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The Queen: Her Life
#1 New York Times bestselling biographer Andrew Morton provides the definitive, most comprehensive account of Queen Elizabeth II's legendary reign.
Painfully shy, Elizabeth Windsor’s personality was well suited to her youthful ambition of living quietly in the country, raising a family, and caring for her dogs and horses. But when her uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated, she became heir to the throne—embarking on a journey that would test her as a woman and queen.
Ascending to the throne at only 25, this self-effacing monarch navigated endless setbacks, family conflict, and occasional triumphs throughout her 70 years as the Queen of England. As her mettle was tested, she endeavored to keep the monarchy relevant culturally, socially, and politically, often in the face of resistance from inside the institution itself. And yet the greatest challenges she faced were often inside her own family, forever under intense scrutiny; from rumors about her husband’s infidelity, her sister’s marital breakdown, Princess Diana’s tragic death, to the recent departure of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Now in The Queen , renowned biographer Andrew Morton takes an in-depth look at Britain’s longest reigning monarch, exploring the influence Queen Elizabeth had on both Britain and the rest of the world for much of the last century. From leading a nation struggling to restore itself after the devastation of the second World War to navigating the divisive political landscape of the present day, Queen Elizabeth was a reluctant but resolute queen. This is the story of a woman of unflagging self-discipline who will long be remembered as mother and grandmother to Great Britain, and one of the greatest sovereigns of the modern era.
Painfully shy, Elizabeth Windsor’s personality was well suited to her youthful ambition of living quietly in the country, raising a family, and caring for her dogs and horses. But when her uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated, she became heir to the throne—embarking on a journey that would test her as a woman and queen.
Ascending to the throne at only 25, this self-effacing monarch navigated endless setbacks, family conflict, and occasional triumphs throughout her 70 years as the Queen of England. As her mettle was tested, she endeavored to keep the monarchy relevant culturally, socially, and politically, often in the face of resistance from inside the institution itself. And yet the greatest challenges she faced were often inside her own family, forever under intense scrutiny; from rumors about her husband’s infidelity, her sister’s marital breakdown, Princess Diana’s tragic death, to the recent departure of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Now in The Queen , renowned biographer Andrew Morton takes an in-depth look at Britain’s longest reigning monarch, exploring the influence Queen Elizabeth had on both Britain and the rest of the world for much of the last century. From leading a nation struggling to restore itself after the devastation of the second World War to navigating the divisive political landscape of the present day, Queen Elizabeth was a reluctant but resolute queen. This is the story of a woman of unflagging self-discipline who will long be remembered as mother and grandmother to Great Britain, and one of the greatest sovereigns of the modern era.
427 pages, Hardcover
First published November 15, 2022
640 people are currently reading
11517 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Morton
82 books665 followersAndrew David Morton (born 1953) is one of the world's best-known biographers and a leading authority on modern celebrity. His groundbreaking biography Diana: Her True Story was a #1 New York Times bestseller, as was Monica's Story, an authorized biography of Monica Lewinsky, and Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography. The winner of numerous awards, including Author of the Year, his other New York Times bestsellers include unauthorized biographies of Madonna and Angelina Jolie, as well as William & Catherine: Their Story. A former British Fleet Street tabloid journalist,he studied history at the University of Sussex. He lives in London.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/andrew...
http://us.macmillan.com/author/andrew...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 453 reviews
December 22, 2025
For someone that doesn't believe in the monarchy, I am obsessed with THE CROWN and read a lot of English history. Had I read this before SPARE, I think I might have felt a little more sympathy.
Queen Elizabeth II was the longest reigning female monarch Great Britain has ever had. While I may have felt for her during her younger years, her first mistake was marrying the philandering Philip. Her second mistake was not disciplining Charles. Let's not get into Andrew.
Say what you will about Meghan, but the media treats her like Diana, and we all know how that ended. Yes, Harry is whiny, but you must first and foremost protect your partner. I did enjoy this in parts, but as I grow older, I find myself less sympathetic to the overtly privileged. It is what it is.
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing
Queen Elizabeth II was the longest reigning female monarch Great Britain has ever had. While I may have felt for her during her younger years, her first mistake was marrying the philandering Philip. Her second mistake was not disciplining Charles. Let's not get into Andrew.
Say what you will about Meghan, but the media treats her like Diana, and we all know how that ended. Yes, Harry is whiny, but you must first and foremost protect your partner. I did enjoy this in parts, but as I grow older, I find myself less sympathetic to the overtly privileged. It is what it is.
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing
October 12, 2022
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Her coming of age reminded her that in a lifetime of duty, personal happiness and pleasure came a poor second.
I loved Andrew Morton's book Elizabeth & Margaret so when I got this from NetGalley I was super excited. I liked how in both books Mr. Morton corrected untruths and exaggerations as told in the Netflix series "The Crown". Of course, I requested and got approved for it long before the Queen passed away but her death just made it all the more interesting to read. As a Canadian, I have always been interested in the royal family as we are part of the Commonwealth.
