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The Queen Mother Lib/E: The Untold Story of Elizabeth Bowes Lyon, Who Became Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother
Packed with stunning revelations, this is the inside story of The Queen Mother from the New York Times bestselling author who first revealed the truth about Princess Diana
Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother has been called the "most successful queen since Cleopatra." Her personality was so captivating that even her arch-enemy Wallis Simpson wrote about "her legendary charm." Portrayed as a selfless partner to the King in the Oscar-winning movie The King's Speech, The Queen Mother is most often remembered from her later years as the smiling granny with the pastel hats. When she died in 2002, just short of her 102nd birthday, she was praised for a long life well lived.
But there was another side to her story. For the first time, Lady Colin Campbell shows us that the untold life of the Queen Mother is far more fascinating and moving than the official version that has been peddled ever since she became royal in 1923. With unparalleled sources--including members of the Royal Family, aristocrats, and friends and relatives of Elizabeth herself—this mesmerizing account takes us inside the real and sometimes astonishing world of the royal family.
Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother has been called the "most successful queen since Cleopatra." Her personality was so captivating that even her arch-enemy Wallis Simpson wrote about "her legendary charm." Portrayed as a selfless partner to the King in the Oscar-winning movie The King's Speech, The Queen Mother is most often remembered from her later years as the smiling granny with the pastel hats. When she died in 2002, just short of her 102nd birthday, she was praised for a long life well lived.
But there was another side to her story. For the first time, Lady Colin Campbell shows us that the untold life of the Queen Mother is far more fascinating and moving than the official version that has been peddled ever since she became royal in 1923. With unparalleled sources--including members of the Royal Family, aristocrats, and friends and relatives of Elizabeth herself—this mesmerizing account takes us inside the real and sometimes astonishing world of the royal family.
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First published January 1, 2012
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About the author
Lady Colin Campbell
15 books158 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Lady Colin Campbell, (née Georgia Arianna Ziadie, known as Georgie), is a British writer, biographer, autobiographer, novelist, and television and radio personality, known for her biography of Diana, Princess of Wales, The Real Diana, as well as for other books on the Royal Family and wealthy people.
Campbell was born in Jamaica, the child of Michael and Gloria Ziadie. The Ziadie family is prominent in Jamaica, the descendants of six Maronite Catholic brothers who emigrated from Lebanon in the early 20th century; she says they have gone from being "revered to reviled to treasured as exotica." Her father was of royal Russian bloodline. His family were Greek Orthodox Catholic who had settled in Lebanon. Her mother came from English, Irish, Portuguese and Spanish ancestry. Her maternal great-grandmother, family name De Pass, was Sephardic Jew.
In 1974, she married Lord Colin Ivar Campbell, the son of Ian Campbell, 11th Duke of Argyll; she divorced him in 1975.
She is the mother of two adopted Russian-born sons, Dima and Misha. She lives in Kennington, UK.
Lady Colin Campbell, (née Georgia Arianna Ziadie, known as Georgie), is a British writer, biographer, autobiographer, novelist, and television and radio personality, known for her biography of Diana, Princess of Wales, The Real Diana, as well as for other books on the Royal Family and wealthy people.
Campbell was born in Jamaica, the child of Michael and Gloria Ziadie. The Ziadie family is prominent in Jamaica, the descendants of six Maronite Catholic brothers who emigrated from Lebanon in the early 20th century; she says they have gone from being "revered to reviled to treasured as exotica." Her father was of royal Russian bloodline. His family were Greek Orthodox Catholic who had settled in Lebanon. Her mother came from English, Irish, Portuguese and Spanish ancestry. Her maternal great-grandmother, family name De Pass, was Sephardic Jew.
In 1974, she married Lord Colin Ivar Campbell, the son of Ian Campbell, 11th Duke of Argyll; she divorced him in 1975.
She is the mother of two adopted Russian-born sons, Dima and Misha. She lives in Kennington, UK.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
July 19, 2013
I gave up on this book about halfway through.
After a while scandal-mongering and muckraking stops being titillating and becomes tedious. The more so as the author has only one string to her bow: Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother was not sweet and nice and lovely, she says, she was nasty and manipulative and conniving and a hypocrite, and pushed her poor misunderstood brother-in-law off his throne.
