2007, the thoughts it puts forward, mostly through Mustafa, about race, religion, heritage and belonging, are unfortunately still extremely relevant.
All in all this was a delightful, satisfying novel that I would be happy to read again and again. 4/5 stars.
June 14, 2017
I'd read William Kuhn's earlier fictional novel, Mrs Queen Takes the Train, last year for a book club--a book I hadn't thought I'd enjoy as much as I actually did. So when I heard of Mr. Kuhn's newest novel based on the younger son of the royal family, I could've squealed with joy.
The year is 2007 and Prince Harry has been stationed in Afghanistan. William Kuhn's story takes a fictional turn from what is a true event. Prince Harry feels truer and more humanly expressed than on most tabloids of the 2000s. There's the addition of characters like the former royal nanny, Frances de Mornay, who is no stranger to the bottle. There's the Shakespeare-loving Andrew Arbuthnot who hopes to get the prince in and out of Afghanistan unharmed. Cindy Reed is the CNN reporter who so badly wants to get that one big story and Mustafa Khan is the British lieutenant who is Pakistani by descent. One couldn't help but to root for Harry and friends and cheer them on as they dealt with the aftermath of Afghanistan.
William Kuhn has very spectaculary created a story that is filled with laughs and humor and also steeped with common issues in a modern setting. There's the xenophobia of the western world where Lieutenant Khan has learned that even as a british citizen, he's still the outside. There's love between large age differences, something that is still widely debated and frowned upon. The author spares nothing when expressing the army's view on gay men. Some of these are not exactly new, as William Kuhn did a wonderful job with some of these issues in Mrs Queen Takes the Train. In this novel, he takes it a bit further without losing the reader. And so, while enjoying yourself in the story, you can't help but ponder some of these contemporary issues that are often hidden in other novels.
I wish I could say I took more time, sipping a cup of tea and truly basking in the story and characters. However, I found at times I could not put the novel down. There's more action in this one and I badly wanted to see where it would all end up at the end of the day. And for someone who doesn't consider themself quite nearly an anglophile as the author no-doubt is, that's quite the compliment.
**I received an advanced reader's copy by the author in exchange for an honest review.**
The year is 2007 and Prince Harry has been stationed in Afghanistan. William Kuhn's story takes a fictional turn from what is a true event. Prince Harry feels truer and more humanly expressed than on most tabloids of the 2000s. There's the addition of characters like the former royal nanny, Frances de Mornay, who is no stranger to the bottle. There's the Shakespeare-loving Andrew Arbuthnot who hopes to get the prince in and out of Afghanistan unharmed. Cindy Reed is the CNN reporter who so badly wants to get that one big story and Mustafa Khan is the British lieutenant who is Pakistani by descent. One couldn't help but to root for Harry and friends and cheer them on as they dealt with the aftermath of Afghanistan.
William Kuhn has very spectaculary created a story that is filled with laughs and humor and also steeped with common issues in a modern setting. There's the xenophobia of the western world where Lieutenant Khan has learned that even as a british citizen, he's still the outside. There's love between large age differences, something that is still widely debated and frowned upon. The author spares nothing when expressing the army's view on gay men. Some of these are not exactly new, as William Kuhn did a wonderful job with some of these issues in Mrs Queen Takes the Train. In this novel, he takes it a bit further without losing the reader. And so, while enjoying yourself in the story, you can't help but ponder some of these contemporary issues that are often hidden in other novels.
I wish I could say I took more time, sipping a cup of tea and truly basking in the story and characters. However, I found at times I could not put the novel down. There's more action in this one and I badly wanted to see where it would all end up at the end of the day. And for someone who doesn't consider themself quite nearly an anglophile as the author no-doubt is, that's quite the compliment.
**I received an advanced reader's copy by the author in exchange for an honest review.**
March 25, 2021
There aren't too many authors around who can write funny, since most prefer to tackle darker themes. I venture to say that humour is more challenging. I would love to meet William Kuhn in person and see if he is as funny as his books. This novel takes place in Afghanistan where Harry is sent to serve his country. It isn't quite as hilarious as his first, Mrs Queen Takes the Train, but perhaps that's because the queen is a more loveable character than Harry, who is a callow youth of twenty-three years old in this novel and often deserves a kick up the backside. However, one grows fonder of him as the book progresses, along with a whole cast of quirky characters.