I liked how the book showed both the good and bad about being a royal and about the Queen herself. She wasn't Miss Perfect and has her bad side but she also had a wonderful sense of humour, an admirable love of animals, and a fierce obligation to family and the firm. Her love of horse racing is something she and I share as I come from a horseracing-loving family, in fact, my brother is a racing judge here in Ontario, Canada.
Even though I didn't really learn anything new about her majesty I still found her life and relationships with those in the know very interesting and thought the author did an amazing job with his research. My favourite tidbit from this book was when I learned that during WWII then Princess Elizabeth joined the men for an ice hockey game on the frozen lake near York Cottage, Elizabeth scored a goal and then she and Margaret joined in a snowball fight. It was those little moments in the book that made this such a pleasure to read. I would read pretty much anything Andrew Morton writes about the Royals.
R.I.P. Queen Elizabeth II
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
#TheQueen #NetGalley
Her coming of age reminded her that in a lifetime of duty, personal happiness and pleasure came a poor second.
I loved Andrew Morton's book Elizabeth & Margaret so when I got this from NetGalley I was super excited. I liked how in both books Mr. Morton corrected untruths and exaggerations as told in the Netflix series "The Crown". Of course, I requested and got approved for it long before the Queen passed away but her death just made it all the more interesting to read. As a Canadian, I have always been interested in the royal family as we are part of the Commonwealth.
I liked how the book showed both the good and bad about being a royal and about the Queen herself. She wasn't Miss Perfect and has her bad side but she also had a wonderful sense of humour, an admirable love of animals, and a fierce obligation to family and the firm. Her love of horse racing is something she and I share as I come from a horseracing-loving family, in fact, my brother is a racing judge here in Ontario, Canada.
Even though I didn't really learn anything new about her majesty I still found her life and relationships with those in the know very interesting and thought the author did an amazing job with his research. My favourite tidbit from this book was when I learned that during WWII then Princess Elizabeth joined the men for an ice hockey game on the frozen lake near York Cottage, Elizabeth scored a goal and then she and Margaret joined in a snowball fight. It was those little moments in the book that made this such a pleasure to read. I would read pretty much anything Andrew Morton writes about the Royals.
R.I.P. Queen Elizabeth II
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
#TheQueen #NetGalley
October 22, 2022
Author Andrew Morton is most famous for writing the explosive expose "Diana: Her True Story" back in 1995 with Diana's secret cooperation. After the separation of the Prince and Princess of Wales in 1995, Morton wrote a follow up book called, "Diana: Her New Life". After Princess Diana passed away in 1997, he revealed that Diana had actually provided audio tape cassettes to answer his questions for the original expose. He then updated the original book, repackaging it as "Diana: Her True Story in Her Own Words". Of course I bought and read each and every one of these hardcover books, savoring all the dishy information. So when I saw he wrote a new biography of The Queen, I certainly wanted to read it. He has moved in British royal circles for decades and has an easy flowing writing style that I enjoy.
I've read loads of biographies of Queen Elizabeth II, so I didn't learn anything much new- but that was expected. At this point in my royal reading, I only hope to come out of each new book with some new kernel of information. The bits I enjoyed were learning that Philip proposed to Elizabeth privately on the grounds of Balmoral in Scotland (where she recently died) before he even asked permission from her father King George VI to marry her. Also, once the Queen Mother died, it had the effect of strengthening Queen Elizabeth's independent decision-making. The Queen would run issues by the Queen Mother and often abide by her conservative approaches rather than loosen up on some things. That was an interesting prism/outlook on the last decades of her queenship. This book was already in the works while she was alive and ends with The Queen being fragile after the death of her beloved husband Prince Philip, but soldiering on and looking forward to experiencing her Platinum Jubliee in the summer of 2022. This would be a good primer for people who never read a biography of The Queen before. I can't say that it's the best one I've read before, but it has to be the most current one by a major British royal biographer, so that's the money shot for this offering.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
I've read loads of biographies of Queen Elizabeth II, so I didn't learn anything much new- but that was expected. At this point in my royal reading, I only hope to come out of each new book with some new kernel of information. The bits I enjoyed were learning that Philip proposed to Elizabeth privately on the grounds of Balmoral in Scotland (where she recently died) before he even asked permission from her father King George VI to marry her. Also, once the Queen Mother died, it had the effect of strengthening Queen Elizabeth's independent decision-making. The Queen would run issues by the Queen Mother and often abide by her conservative approaches rather than loosen up on some things. That was an interesting prism/outlook on the last decades of her queenship. This book was already in the works while she was alive and ends with The Queen being fragile after the death of her beloved husband Prince Philip, but soldiering on and looking forward to experiencing her Platinum Jubliee in the summer of 2022. This would be a good primer for people who never read a biography of The Queen before. I can't say that it's the best one I've read before, but it has to be the most current one by a major British royal biographer, so that's the money shot for this offering.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
November 16, 2022
Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor lived for her country. She made a vow seventy years ago to serve the Commonwealth and she stuck to it. How many modern monarchs can claim to have celebrated a platinum anniversary? This one only! I have watched her with admiration over the years. She has been my favorite royal for most of that time. I do confess having been diverted by Diana's popularity in the 80's. This new release by Andrew Morton is a testament to the life of "The Queen." Supported by hundreds of footnotes and dozens of publications and interviews, Andrew Morton's portrait of the "grandmother to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth," is destined to become a classic. As a companion read, I commend a much smaller book that I have enjoyed: Our Rainbow Queen by Sali Hughes.