Add to this blatant bias a poor command of the English language (confusing ancestors and descendants, for instance, or using "impute" when she means "impugn") and an infuriating habit of wandering off on irrelevant and unsavoury tangents (I really did not need to know about the author's knicker-laundering habits!) and I really couldn't stand it any longer.
After a while scandal-mongering and muckraking stops being titillating and becomes tedious. The more so as the author has only one string to her bow: Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother was not sweet and nice and lovely, she says, she was nasty and manipulative and conniving and a hypocrite, and pushed her poor misunderstood brother-in-law off his throne.
Add to this blatant bias a poor command of the English language (confusing ancestors and descendants, for instance, or using "impute" when she means "impugn") and an infuriating habit of wandering off on irrelevant and unsavoury tangents (I really did not need to know about the author's knicker-laundering habits!) and I really couldn't stand it any longer.
July 14, 2012
This piece of trash deserved 0 stars but I had to settle for the lowest allowed (boo, Goodreads!). This purported biography is the most vicious, hate-filled and poisonous piece of garbage I've ever read. One wonders what the Queen Mother ever did to warrant this attack by an extremely peripheral member of the British aristocracy - a marriage that lasted barely a year to a younger son of the Argyll dukedom doesn't quality anyone as a member of the inner circle of royalty.
Despite the copious footnotes, most of the information is entirely based on "conversations with ..." - most of these sources now being conveniently dead. And this author seems to have the most perfect recall in the history of writing since long conversations with these "sources" are supposedly quoted word-for-word. As a result, she spins a thoroughly nasty web of innuendo, suppositions, stories based on "everyone knew" and apparently intimate conversations with the Duke of Windsor (but she later admits she barely knew him). Of course, barely knowing the man doesn't stop her from using his family's nickname for him throughout the book. Is this supposed to lend veracity to the tangle of myth, lies, suppositions and rumours she's weaving? In the supposedly sophisticated circles in which she would like us to believe she moves, this type of reputation shredding and outright creative fiction may pass for scintillating conversation and cocktail humour - but it has no place in a book that purports to be a biograhy about a beloved and respected member of the Royal Family - even Lady Colin Campbell was stymied when it came time to discuss the Queen Mother's role during WWII - the best she could find was that Hitler didn't like her. Well, there's a put-down for the ages.
Terrible book, vicious and vindictive author who doesn't know the meaning of impartiality and research and a complete waste of time. The publishers should be ashamed of themselves.
Despite the copious footnotes, most of the information is entirely based on "conversations with ..." - most of these sources now being conveniently dead. And this author seems to have the most perfect recall in the history of writing since long conversations with these "sources" are supposedly quoted word-for-word. As a result, she spins a thoroughly nasty web of innuendo, suppositions, stories based on "everyone knew" and apparently intimate conversations with the Duke of Windsor (but she later admits she barely knew him). Of course, barely knowing the man doesn't stop her from using his family's nickname for him throughout the book. Is this supposed to lend veracity to the tangle of myth, lies, suppositions and rumours she's weaving? In the supposedly sophisticated circles in which she would like us to believe she moves, this type of reputation shredding and outright creative fiction may pass for scintillating conversation and cocktail humour - but it has no place in a book that purports to be a biograhy about a beloved and respected member of the Royal Family - even Lady Colin Campbell was stymied when it came time to discuss the Queen Mother's role during WWII - the best she could find was that Hitler didn't like her. Well, there's a put-down for the ages.
Terrible book, vicious and vindictive author who doesn't know the meaning of impartiality and research and a complete waste of time. The publishers should be ashamed of themselves.
December 8, 2012
It pains me to say this, because I really wanted to like this book, but: don't waste your time. What starts out as an interesting biography quickly spirals downward into an attack. I'm not sure what Lady Campbell's problem with the Queen Mother was, but it's clear she can't stand her, and set out to write a book that would smear her reputation--to say the least.
December 6, 2012
I picked this book up at the library excited to read about one of my favorite members of the royal family and instead came home with a venomous book full of hatred. I really don't know what the Windsors did to alienate the author so much, but I was shocked at the attack on the late Queen Mum. Stay away, friends.