In both novels, the author pokes fun at the royals while remaining respectful of them, and also addresses the pitfalls of royal life. The author is prescient since the fictional Harry is struggling with his duties and longing for a simpler existence, and we all know what happened in real life.
In both novels, the author pokes fun at the royals while remaining respectful of them, and also addresses the pitfalls of royal life. The author is prescient since the fictional Harry is struggling with his duties and longing for a simpler existence, and we all know what happened in real life.
August 29, 2017
A delightful read, and timely book. Harry's journey in Prince Harry Boy to Man is in step with
the Prince's recent revelations about how his behaviour was affected by the trauma he
suffered when his mother died. Harry has certainly stepped up to the plate with his involvement
in the Invictus Games and other charities. William Kuhn shows Harry's many different sides -- the prankster, the friend, the potential leader, and ultimately the royal. The novel has a bit of everything
including more in depth material about the royal family, about the Prince's time in Afghanistan,
plus spoiler alert -- a very sweet romance. You will love it.
the Prince's recent revelations about how his behaviour was affected by the trauma he
suffered when his mother died. Harry has certainly stepped up to the plate with his involvement
in the Invictus Games and other charities. William Kuhn shows Harry's many different sides -- the prankster, the friend, the potential leader, and ultimately the royal. The novel has a bit of everything
including more in depth material about the royal family, about the Prince's time in Afghanistan,
plus spoiler alert -- a very sweet romance. You will love it.
October 2, 2017
Another thoroughly fun read from William Kuhn, whose first book, "Mrs. Queen Takes the Train" was a treat as satisfying as a good cuppa and a huge scone with clotted cream and strawberry jam. While some of the situations in “Prince Harry Boy to Man” may be far-fetched, that’s also what makes them so deliciously funny. The core characters were interesting and not so over the top as to be caricatures. At times I thought they were going to veer towards that, but then a character would say or do something to make their seemingly nonsensical behavior make sense. Or at least, make sense in the context of this sweet, funny, treat of a book. The most surprising thing for me was that I learned something about the conflict in Afghanistan. Seeing the personal issues of wanting to provide schooling and resources for children, while I realize was the backdrop of a comedy, it showed me a side of that war I hadn’t seen before. I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair review. But it was my pleasure entirely as I enjoyed the book so much.
March 21, 2018
This is the first book I've read by William Kuhn. I enjoyed it!
July 14, 2017
This was a very light, charming, and quick read. It's a bit strange how light, in fact, given the heaviness of the subject matter (the war in Afghanistan, the Taliban, alcoholism, and more all enter into the story), but Kuhn really treats it all with a very light touch, and there is never any sense of peril. It is a humorous book that imagines a more exciting version of what Prince Harry got up to while with the British army in Afghanistan. Kuhn's Prince Harry is charming, boyish, annoying, and very immature. Really, the Prince Harry that the media has given us. As with the real one, you can't help but love him, in spite of what he gets up to. There are four or five main characters that you're introduced to at the beginning of the book, and you fairly quickly discover what links them: of course Prince Harry, Harry's friend and roommate in Afghanistan, Mustafa, who is a very posh British-born Afghani, their commander, a CNN reporter, and an older alcoholic woman who becomes a last-minute aid worker. This book is not as charming as Mrs. Queen Takes the Train, Kuhn's previous British royalty-themed book, and it is not quite as tight and well-edited as that book (the book is printed in what looks like a sort of print-on-demand machine, and the cover is cheap and curls immediately, which drives me nuts, and it thus appears to be either self-published or almost self-published, but it is very well-edited in terms of language and continuity), and the humor is much cruder, even slap-sticky at times, and Harry is really very annoying and childish and kind of pathetic, so he takes a little getting used to.
My major caveat, however, is the way in which Kuhn characterizes the CNN reporter. She is very young (early 20s), and extremely good at her job and very ambitious. All good, right? She is treated like one of the heroes of the book, and Kuhn presents her as basically perfect (strong, brilliant, charismatic, beautiful, gutsy, etc.), and yet! She is sleeping with her much older boss ("old enough to be her father"), and then of course (mild spoiler, although you clearly see it coming from the moment she's introduced) she sleeps with one of the subjects of her reporting. Really??? This brilliant and talented woman is subject to the most tired of all stereotypes of the professional woman, and particularly of the female journalist. Kuhn tries really hard to convince us that she didn't sleep her way to the top, but this stereotypical representation of competent professional women as basically being incapable of not sleeping with whatever men they come in contact with while on the job, even though it is deeply unprofessional, is just tired and offensive. Kuhn is at pains to represent other marginalized people (gay people, Afghani women and children, older women, alcoholics, even the Taliban) as more complex than they seem at first, and as something other than stereotypes, so it's really baffling and unfortunate that he fell into this particular insipid trap.