Happy pub week to this entertaining and informative biography. Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Happy pub week to this entertaining and informative biography. Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
April 28, 2023
Andrew Morton has written a variety of biographies about the British Royal Family, from Princess Diana to Meghan Markle to Princess Margaret. This biography focuses on the late Queen Elizabeth II and her reign while juggling a family. If you have seen The Crown, you probably have a good idea of the complicated and turbulent life of the Queen. This book goes deeper into the lives of Princess Anne, Prince Edward, and Prince Andrew as well as the relationships they have endured. It is a worthy read for anyone interested in the lives of the British Royals. - Alyssa C.
December 17, 2022
This my third Andrew Morton biography. I've read the books he did about Monica Lewinsky and Meghan Markle. I haven't read his most famous book Diana: Her True Story yet but I will at some point. You all know that I'm not a fan Princess Diana but I don't need to like someone to read about them.
All of this is to say that I trust Andrew Morton. I don't know what the Brits think of his work but everyone I've talked to over here in the States loves him. Despite my trust of him I was still a little nervous that this book would be puff piece. Given how people behaved when The Queen died I worried that she would be painted as perfect.
Luckily she wasn't.
Andrew Morton wasn't disrespectful and it's clear that he loved The Queen. This book was written before her death, it basically ends months before she dies. The Queen led an extraordinary life, filled with lots of drama. And interestingly her life was impacted greatly by American women. She only became The Queen because her uncle abdicated the throne to be with an American divorcee. And we all know that at the end of her life America's Princess Meghan came through to free Harry. Btw Andrew Morton went easy on Meghan, not surprising given the book he wrote about her but Harry....Mr Morton has some problems with him.
Reading this book reminded me that I need to read a biography of Prince Philip. That man seemed like a problematic favorite....(I think it was either him or William that asked what color Archie was gonna be) Remind me to add that to my 2023 tbr.
Overall this book was a quick read. Even if you don't normally read Nonfiction, I think you'll enjoy this one. Andrew Morton is a legend for a reason.
I highly recommend this book to lovers of The Crown.
All of this is to say that I trust Andrew Morton. I don't know what the Brits think of his work but everyone I've talked to over here in the States loves him. Despite my trust of him I was still a little nervous that this book would be puff piece. Given how people behaved when The Queen died I worried that she would be painted as perfect.
Luckily she wasn't.
Andrew Morton wasn't disrespectful and it's clear that he loved The Queen. This book was written before her death, it basically ends months before she dies. The Queen led an extraordinary life, filled with lots of drama. And interestingly her life was impacted greatly by American women. She only became The Queen because her uncle abdicated the throne to be with an American divorcee. And we all know that at the end of her life America's Princess Meghan came through to free Harry. Btw Andrew Morton went easy on Meghan, not surprising given the book he wrote about her but Harry....Mr Morton has some problems with him.
Reading this book reminded me that I need to read a biography of Prince Philip. That man seemed like a problematic favorite....(I think it was either him or William that asked what color Archie was gonna be) Remind me to add that to my 2023 tbr.
Overall this book was a quick read. Even if you don't normally read Nonfiction, I think you'll enjoy this one. Andrew Morton is a legend for a reason.
I highly recommend this book to lovers of The Crown.
September 28, 2022
Obviously with the Queen dying people are going to want to read books about her. I enjoyed the book Elizabeth and Margaret by this author so when I was able to get an ARC for this book I was excited. I have read several books, fiction and nonfiction, about the Queen's early life so I did not really learn anything new in the first half of this book. When I finally made it to the 1980s and beyond I could not put it down because I was actually alive for the stuff that happened then and I remember it. I did tear up while reading the last chapter just because I know she died and reading about her being a grandmother and great-grandmother just put a smile on my face. She was raised to not show any emotions but in her older age she seemed to loosen up a little with the young kids at least.
I loved that she called her grandfather Grandpa England when he was King. One of the heartbreaking stories was when Charles and Diana were getting divorced Diana had to lose the appellation HRH (Her Royal Highness). William told her not to worry that when he became king he would give it back to her. When Diana died William and Harry were with the Queen at Balmoral and reading this book I understood a little better why she did not immediately return to London. She was trying to protect William and Harry and keep them busy. Let them grieve privately. After 9/11 in the Queen's speech she said "grief is the price we pay for love."
"There she goes, Elizabeth, poor lonely girl, she will be lonely all her life."