January 20, 2014
Wow someone really didn't like the Queen Mother. What a nasty piece of "historical research" starting off with the "daughter of a housemaid" lark perpetuating the myth that Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon "settled" for Bertie. So many things are wrong with this book. It is like a witches brew of salacious innuendo wrapped up in "truth." Clearly "Lady" Colin Campbell was channelling Wallis throughout and I couldn't help but feel there was an axe to grind throughout. Would NEVER recommend this book to anyone. Especially loved the howler of the mistake found on page 210 where "labour was induced on 20th April 2011....and Dr Jagger pulled out the future Queen Elizabeth II at exactly 2.40am on 21st April 1926....." Someone needs to shoot the editors for this unforgivable faux paux. Like others would have given this 0 star if possible. Beware!!!
February 9, 2014
I read this book as a result of a very misleading book review. It made it sound like a biography of The Queen Mother. And I suppose technically it is, but in reality it is a horrifying and boring book.
It has way too many family members, royals and friends to keep straight even if you were family or friends. And most of the book seems to be terrible gossipy, possibly true but not really prove-able information. And one-sided--it's a very hostile description of The Queen Mother, from a child right up until her death.
I finished the book, but honestly felt the whole thing was a waste of my reading time.
It has way too many family members, royals and friends to keep straight even if you were family or friends. And most of the book seems to be terrible gossipy, possibly true but not really prove-able information. And one-sided--it's a very hostile description of The Queen Mother, from a child right up until her death.
I finished the book, but honestly felt the whole thing was a waste of my reading time.
December 29, 2015
Campbell has penned a prurient, verbose, self-aggrandizing pseudo-biography worthy of the British scandal sheets. To call this tittle-tattle a biography is to shame every journalist of integrity, for journalism this is not.
This reader, having been subjected to egregious gossip throughout this interminable book, came away no more enlightened as to any of Elizabeth Bowes Lyon's accomplishments or history. Instead, Campbell has delved into her own personal speculation, snobbery and even racism of the worst sort, putting forth arguments of a medical, political and societal nature on which she is unqualified to write, and plainly is too cavalier to bother to research. Why research when we can have tea with Lady Such-and-So and gossip away the afternoon?
It is ridiculous in the extreme to put forth the argument the Queen Mother was a harridan exceeding her ancestor, Lady Macbeth; that Edward VIII would have single-handedly kept together the British Empire; that Wallis Simpson would have made a far better queen by virtue of her fashion elan.
What is plain is Campbell's obsession with superficial beauty, starvation-mode thinness, the need to associate within accepted, rarefied circles, and a compulsion to the nasty degradation of anyone Campbell feels unacceptable. In short, Campbell has penned a gossip sheet right out of discussions in her own parlour whisperings.
Not once does Campbell make even slight mention of the Queen Mother's extensive charitable work, the extraordinary strides to which she and George V went to bolster British spirit and capability during WWII. Instead we are given to believe the Queen Mother was an old soak who lay abed gorging on chocolates and manipulating every person within her sphere of control, and avoiding any sexual congress whatever with her husband. She even goes so far to assert all of the Queen Mother's children were the result of artificial insemination, so allegedly adverse was the Queen Mother to intercourse.
George V is portrayed as a booby. Edward VIII as the mistreated exiled king. Which does not even touch upon the the fictional creations she has made of Charles, Margaret, Phillip and even Elizabeth Regis.
Truly, if you want to read a decent biography of the Queen Mother, choose some other author, nay any other author than what this ridiculous dabbler has created in this trumped up bit of tripe.
This reader, having been subjected to egregious gossip throughout this interminable book, came away no more enlightened as to any of Elizabeth Bowes Lyon's accomplishments or history. Instead, Campbell has delved into her own personal speculation, snobbery and even racism of the worst sort, putting forth arguments of a medical, political and societal nature on which she is unqualified to write, and plainly is too cavalier to bother to research. Why research when we can have tea with Lady Such-and-So and gossip away the afternoon?
It is ridiculous in the extreme to put forth the argument the Queen Mother was a harridan exceeding her ancestor, Lady Macbeth; that Edward VIII would have single-handedly kept together the British Empire; that Wallis Simpson would have made a far better queen by virtue of her fashion elan.
