Jeho Veličenstvo Bertie

by Stephen Clarke, Richard Podaný (Translator)

Vtipná kniha Stephena Clarka o anglickém králi Eduardu VII., zvaném také Bertie. Víte, kdo jako úplně první vystoupal na Eifellovu věž? Kdo si nechal ušít první smoking a proč? Koho zajímaly veškeré vynálezy a technické vymoženosti, ale sám vymyslel jen velice pozoruhodné křesílko, které stálo v jednom pařížském nevěstinci? Pokud byste odpověděli, že to musel být jistě nějaký elegán se zálibou v technice a všemožných dobrodružstvích, měli byste pravdu. Přesně to byl anglický král Eduard VII., zvaný také Bertie, milovník krásných žen, zábavy, Paříže, a především života! V nové knize Stephena Clarka se dozvíte nejen to, kolik cigaret denně kouřil, které slavné ženy patřily mezi jeho milenky, ale také, že kdyby Bertie ještě žil a mohl uplatnit svůj šarm a diplomatické schopnosti, první světová válka by se možná ani neodehrála.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Humor, Royalty, France, Book Club

328 pages, Hardcover

First published May 22, 2014

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Stephen Clarke is the bestselling author of seven books of fiction and nonfiction that satirize the peculiarities of French culture. In 2004, he self-published A Year in the Merde, a comic novel skewering contemporary French society. The novel was an instant success and has led to numerous follow-ups, including Dial M for Merde (2008), 1,000 Years of Annoying the French (2010), and Paris Revealed (2011). After working as a journalist for a French press group for ten years, Paris-based Clarke now has a regular spot on French cable TV, poking fun at French culture.

Reviews

[Marguerite Kaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

First up, this was a rollicking read, nice slutty history which I thoroughly enjoyed. It does exactly what it claims, maps Bertie aka Edward VIIs love affair with France, and attempted to show how this influenced his reign. I don't know enough about his reign to comment, but the author does make a good case for revising Bertie's reputation as a diplomat at least, upwards.

There was a ton of anecdotes that were laugh out loud and shocking, and personally, it was extremely helpful to me in researching the book I've just finished. In HIS RUNAWAY MARCHIONESS RETURNS my heroine is a theatrical agent (slightly anachronous, about 30 years ahead of her time) in Paris, and before that was a failed and exploited actress in the city. So top research, but...

The author's particular bias and prejudices finally got to me in the end. He makes sweeping statements and backs them up with his own book about France as his source. Then there's his rather patronising attitude to the people he claims to love, the French. Here's one example: 'He (Loubet) was cheered all the way back to the Elysee, a rare occurrence for any French leader who hasn't just won a ware (and there haven't been many of those'.' It's the kind of snide, supposedly funny but actually snarky remark that makes my toes curl and makes me think of all those people who shout very loudly and slowly in English when they are in France. So I found it really off-putting, and I have to say, the more I came across these little digs, the less I enjoyed it.

That said, it's rumbustuous history and fun, and it did inspire me to try to find the time to find out more about Edward VII. It has to be said, the comparisons with this monarch and our current one could not but spring to mind. A mother who kept him well away from official business, who lived way past anyone's expectations and who continually seemed to undermine his credibility? Hmm.

[Chris Boulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, after reading that.. I'm totally a fan of Dirty Bertie, he was cool when you consider the fact he was able to turn, what was effectively, a 50 year teenage rebellion against his parents, into a pretty nifty short reign as King. His parents priorities for him was not his thing, he wasn't good with reading, mathematics and all those things that the Victorian period was expecting of their well-to-do population and they basically looked at him/treated him with scorn because of it, add to that, the Victorian morales of virtue, respectability and clean living and you had a childhood that was not what you'd call fun. I think the funniest thing is the way that Queen Vicky and ole Prince Bert treated him when he lost his virginity at, what was it?, 20 years of age .. that the world was ending.. and QV's need to inform his future in-laws, with a heavy, heavy heart, that he wasn't pure as the driven snow and they just shrugged and asked when the actual wedding would be. You could just imagine she was *takes off sunglasses* not amused.

Even now, in this'enlightened' day and age, there is an element of worry that someone who has had quite a sheltered childhood will eventually go off the rails when they've discovered 'sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll' and that their life will be ruined for ever more from that point on. You might not think you are like that but I would put ANY money on the fact that deep down a part of you is like 'oh god!' when you hear about someone who is likely to go down that path. However, here is an example of someone who went off the rails (as far as the English were concerned) but used it to his advantage when he became King and should be considered, on the information in this book anyway, a great Peacemaker. You could consider the fact that everything spiralled out of control so quickly after he died as a sign of how well he kept things in check with his extended family when he was alive, though the historian in me knows that there must be a lot more to it than one overweight, over-sexed, cigar smoking English/German/Honorary French King.

Look, ignore all the rubbish I've just written.. and let me just say this: read this book and you'll love Bertie as much as I do, okay?