"The Queen was cautious rather than progressive, cleaving to the past and precedent, just like her father. It was her husband who was the agent for change in their partnership."
"She had been trained since the cradle by her father that duty came before everything, including family. She reluctantly had to abandon her children and they virtually didn't see their parents for months on end."
"Over the years dogs and horses helped keep her sane. They responded to her for who she was, not who she is."
"As numerous courtiers have since observed, perhaps with the certainty of hindsight, if the queen had shown as much diligence about the choice of royal brides, particularly the future queen, as she did about the breeding of her horses, the House of Windsor may not have been in such a mess."
"The queen was so controlled that when she did, very occasionally, lose her temper, those present remembered the moment for the rest of their lives."
"The Queen is tight in her own financial affairs but she has been very extravagant with her children, she has indulged them terribly financially."
"A horse wouldn't know she was queen; a horse would just treat her like any other human. She would have to earn a horse's love and respect, not expect it as a given. That must have been such a release for her."
"...always thinking of others before herself."
About Princess Diana dying:
"Once she was convinced that inaction was harmful to the monarchy, everything changed."
"Brought up not to show emotion in public, Margaret, like the queen, found the wailing and keening hard to understand."
"It was quickly pointed out by several media pundits that they never shed a tear for the princess though they cried over a floating piece of metal." (their yacht being sold)
About the Queen and Prince Philip:
"They are very good friends and that is their secret."
"In short Prince Philip was the only man in the world to treat her like a normal human being."
I loved that she called her grandfather Grandpa England when he was King. One of the heartbreaking stories was when Charles and Diana were getting divorced Diana had to lose the appellation HRH (Her Royal Highness). William told her not to worry that when he became king he would give it back to her. When Diana died William and Harry were with the Queen at Balmoral and reading this book I understood a little better why she did not immediately return to London. She was trying to protect William and Harry and keep them busy. Let them grieve privately. After 9/11 in the Queen's speech she said "grief is the price we pay for love."
"There she goes, Elizabeth, poor lonely girl, she will be lonely all her life."
"The Queen was cautious rather than progressive, cleaving to the past and precedent, just like her father. It was her husband who was the agent for change in their partnership."
"She had been trained since the cradle by her father that duty came before everything, including family. She reluctantly had to abandon her children and they virtually didn't see their parents for months on end."
"Over the years dogs and horses helped keep her sane. They responded to her for who she was, not who she is."
"As numerous courtiers have since observed, perhaps with the certainty of hindsight, if the queen had shown as much diligence about the choice of royal brides, particularly the future queen, as she did about the breeding of her horses, the House of Windsor may not have been in such a mess."
"The queen was so controlled that when she did, very occasionally, lose her temper, those present remembered the moment for the rest of their lives."
"The Queen is tight in her own financial affairs but she has been very extravagant with her children, she has indulged them terribly financially."
"A horse wouldn't know she was queen; a horse would just treat her like any other human. She would have to earn a horse's love and respect, not expect it as a given. That must have been such a release for her."
"...always thinking of others before herself."
About Princess Diana dying:
"Once she was convinced that inaction was harmful to the monarchy, everything changed."
"Brought up not to show emotion in public, Margaret, like the queen, found the wailing and keening hard to understand."
"It was quickly pointed out by several media pundits that they never shed a tear for the princess though they cried over a floating piece of metal." (their yacht being sold)
About the Queen and Prince Philip:
"They are very good friends and that is their secret."
"In short Prince Philip was the only man in the world to treat her like a normal human being."
November 21, 2022
Detailed, informative, and compelling!
The Queen: Her Life is the honest, fascinating biography of Elizabeth Windsor, from her carefree childhood, blissful marriage, unexpected ascension to the throne in her mid-twenties, to her stoic, dependable seventy-year rule through wars, scandals, and challenges.
The writing is comprehensive and rich. The characters are loyal, dedicated, and hardworking. And the novel is an intriguing look into the life of an amazing woman who ultimately stood by her promise to dedicate her whole life to the service of her people.
Overall, The Queen: Her Life is a well-researched, insightful, nostalgic read by Morton that is ultimately a lovely, candid look into the life of a remarkable human being, the late Queen Elizabeth II, the longest reigning monarch in British history, that you don’t need to be a royal admirer to truly appreciate or revere.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Queen: Her Life is the honest, fascinating biography of Elizabeth Windsor, from her carefree childhood, blissful marriage, unexpected ascension to the throne in her mid-twenties, to her stoic, dependable seventy-year rule through wars, scandals, and challenges.
The writing is comprehensive and rich. The characters are loyal, dedicated, and hardworking. And the novel is an intriguing look into the life of an amazing woman who ultimately stood by her promise to dedicate her whole life to the service of her people.