What is plain is Campbell's obsession with superficial beauty, starvation-mode thinness, the need to associate within accepted, rarefied circles, and a compulsion to the nasty degradation of anyone Campbell feels unacceptable. In short, Campbell has penned a gossip sheet right out of discussions in her own parlour whisperings.
Not once does Campbell make even slight mention of the Queen Mother's extensive charitable work, the extraordinary strides to which she and George V went to bolster British spirit and capability during WWII. Instead we are given to believe the Queen Mother was an old soak who lay abed gorging on chocolates and manipulating every person within her sphere of control, and avoiding any sexual congress whatever with her husband. She even goes so far to assert all of the Queen Mother's children were the result of artificial insemination, so allegedly adverse was the Queen Mother to intercourse.
George V is portrayed as a booby. Edward VIII as the mistreated exiled king. Which does not even touch upon the the fictional creations she has made of Charles, Margaret, Phillip and even Elizabeth Regis.
Truly, if you want to read a decent biography of the Queen Mother, choose some other author, nay any other author than what this ridiculous dabbler has created in this trumped up bit of tripe.
July 16, 2012
Had always thought of the "Queen Mum" as a nice old slightly dotty English lady -- to read that she was called "the monster of Glamis (her family castle in Scotland)" by the Duke of Windsor was quite a surprise. More info on the Great Abdication than I'd read before - slightly more sympathetic to the Duke now - his dying words were "...the waste, oh the waste...." - he'd been brought up and educated and trained to be king, while his brother Bertie who became king, had not. Lots and lots of name dropping - the longer and more royal, the better. Found the book fascinating - an insight into a time in English history I didn't know a lot about.
March 4, 2017
What a steaming pile of garbage. I picked this up (on clearance, thank God) thinking it would be a nice biography of the Queen Mother, someone I didn't really know much about. In reality, it was just a 350 page attack laced with such malice and vitriol it came as a shock. I have no idea if the things the "author" says are true, for all I know they could be, but the rage she heaps on this poor woman is disgusting. The "author" is definitely a bully - it's one thing to write a book on how horrible the Queen Mother is, but it becomes something else to call her names like "pig" and comment repeatedly on how fat she is.
The book was also so very, very random. The "author" would go on for pages and pages about the love life of some Indian prince, who was remotely related to a friend of a friend of a relative of Elizabeth's (or something like that), but yet Elizabeth's life during the war was condensed to a couple paragraphs. Regardless of what you think about Queen Elizabeth this was a shining moment for the monarchy and the British empire so the fact that the "author" just skipped right over it is telling: clearly you don't want one positive attribute in this book. She also spent an obscene amount of time discussing the lives of completely random people who may or may not have even a slight impact in Elizabeth's life. I thought this was so strange until it occurred to me that these people she talked about were people SHE knew, not Elizabeth. So she would go on this long story about this person's life and then swing it back around to be talking about herself.
I also loved that she basically called Elizabeth a gold-digger. Really? Want to hear your life story? She met some Lord in NYC on vacation and married him after knowing him 5 days. Yep. FIVE days. Married him. Then divorced 14 months later but clung onto the names and trappings he provided. And Elizabeth's the gold-digger for wanting to increase her station in life, as was common in that generation??
The writing itself wasn't terrible, however the "author" would significantly overuse certain French phrases over and over in one chapter. Okay, awesome. You know French. Good job. There were also sentences that didn't make a whole lot of sense and made me wonder she just fired up the old thesaurus in an attempt to make it sound "smarter". Guess what? I can do that too:
The expeditious amber fox saltated aloft the apathetic mongrel. Now I'm fancy too.
The book was also so very, very random. The "author" would go on for pages and pages about the love life of some Indian prince, who was remotely related to a friend of a friend of a relative of Elizabeth's (or something like that), but yet Elizabeth's life during the war was condensed to a couple paragraphs. Regardless of what you think about Queen Elizabeth this was a shining moment for the monarchy and the British empire so the fact that the "author" just skipped right over it is telling: clearly you don't want one positive attribute in this book. She also spent an obscene amount of time discussing the lives of completely random people who may or may not have even a slight impact in Elizabeth's life. I thought this was so strange until it occurred to me that these people she talked about were people SHE knew, not Elizabeth. So she would go on this long story about this person's life and then swing it back around to be talking about herself.