[Hettie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Littered with inaccuracies and some down-right false information. Many footnotes simply refer to 'if you want more information, read my other book'. Extremely prejudice to the point of being offensive - especially towards women and Germans. Clearly a big fan of Edward VII, so good for the author. I don't care about how much he's fanboying. The tone is so condescending and this book - much like his other one - glorifies the English as though they are God's gift on Earth. Even the title of this book is wrong, so??? Just a huge waste of time and money

[Andra Nicoara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has probably been one of the most interesting and at the same time fun books I've read in a while. To be honest, I didn't really know much about King Edward VII and I didn't feel a pull of curiosity towards researching him; however, this book captivated me and not only did it teach me about him and history, it also made me feel personally close to him and his character. Like Stephen Clarke's other books, this one is witty and charming, just like Bertie himself. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about history or just to discover an interesting and well-rounded (no pun intended) character!

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh this is history made fun, truly it is. This is my favourite type of history book, you learn something, but its never dry and dull. Its a real pageturner. Fresh interesting and you don't want to put it down. People keep talking about Victoria, which is kind of impossible after more then 60 years on the throne but I agree that her son meant just as much for British (and world) history. Also its hilarious and who doesn't like a good laugh?

[David Myles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephen Clarke makes history in and yes maybe if he had lived Edward the caresser would have prevented the first world war. But what a life he is definitely along with Charles 2nd and Henry 8th the king's you would want to spend an evening with!

[R.J. Southworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a big fan of Stephen Clarke's history book 1000 Years of Annoying the French, and this is written in much the same informative and humorous style, expanding upon that book's chapter on Prince Bertie/King Edward VII. It provides a detailed picture of Bertie and how his pursuit of pleasure in France helped him to develop diplomatic skills that proved very useful as a prince and a king. I was less interested in the long descriptions of the various French establishments, though, so they brought the book down a little for me.

[Mary Newcomer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Learned quite a bit about a period of history I wasn't familiar with and as I've lived in France for
over 40 years (I was born in the US), I was interested in the French part of the story. However, I
wasn't too interested in knowing all the women Bertie bedded in the world. I think a bit too much time was spent on explaining his sexual conquests, but it did have the advantage of giving us an indication of how rich , aristocratic men filled their time. (much could be said about that!)

[Darla Ebert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Period pieces are always an absorbing read. Of course I should have looked closer at the actual subject matter, the underlying theme. Sordid and a bit too much of that, however the background of Prince Albert/King Edward was fact and therefore necessary to the unraveling of the story which explains his love of all things French.
Stephen Clarke is a top notch writer even if I feel uncomfortable with some of his disclosures and observations. He is witty and the material is well-researched.

[Xanthi · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining read, despite my initial lukewarm interest in the subject. I chose to read this book because I like the author’s sense of humour and writing style. He’s obviously a fan of Bertie so this is a fairly biased account of his life and achievements. I wasn’t won over but I still enjoyed reading about a man I knew little about.

[Lukas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just superb description of the late nineteenth century and why France was great even tough it was troubled as hell.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic insight into a King I knew nothing about-a must read!

[Liz Napper · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an interesting read

[Helen Geng]

Read 2021

[Helen Geng]

Witty cover illustrations by Ruth Murray

Re-read so I could release copy to bookmooch.com
March 2022

[Brendan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written in a self-consciously chatty style that contains too many asides and diversions that try far too hard to be witty, this is nonetheless an interesting exploration of the life of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII. From the stultifyingly Puritan atmosphere of his childhood and adolescence, through the louche excesses of his frequent trips to Paris and Cannes, and finally to his short but unexpectedly successful reign as King and "peacemaker", "Bertie" comes across as irresponsible, good-natured, surprisingly sensitive, utterly self-indulgent, a "good bloke" who was a lousy husband, and who nonetheless made himself into a successful diplomat and monarch. Hinted at but kept safely at arms' distance are the poverty and exploitation which underpinned the lifestyle HRH enjoyed - especially the sexual exploitation of women - while "Bertie's" manifold failings as a husband and father are mentioned but not explored in depth. One senses the reader is meant to regard him with an indulgent sentimentality that acknowledges but prefers not to dwell on his moral hypocrisy, while at the same time celebrating his achievements as a self-made man. Nonetheless, the author's research is impressive, the narrative packed with useful historical titbits for trivia boffins; and as the title implies, the focus is on engagement and interest rather than insight and revelation. An easy read for a lazy afternoon or two.

[Melissa Choi · Rating 5 out of 5]

If history was taught the way Stephen Clarke writes in Dirty Bertie in school, kids would never fall asleep in history class. This thoroughly-researched semi-biography of Kind Edward VII is a fascinating look into the forces, from his stoic and puritanical upbringing to the seduction of French joie de vivre, that shaped the future king of England and transformed him into one of the greatest diplomats of his time. Clarke connects the dots and even paints the precarious picture of the tumultuous and volatile European climate at the turn of the 20th century, concluding that one of the major reasons that World War I started, was because Uncle Bertie wasn’t around to diffuse the tense situation.