Overall, The Queen: Her Life is a well-researched, insightful, nostalgic read by Morton that is ultimately a lovely, candid look into the life of a remarkable human being, the late Queen Elizabeth II, the longest reigning monarch in British history, that you don’t need to be a royal admirer to truly appreciate or revere.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 20, 2023
Andrew Morton, most notably known for his explosive biography written with Diana's cooperation, Diana: Her True Story in Her Own Words, now focuses his latest biography on none other than Queen Elizabeth II and her remarkable 70 year reign. Morton starts with Elizabeth's childhood, her budding romance with Philip, her family dynamic, and her sooner than expected rise to the throne due to her father's illness. Morton gives us a glimpse of Elizabeth as a young woman and especially focuses on her relationship with her mother and sister, which I found fascinating. Her mother can be overbearing and extremely lavish, which I wasn't aware of know about. Often times, Elizabeth would try to avoid confrontation (now is a great time to take her dogs for a walk, yes?) than actually face her mother or other family members. I think this behavior definitely carried over into motherhood and beyond. As the years progress, Morton takes us through her marriage, her responsibilities as a new sovereign, and how she had initially had difficulty balancing it all. Morton continues highlighting Charles marriage to Diana, the subsequent unraveling of their marriage, Camilla's hold on Charles, and the behind the scenes events at the palace after Diana's untimely death. Lastly, Morton continues on to William, Harry, and the latest events in the Royal Family including Prince Andrew's debacle. All in all, it was a comprehensive, well researched biography that kept me flipping the pages. Although I have read a few biographies on the Queen, I felt Morton provided some insights that other biographies didn't. The Queen: Her Life shouldn't be missed by Royal family lovers!
Read my review here: http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
Read my review here: http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
March 29, 2023
Perfektná biografia! Nabitá, dynamická, čtivá. Plná mien a udalostí, no zároveň nenámahavá. Osobne by som prijala, keby bola trochu dlhšia a detailnejšia - po čase je však osviežujúce čítať biografiu bez toho, aby som vedela, čo mal kto kedy na raňajky. Fakt skvelá, prečítajte si! <3
May 26, 2023
The longest monarch in uk history there will never be the likes of her again. Very well documented from her birth to her last days a must read for historical biographies
September 24, 2022
The Queen: Her Life by Andrew Morton is a wonderful biography at one of the most fascinating, steadfast, respected (and a personal hero of mine), and truly stunning women: Queen Elizabeth II.
I have read biographies by Mr. Morton in the past and enjoyed them, and I will forever be a huge advocate of the late Queen Elizabeth II, so of course I had to read this.
While there was not anything new that I learned while reading this, I have read several biographies in the past of not just Queen Elizabeth II, but of many of the royal family. So, there is not much that would surprise me. That is not to say that this isn’t a wonderful biography, because it is, and I am impressed with the pace, content, and appropriate level of detail presented. Heavily researched, engaging, and entertaining, I really enjoyed revisiting Her Majesty’s long and eventful life. She will forever be missed.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Grand Central Publishing for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 11/15/22.
I have read biographies by Mr. Morton in the past and enjoyed them, and I will forever be a huge advocate of the late Queen Elizabeth II, so of course I had to read this.
While there was not anything new that I learned while reading this, I have read several biographies in the past of not just Queen Elizabeth II, but of many of the royal family. So, there is not much that would surprise me. That is not to say that this isn’t a wonderful biography, because it is, and I am impressed with the pace, content, and appropriate level of detail presented. Heavily researched, engaging, and entertaining, I really enjoyed revisiting Her Majesty’s long and eventful life. She will forever be missed.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Grand Central Publishing for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 11/15/22.
January 14, 2023
Aktuálne, podrobné, plné zaujímavostí zo života kráľovskej rodiny, 5⭐️
November 19, 2022
This is an ok book, more of a surface introduction to Queen Elizabeth II than a deep look into who she was and what she thought. The early part is definitely better written than the last half or so, where repetition and subject changes almost one sentence to the next detracted for me. You don't need to look at the other books that Andrew Morton has written to tell from this one that he was pro-Diana in the Diana and Charles saga and for awhile Elizabeth almost disappears from her own biography while that plays out. The most interesting take aways for me were that Elizabeth really only came into her own after her mother died and she felt comfortable being more herself, and how horrible and confining being a member of the royal family must actually be-thanks quite largely to the media. The narratives developed by the media instead of the truth came up frequently and served as a constant reinforcement of how trapped Elizabeth must have felt in the position she had devoted her life to. I also found it a little odd that the book wasn't held back long enough to have an epilogue or some other acknowledgment of her death added to it, leaving it feeling a little rushed and unfinished.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
September 30, 2022
The first part of this book was well worth reading. The writing was beautiful, and the author told stories of the early life of Queen Elizabeth I had not read before. I looked forward to reading more such stories of her middle and later years. I also hoped to read of her final year.
However, these fresh, lovely stories ended about a third of the way through the book. The narrative then turned to the same old, same old re-hashing of all the Diana dramas. I kept reading because Andrew Morton's first book on Diana was so ground breaking.