I also loved that she basically called Elizabeth a gold-digger. Really? Want to hear your life story? She met some Lord in NYC on vacation and married him after knowing him 5 days. Yep. FIVE days. Married him. Then divorced 14 months later but clung onto the names and trappings he provided. And Elizabeth's the gold-digger for wanting to increase her station in life, as was common in that generation??
The writing itself wasn't terrible, however the "author" would significantly overuse certain French phrases over and over in one chapter. Okay, awesome. You know French. Good job. There were also sentences that didn't make a whole lot of sense and made me wonder she just fired up the old thesaurus in an attempt to make it sound "smarter". Guess what? I can do that too:
The expeditious amber fox saltated aloft the apathetic mongrel. Now I'm fancy too.
May 31, 2012
This biography managed to enrage me as I read it, and I found it to be distasteful in the extreme. The claims made by Lady Colin about the Queen Mother's life aren't just extreme, they're sensationalism of the worst sort, and with every chance, the author tries to depict this woman as greedy, selfish, lying and manipulative, presenting a picture that is very different than the one that is usually shown. Lack of reputable sources, relying mostly on the Duke and Duchess of Windsor (of whom it can be said that they are not exactly friendly to the late Queen Mother) for most of the claims. It's all so at odds to what is generally known about the queen mother that I found it laughable and irritating. All I can guess is that Lady Colin Campbell was snubbed at some time by a Windsor and writing this trash was her way of getting even. Only two stars and not at all recommended.
For the longer review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/The_Qu...
For the longer review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/The_Qu...
October 2, 2013
Never have I read a biography where the author so clearly detested the subject. I wondered why she bothered to write the book and then decided it was so she could spew venom at the Queen Mother. I would have stopped reading it but I began to wonder who she was going to cite as her informants after the deaths of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. I agree with the other reviewer that this book deserved zero stars but opted to put in one to make my low opinion visible, rather than have readers think I just hadn't bothered to put in a recommendation. My strongest recommendation would be to avoid this book, saving time and money. The author is definitely on my "don't read" list.
January 10, 2017
Wow! Very enlightening to say the least! Full of Royal gossip & scandals. Are they true? I don't know, but it kept me entertained until the last paragraph! The Queen Mother was indeed an extraordinary person! Well worth the read if you're interested in the Royals.
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June 25, 2013Lady Campbell delights in turning all the reverence toward the Queen Mother on its head. She paints as black a picture of her as other accounts are rosy. It's worth noting that much of what she writes is well known as coming from the "anti QM" camp, particularly the Windsor’s and their following. Lady Campbell does add dirt of her own and, as others have commented, some mistakes as well.
For the feud between the Windsor’s and the consort Queen Elizabeth when George VI was alive and later the Queen Mother, I like That Woman: The Life of Wallis Simpson Duchess of Windsor. I raised my eyebrows at some of the speculations and tried to sort out what the sources were. At times I felt that there was no right side in the conflict, and that both sides could have been more compassionate. My point in bringing it up here is that spiteful as Lady Campbell may be, she found, I am sure, material against the Queen Mother to build upon.
For the feud between the Windsor’s and the consort Queen Elizabeth when George VI was alive and later the Queen Mother, I like That Woman: The Life of Wallis Simpson Duchess of Windsor. I raised my eyebrows at some of the speculations and tried to sort out what the sources were. At times I felt that there was no right side in the conflict, and that both sides could have been more compassionate. My point in bringing it up here is that spiteful as Lady Campbell may be, she found, I am sure, material against the Queen Mother to build upon.
September 1, 2012
Although I read all the way through, I did not really enjoy it. I have read Lady Colin Campbell's titles before but this one wins the prize for scandal mongering. Evidently Ms Campbell makes it her business to ferret out all the secrets of the rich, famous and titled. This book is a case is he said, she aid, etc. AS she hops from oone dirty secret to another about the Queen Mother Elizabeth, she also goes off on tangents about the lives of other titled people such as Wallis Simpson and so on. I did not think all this veering off the main theme was necessary. If I want to know about the lives of the other people in this book, I'll go get one. As it is, this is a very thick book, took me a long time to read so that I nearly abandoned it at several points and probably should have.