The moral of the story though is that King Edward VII is a bonobo by nature (as opposed to a chimp), and bonobos are good at keeping the peace, even though they possess highly questionable morals.

I’m an amateur history buff, never studying it formally in school, so I was psyched to learn about the historical love-hate relationship between France and England, the French Revolutions and the establishment of republicanism in France, la commune, the Franco-Prussian War, and even an obscure little nugget that would get you props on Jeopardy! Or trivia: Fashoda. I highly recommend this entertaining expose of one of the most interesting characters the world has ever seen.

[Gonzaga Escauriaza · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stephen Clarke tiene mucho éxito pero yo no acabo de cogerle el punto.

[Aishuu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lot of fun! I love history told from interesting POV, and this showed a different POV on Edward VII. The author's sense of humor made it a very lively read, although it should be noted that this really doesn't stand alone - the author keeps referencing his own 1000 Years of Annoying the French to provide context (which I also enjoyed and read first). The writing is intimate and is accented with many French phrases, so some minor familiarity with French would help (translations were not always provided, which was fine with me, but might be a challenge to someone who doesn't speak/read any French).

This seems to be well-researched, but isn't for serious scholars... or the French. I would categorize this as humorous history. If you enjoy things like "Horrible Histories" you'd probably get a kick out of it.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really enjoyable book - made easier by the writing style. Stephen Clarke has taken the story of Edward VII (or Bertie) and made him seem a real human.

His mother, the formidable Queen Victoria didn't want him to have *anything* do do with the affairs of state, as she suspected that he would discuss the secrets with his friends over dinner, meaning that any sort of espionage would be blown out of the water.

Stephen discusses the reasons behind Bertie's love of France, and whilst he doesn't go into too many details of the affairs, it was plain to see that Bertie was the original playboy prince - but one who went on to bring the British Royal family (aka the "Firm") into the 20th century.

I wish more history books were written like this - too often they are drier than dust, and make reading them a chore. This was different - for the right reasons. It was humorous, informative and more to the point well researched. A book I will certainly recommend as one to read.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stephen Clarke brings history to life as he turns data into drama. Using several sources for legitimacy, Clarke paints a picture of King Edward VII (Bertie) as an awkward boy turned playboy turned successful sovereign. Bertie was an English royal who happened to be a Francophile because of the joie de vivre found in France. He could misbehave away from the Victorian reign (his mother) and in so doing forged political connections that would serve him and his country well later in life. The book is an interesting lesson in history, culture and the (often unlikely) ties that bind nations. While an enjoyable read, the book seemed to repeat the same stories/themes over and over, so it got tiresome at the end--thus my three-star rating.

[Les · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was kinda fun. On the surface, It was a very light hearted look at the developing years of King Edward XII. It basically focused on Prince Albert's whoring, travelling and drinking and his obsession of Paris and the Paris lifestyle. However. deeper, it gave an insight in to the people around the Prince, the political atmosphere at the time, a look at the culture of both England and France as well as the rest of Europe. The book argued Albert's escapades, diplomacy and personality shaped him in to a King that was able to prolong the first world war.
I enjoyed it, but I could see why it may not be for everyone.

[Nonethousand Oberrhein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being a Prince and a King... en français
Following the success of 1000 Years… , Clarke continues to delve in Anglo-French history to poke some fun at the past of the two countries. Here, the semi-serious biography of Edward VII is "ticklish" and guarantees a good time reading it: humour spices up an acceptable historical account of the events that surrounded the son of Queen Victoria, and King of England himself, who died just a few years short the First World War.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a really interesting book about King Edward VII's contact with French society. The writer has a far more positive view of Edward than many historians. However, because his style was set by the "Merde" books, it seems Stephen Clarke feels he has to be jokey and at times this was grating. History doesn't have to be stuffy, but facetious comments detracted from some of the serious points he was making. The bibliography also seemed a bit thin - it seems he used a few sources extensively, but didn't read more widely (or didn't see the point in crediting other authors).

[Verity W · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining and amusing look at the life of Edward VII and how Paris shaped his outlook on life. It raises some interesting points about his ability as a diplomat and his skill at keeping everyone in his family from falling out. It's also not quite as salacious as it might have been - yes he had a lot of mistresses and yes the book addresses that, but without going in for gossip and innuendo. Except when it's funny of course!

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very informative and entertaining read on the life of Edward VII and his pleasure-loving ways. I learned some new facts about the relationship between the French and British like the long held recriminations about Joan of Arc and St Helena and another event in history I had never heard about: Fashoda. If you like history, you will enjoy reading this book.

[Eleanor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I raced through the first half of the book but struggled with the second half and I don't know why. Quite entertaining but the constant footnotes - usually a reference to another Stephen Clarke book - were annoying.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I didn't know much about Bertie, this was a great introduction. It made me look into a few other books and of course, good old Google to check out various pictures and other back stories.
As with history books, there were a few moments of too much or irrelevant writings.

[Tiabtawan Limjittrakorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

fun and surprise fact of him