I really, really wish this book had more on the Queen's life and what she did and thought about on a day to day basis. I also really wish the publisher had held off on this book to include information and stories about the Queen's death. I know they want to jump on all the interest in the Queen right now, but without stories about her last months and her death, this book flat out failed to include what the reader wants to hear about.
However, these fresh, lovely stories ended about a third of the way through the book. The narrative then turned to the same old, same old re-hashing of all the Diana dramas. I kept reading because Andrew Morton's first book on Diana was so ground breaking.
I really, really wish this book had more on the Queen's life and what she did and thought about on a day to day basis. I also really wish the publisher had held off on this book to include information and stories about the Queen's death. I know they want to jump on all the interest in the Queen right now, but without stories about her last months and her death, this book flat out failed to include what the reader wants to hear about.
November 15, 2022
Andrew Morton's Diana: Her True Story helped topple Diana's marriage to Charles, leaving the Royal family in tatters. However, the author's newest gives readers a noncontroversial look at Queen Elizabeth II, one the Royal family should be proud of. An engaging bio of the world's second-longest reigning Monarch, and a must-read for those addicted to all things related to the real crown.
January 12, 2023
Lengthy
I found this an okay read.
It really went on-and-on, but still had some interesting bits.
I was expecting a bit more from this book, but in reality it was just read like a very lengthy Wikipedia article.
2.9/5
I found this an okay read.
It really went on-and-on, but still had some interesting bits.
I was expecting a bit more from this book, but in reality it was just read like a very lengthy Wikipedia article.
2.9/5
May 28, 2023
I enjoyed it as I enjoy almost all things royal. My issues were it didn’t really delve into details the way I would have hoped and also repeated ideas (even sentences).
January 14, 2023
Tenía muchas ganas de leer una de las biografías de Andrew Morton y también una sobre la reina Elisabeth II así que no había mejor libro por el que empezar que este. Es un libro bien documentado, detallado y se hace sorprendentemente ameno y nada pesado. Cubre todo el reinado (con un breve párrafo dedicado a su fallecimiento en el pasado septiembre) y lo que más me ha gustado es que no intenta retratarla como un ser humano perfecto, ni tampoco al resto de la familia real británica. No hay cosa que más odie en una biografía que cuando intentan venderte que el protagonista era todo un ser de luz sin sombras. Así que aquí conocemos sus aciertos pero también sus errores, sus fortalezas y sus debilidades, narrados de una forma bastante objetiva. Definitivamente leeré el resto de sus libros, especialmente el de Diana.
January 6, 2023
I think this was well written at the beginning but went to far into Diana than the Queen.
April 6, 2023
Honestly more like 3.5 but I’m feeling generous. It’s clear after reading Spare that there’s a lot missing and obviously biased against Prince Harry
October 26, 2023
Loved this book ❤️
March 23, 2023
It is no secret that I am an Anglophile and a royalist as only a born and bred American can be ;)
I generally have come around to like Queen Elizabeth a great deal; which is different than I felt in the 90s when I saw her as an apologist for King Charles and betrayer of Diana.
If I had to pinpoint something that helped change my mind it would probably be the Crown; which showed me a living breathing Young Princess and then Queen.
Andrew Morton seems to have come over to the Queen's side as well.
There was one part of the book I found a bit bizarre which was the discussion of Diana's shot across the bow book which Mr. Morton authored yet it is presented as if it was not his at all.
The book ends shortly before the Queen's death.
I generally have come around to like Queen Elizabeth a great deal; which is different than I felt in the 90s when I saw her as an apologist for King Charles and betrayer of Diana.
If I had to pinpoint something that helped change my mind it would probably be the Crown; which showed me a living breathing Young Princess and then Queen.
Andrew Morton seems to have come over to the Queen's side as well.
There was one part of the book I found a bit bizarre which was the discussion of Diana's shot across the bow book which Mr. Morton authored yet it is presented as if it was not his at all.
The book ends shortly before the Queen's death.
November 20, 2022
I admit to being American, and that may be coloring my review a bit. (only because of what I was lacking in understanding the roles everyone played) I didn't know all that much about the Queen and looked forward to reading this book and getting to know her and her Queendom better. Perhaps if I had watched many of the film adaptions of her life, I would have liked and understood this book better.
What I found was a mind-boggling amount of dry facts, people I had no clue as to who they were, and early on in the book-a Queen who put everything else but her family in the forefront. I suppose that is the life of a Monarch ( as well as a President). I was left thinking, what a cold woman. She seemed to care about her horses more than her family. Unlike many reviewers, I felt that the book's first and last third were more interesting as they put Queen Elizabeth in a warmer, more touchable light.
As a woman, I did not like Elizabeth all that much. But as a Monarch and a leader, I admired her greatly. To have accomplished so much starting as a very young woman, she was fantastic. As the years of her reign went by, she loosened up. This began with the death of her mother.
As I said earlier, I didn't have the background to understand who was who and what was what. However, I believe that if you are enamored with learning about Great Britain and the Monarchy, this will be your cup of tea.