My major caveat, however, is the way in which Kuhn characterizes the CNN reporter. She is very young (early 20s), and extremely good at her job and very ambitious. All good, right? She is treated like one of the heroes of the book, and Kuhn presents her as basically perfect (strong, brilliant, charismatic, beautiful, gutsy, etc.), and yet! She is sleeping with her much older boss ("old enough to be her father"), and then of course (mild spoiler, although you clearly see it coming from the moment she's introduced) she sleeps with one of the subjects of her reporting. Really??? This brilliant and talented woman is subject to the most tired of all stereotypes of the professional woman, and particularly of the female journalist. Kuhn tries really hard to convince us that she didn't sleep her way to the top, but this stereotypical representation of competent professional women as basically being incapable of not sleeping with whatever men they come in contact with while on the job, even though it is deeply unprofessional, is just tired and offensive. Kuhn is at pains to represent other marginalized people (gay people, Afghani women and children, older women, alcoholics, even the Taliban) as more complex than they seem at first, and as something other than stereotypes, so it's really baffling and unfortunate that he fell into this particular insipid trap.
September 17, 2017
Prince Harry
Well written piece of fiction. The author has certainly used his imagination to weave a good story around what Harry could have experienced on his first overseas assignment. Including his Nanny into the tale adds a clever touch.
Well written piece of fiction. The author has certainly used his imagination to weave a good story around what Harry could have experienced on his first overseas assignment. Including his Nanny into the tale adds a clever touch.
July 5, 2017
A great book for a lazy summer Sunday. Kuhn has mastered the modern picaresque. The end of the novel, when the adventure is over, lags a bit, but definitely fun and worth the read.
June 18, 2017
In a world that increasingly seems to be full of despair and lack of hope, Kuhn's Princy Harry is a breath of fresh air. I loved this book from start to finish. The characters are depicted as well rounded invidivuals with flaws like the rest of us. Harry is not perfect but Kuhn shows his remarkable talent for drawing golden gems from his Harry and the everyday boy eventually becomes a mature and kind young man.
Kuhn's novel is like a sandwich with slices of royal history woven in between the slices of bread that hold the story in place. As always, Kuhn knows his subject well and treats his Harry with the kindness and humour he deserves. The relationship between Harry and Frances (Mudge), his nanny from childhood days, was the one that I found most empathy with. The alcoholic Mudge is certainly flawed but her rose petals perfume and good spirit (she is there to cheer up the boys and Harry remembers her teaching him black jack as a kid!) make her a character I'd love to meet one day.
Mention is made of Diana and Charles and their marriage and other royals as well but the story itself is what grabs the reader. This is Harry as we all imagine him to be - funny, outgoing and most of all, a good friend. Keep up the good work Kuhn - I am now anxiously waiting for your book on William!
Kuhn's novel is like a sandwich with slices of royal history woven in between the slices of bread that hold the story in place. As always, Kuhn knows his subject well and treats his Harry with the kindness and humour he deserves. The relationship between Harry and Frances (Mudge), his nanny from childhood days, was the one that I found most empathy with. The alcoholic Mudge is certainly flawed but her rose petals perfume and good spirit (she is there to cheer up the boys and Harry remembers her teaching him black jack as a kid!) make her a character I'd love to meet one day.
Mention is made of Diana and Charles and their marriage and other royals as well but the story itself is what grabs the reader. This is Harry as we all imagine him to be - funny, outgoing and most of all, a good friend. Keep up the good work Kuhn - I am now anxiously waiting for your book on William!
July 22, 2017
Not to be confused with reality, this work of fiction is an imaginative story of Prince Harry (Charles and Diana's younger son) during his tour of military service in Afghanistan. William Kuhn gives a broad wink at the audience with references to Shakespeare's "Henry IV" to let you know whats he's doing: mixing real and fictional characters to tell us something about making the transition to assuming adult responsibilities instead of treating life as an endless game. It's a fun -- and often funny -- read -- touching on a variety of issues both sexual and political, with some perceptive comments about mass media as well. (No, it's not "fake news.") A very entertaining read.