*ARC supplied by the publisher Grand Central Publishing, the author, and Netgalley
What I found was a mind-boggling amount of dry facts, people I had no clue as to who they were, and early on in the book-a Queen who put everything else but her family in the forefront. I suppose that is the life of a Monarch ( as well as a President). I was left thinking, what a cold woman. She seemed to care about her horses more than her family. Unlike many reviewers, I felt that the book's first and last third were more interesting as they put Queen Elizabeth in a warmer, more touchable light.
As a woman, I did not like Elizabeth all that much. But as a Monarch and a leader, I admired her greatly. To have accomplished so much starting as a very young woman, she was fantastic. As the years of her reign went by, she loosened up. This began with the death of her mother.
As I said earlier, I didn't have the background to understand who was who and what was what. However, I believe that if you are enamored with learning about Great Britain and the Monarchy, this will be your cup of tea.
*ARC supplied by the publisher Grand Central Publishing, the author, and Netgalley
April 7, 2023
Like many reviews mention, I enjoyed this biography but was saddened by the “rushed” feel of the second half. The first half focuses primarily on the Queen’s upbringing, reign, and her responses to events, while the second half focuses more on the drama of her family in a more basic manner, riddled with typos and missing words. Because the Queen died last year, my guess is that the author or the publishing company rushed to get this on shelves instead of giving the second half the same attention they gave the first. Still, I enjoyed this book and will probably keep it on my shelves because it is a fair and often page-turning portrait of her life.
June 28, 2023
Andrew Morton truly is a master at writing about the royal family. I have always been fascinated with the royals. I read his book on Princess Diana when I was in high school so I have been familiar with his work for decades, and I was quite excited to see this book released. It was a beautiful portrayal of a woman that was often misunderstood and quite frankly could not be truly known by the majority of people who formed such strong opinions of her.
It was also interesting in the age of shows like The Crown to peak behind the curtain and see what of those shows and perceptions were true (and how true) verses fictionalized versions of the Queen and her family.
It is astonishing and fascinating to me how history repeats itself from generation to generation, but what a privilege it was to be alive when history was made with Queen Elizabeth. She was truly a stand-up leader, albeit being somewhat out of touch with her people, but also correctly it when it was brought to her attention. I mean, how can any leader be fully in touch with their people when they are not even allowed to live amongst them. I actually think it made her more naïve than unemotional. But whatever the case may be, I definitely think she was misunderstood.
It also brought up some interesting questions about the future of the monarchy with generations to come.
While I am American and the monarchy does not really have relevance in my life, it is still absolutely fascinating to me to read and learn about it.
**Thank you to the publisher for a review copy of this book. My opinions are my own.
It was also interesting in the age of shows like The Crown to peak behind the curtain and see what of those shows and perceptions were true (and how true) verses fictionalized versions of the Queen and her family.
It is astonishing and fascinating to me how history repeats itself from generation to generation, but what a privilege it was to be alive when history was made with Queen Elizabeth. She was truly a stand-up leader, albeit being somewhat out of touch with her people, but also correctly it when it was brought to her attention. I mean, how can any leader be fully in touch with their people when they are not even allowed to live amongst them. I actually think it made her more naïve than unemotional. But whatever the case may be, I definitely think she was misunderstood.
It also brought up some interesting questions about the future of the monarchy with generations to come.
While I am American and the monarchy does not really have relevance in my life, it is still absolutely fascinating to me to read and learn about it.
**Thank you to the publisher for a review copy of this book. My opinions are my own.
May 7, 2023
Nappasin kirjastosta Elisabet II:n elämäkerran mukaan Charles III:n kruunajaisten lämmittelyksi. Ajattelin, että naisella, joka joutui odottamatta kuningattareksi 26-vuotiaana ja joka teki sen jälkeen töitä yli 70 vuotta aivan kuolemaansa saakka, on täytynyt olla aivan erityislaatuinen elämä.
Andrew Mortonin kirja vahvisti ennakkokäsitystäni, joskin kirja tuntui olevan varsinkin loppupuoleltaan, jonka tapahtumat tietysti olin kokenut reaaliaikaisesti tiedotusvälineiden välityksellä, tiivistetty kokoelma juorupalstoista. Ehkä se oli sitä myös alkuosaltaan, mutta lukeminen oli mielenkiintoista, koska tapahtumien kronologia ja yksityiskohdat eivät olleet niin tuttuja.
Kirjan luettuaan ei voi kuin todeta, että tämä nainen on elämäkerran jos toisenkin ansainnut. Itselleni jäi samanlainen olo kuin Barack Obama elämästä luettuani - miten yksi ihminen voi näin isoja asioita pystyä edes mielessään, saati sitten käytännössä hallitsemaan. Ja kuinka vaikeita päätöksiä Elisabet II joutuikaan tekemään yksityisen ja julkisen elämänsä välillä. Annan kirjalle kaksi tähteä ja sen kohteelle vielä yhden ylimääräisen siihen päälle.
Andrew Mortonin kirja vahvisti ennakkokäsitystäni, joskin kirja tuntui olevan varsinkin loppupuoleltaan, jonka tapahtumat tietysti olin kokenut reaaliaikaisesti tiedotusvälineiden välityksellä, tiivistetty kokoelma juorupalstoista. Ehkä se oli sitä myös alkuosaltaan, mutta lukeminen oli mielenkiintoista, koska tapahtumien kronologia ja yksityiskohdat eivät olleet niin tuttuja.
Kirjan luettuaan ei voi kuin todeta, että tämä nainen on elämäkerran jos toisenkin ansainnut. Itselleni jäi samanlainen olo kuin Barack Obama elämästä luettuani - miten yksi ihminen voi näin isoja asioita pystyä edes mielessään, saati sitten käytännössä hallitsemaan. Ja kuinka vaikeita päätöksiä Elisabet II joutuikaan tekemään yksityisen ja julkisen elämänsä välillä. Annan kirjalle kaksi tähteä ja sen kohteelle vielä yhden ylimääräisen siihen päälle.
December 22, 2022
4.5 🌟
September 8th, 2022, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II died after serving 70 years as Queen of the United Kingdom and the British Commonwealth.
Just months later, Andrew Morton released his well-researched and up-close biography of this beloved monarch.
I had my son, Jordan, read this book because he has a Master’s in History, and I wanted his take on how well this biography captured the Queen’s life and how he felt the book was written.
As for the writing, he found the writing more conversational. It was not dry and stoic; instead, while Morton includes many historical events, he also lets you in on intimate, personal moments that allow you to know the Queen as a person, not just a monarch.
The scope is broad: from her birth, dealing with her Father’s reign, her ascension to the throne, marriage and motherhood as a queen, ruling through wars, and into rumors and trials that rocked the Royal Family.
Whether you are a Royal watcher, a history buff, or just interested in the woman who was one of the longest-reigning sovereigns in history, this is the biography to read.
Thank you @grandcentralpub for this gifted copy.
September 8th, 2022, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II died after serving 70 years as Queen of the United Kingdom and the British Commonwealth.
Just months later, Andrew Morton released his well-researched and up-close biography of this beloved monarch.
I had my son, Jordan, read this book because he has a Master’s in History, and I wanted his take on how well this biography captured the Queen’s life and how he felt the book was written.
As for the writing, he found the writing more conversational. It was not dry and stoic; instead, while Morton includes many historical events, he also lets you in on intimate, personal moments that allow you to know the Queen as a person, not just a monarch.
The scope is broad: from her birth, dealing with her Father’s reign, her ascension to the throne, marriage and motherhood as a queen, ruling through wars, and into rumors and trials that rocked the Royal Family.
Whether you are a Royal watcher, a history buff, or just interested in the woman who was one of the longest-reigning sovereigns in history, this is the biography to read.
Thank you @grandcentralpub for this gifted copy.
March 14, 2023
Thank you very much to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this advance copy in exchange for my review. The Queen is out now to pick up!
I should preface this review by saying that I live in the United States, and I'm not British and living in the UK under the royal family, so my review comes from an American looking in. I personally found this one to be fascinating, and very informative. I'm a huge fan of The Crown and learning about the royal family, and I thought this was a nice complement. I've seen various reviews saying that the late Queen held Andrew Morton in high regards as a biographer, and I thought this was very well done for a work of non-fiction. I enjoyed it, and definitely recommend for any person who's a fan of The Crown, or is interested in learning more about the Queen's historic reign.
Thank you again to NetGalley and Grand Central publishing for this advance copy review!
I should preface this review by saying that I live in the United States, and I'm not British and living in the UK under the royal family, so my review comes from an American looking in. I personally found this one to be fascinating, and very informative. I'm a huge fan of The Crown and learning about the royal family, and I thought this was a nice complement. I've seen various reviews saying that the late Queen held Andrew Morton in high regards as a biographer, and I thought this was very well done for a work of non-fiction. I enjoyed it, and definitely recommend for any person who's a fan of The Crown, or is interested in learning more about the Queen's historic reign.
Thank you again to NetGalley and Grand Central publishing for this advance copy review!
December 6, 2024
This biographical account details the life of Queen Elizabeth II, encapsulating the evolution from her early years to her ascension to the throne following her father's premature death. Despite the challenges of mourning and the responsibilities of her new role, she successfully navigated her reign, characterized by both achievements and setbacks. The author achieves a balanced portrayal, acknowledging the Queen’s accomplishments alongside her missteps. The inclusion of a narrator with a British accent enhances the storytelling, providing an authentic touch. The biography also explores the intricate balance between the Queen's personal life and her public duties, offering insights into the operational dynamics of monarchies, the Queen's struggle with her dual roles, and public perceptions of her leadership. Highlighting both commendable and controversial aspects of her life, the author manages to condense Queen Elizabeth II's extensive narrative into an engaging and insightful read, presenting a comprehensive exploration of her life’s journey without it being overwhelming.
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