July 25, 2017
A fictional story about Prince Harry's time in Afghanistan.
In this story, Harry's good friend is a gay soldier, his love interest is a reporter that has gone undercover as a man so she can report from the war zone and his former Nanny makes an appearance in his life again.
Definitely an amusing, funny story.
It was quite as entertaining as Mrs Queen Takes the Train, but definitely still enjoyable.
I think my main "criticism" is that this could have easily been longer. We could have gotten to know the characters a lot better. Anytime I feel like a book should have been longer, it obviously means I enjoyed it.
In this story, Harry's good friend is a gay soldier, his love interest is a reporter that has gone undercover as a man so she can report from the war zone and his former Nanny makes an appearance in his life again.
Definitely an amusing, funny story.
It was quite as entertaining as Mrs Queen Takes the Train, but definitely still enjoyable.
I think my main "criticism" is that this could have easily been longer. We could have gotten to know the characters a lot better. Anytime I feel like a book should have been longer, it obviously means I enjoyed it.
March 13, 2019
Please someone tell me Prince Harry isn't actually like this character William Kuhn put out and doesn't actually speak that way. PLEASE!
September 22, 2017
****2.5 Stars****
I DNF'd this book because there were so many problematic issues, it started getting better in the second part and I had hope for it only to have the author go right back to a lot of the problematic themes. There was a lot of homophobic behaviors, racism, bigotry, misogyny, sexism. You name it this book has it, and I don't love that. I found this to be very disrespectful to the Royal Family especially Prince Harry, and while yes I know this is fiction some of the stuff that was said and talked about would have never been permissible or even allowed within the British Royals. I think that the author needs to be mindful of these things going into his next book. I didn't give it a full 3 stars because of all the problems with these. I do give it more than 2 stars though because of the fact that I do believe that based on the locations and what not it was well researched in that area as well as the premise, if better written with less of these problematic things, is a good premise. However, I just can't get behind this book. I'm sorry William, I wanted to love it, I really did, but it's just not something I can agree with.
I DNF'd this book because there were so many problematic issues, it started getting better in the second part and I had hope for it only to have the author go right back to a lot of the problematic themes. There was a lot of homophobic behaviors, racism, bigotry, misogyny, sexism. You name it this book has it, and I don't love that. I found this to be very disrespectful to the Royal Family especially Prince Harry, and while yes I know this is fiction some of the stuff that was said and talked about would have never been permissible or even allowed within the British Royals. I think that the author needs to be mindful of these things going into his next book. I didn't give it a full 3 stars because of all the problems with these. I do give it more than 2 stars though because of the fact that I do believe that based on the locations and what not it was well researched in that area as well as the premise, if better written with less of these problematic things, is a good premise. However, I just can't get behind this book. I'm sorry William, I wanted to love it, I really did, but it's just not something I can agree with.
August 7, 2017
Huh. I don't quite know what to say about this. It's pretty slender, in a couple of ways, but there was something engaging about it nevertheless. I understand that Harry is supposed to be immature at the beginning (hence the title) but the transformation is remarkably rapid - one off-the-rez type adventure in Afghanistan and he becomes an honorable and dependable adult worthy of the title of prince? I found the young female reporter (who supposedly gets away with pretending to be a man, despite being slender and attractive and feminine) the most off-putting - she's pushy and dismissive and barely fleshed out as a character. The older former nanny is more interesting: she struggles with alcoholism (although mostly we see her being successful at fighting off the urge), and comes across as colorful and fun.
June 24, 2018
I couldn’t figure out if the book was meant to be serious or comedic. The title suggests Prince Harry’s journey from boy to manhood. He comes across as aloof and a bit of thug. The journey is muddied at best. I find it impossible to believe Prince Harry is as our of touch as he is in this book. The author also plays into stereotypes of gays and women. The comedy comes in as the war situations are near impossible. Right out of Hogan’s Heroes. I should have realized this off the bat, as the back cover of the book was praise for his previous book.
May 2, 2021
A fun read. Love Kuhn's other book Mrs. Queen Takes the Train.
And the new Jackie series of short reads.
And the new Jackie series of short reads.
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