By the time I finally read the last page I was thinking "I am so done with you, Lady Colin Campbell."
By the time I finally read the last page I was thinking "I am so done with you, Lady Colin Campbell."
June 4, 2012
Although the book was written interestingly enough, it was clear from the first chapter that the author had (or was good friends with those who had) strong personal grudges against the subject and this impression only intensified throughout the reading. She also contradicted herself on various points, seemingly to further a particular opinion that she held or to give legitimacy to her interpretation of events. The most annoying part of it all was saved for the very last paragraph, in which, after ravaging her subject's character and motives non-stop during the preceding 450-odd pages, she ends with a final, 2 sentence paragraph lauding her for her 'vast accomplishments' and for 'a life well-lived'......what???
February 15, 2016
Obviously the author holds a grudge against the Queen Mother. I enjoyed the book but was sadly disappointed in finding out this venerable lady, was after all, just human. Personally, I wish I hadn't read it. I liked the Queen Mother up on her pedestal. This book quickly knocks the pedestal from under her.
May 11, 2012
I recieved a copy of this book from Goodreads First Reads. I enjoyed the book. I learned a great deal about the ins and outs of the Queen Mother's life. The author does tend to treat gossip as fact. The book could have been edited down about a 100 pages.
July 3, 2024
so snarky!
June 23, 2012
Overall I enjoyed reading this book, and I think I did learn a little bit, but I had a couple major issues with it.
First, the author certainly seems to have had a personal grudge against Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. She rarely has something positive to say, attributing every accomplishment or possible good thing she did to some terrible ulterior motive. She also relies heavily on quotes from people such as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and it's common knowledge that they were enemies of the Queen's and are therefore unlikely to have had a good word to say about her. I would call that an unreliable source, and it calls into question the author's research skills.
The author is also really fond of name-dropping whenever possible and letting us all know how important she is and what kind of connections she has. Maybe it's a fundamental difference between her British-ness and my American-ness, but I found myself wishing she'd just tell the story at hand instead of chasing so many rabbits on her own account.
Lastly, the book is just FULL of horribly awkward grammar. I could understand a mistake here or there, but as I read on the grammatical errors continued to mount. I found myself wondering what kind of editor she had, and it just makes Lady Campbell look bad as an author and gives the book a further air of unreliability.
I actually would recommend this book because it's an interesting read, but I would caution readers to look for further biographies of the Queen Mother in order to get a more rounded-out picture of her life and who she was. I plan to do more reading myself, because I definitely do not consider this book a complete representation of Elizabeth Bowes Lyon.
First, the author certainly seems to have had a personal grudge against Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. She rarely has something positive to say, attributing every accomplishment or possible good thing she did to some terrible ulterior motive. She also relies heavily on quotes from people such as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and it's common knowledge that they were enemies of the Queen's and are therefore unlikely to have had a good word to say about her. I would call that an unreliable source, and it calls into question the author's research skills.
The author is also really fond of name-dropping whenever possible and letting us all know how important she is and what kind of connections she has. Maybe it's a fundamental difference between her British-ness and my American-ness, but I found myself wishing she'd just tell the story at hand instead of chasing so many rabbits on her own account.
Lastly, the book is just FULL of horribly awkward grammar. I could understand a mistake here or there, but as I read on the grammatical errors continued to mount. I found myself wondering what kind of editor she had, and it just makes Lady Campbell look bad as an author and gives the book a further air of unreliability.
I actually would recommend this book because it's an interesting read, but I would caution readers to look for further biographies of the Queen Mother in order to get a more rounded-out picture of her life and who she was. I plan to do more reading myself, because I definitely do not consider this book a complete representation of Elizabeth Bowes Lyon.
May 20, 2017
The content was quite fascinating, including allegations regarding the Queen Mum's origins, as well as her daughters' beginnings and her manipulative, conniving personality. But the author inserted many asides, such as personal vignettes about her own experiences and took liberty in name dropping which was distracting.
July 12, 2013
I am a royal enthusiast so I enjoyed this and I think to enjoy you need to be very into the history of the family. I liked it not just for the background on the Queen Mother and the family, but for the look at the history of the times it presented including the Abdication crisis.
Many have pointed out that it seems the author has an axe to grind with QM and that may be. She denigrates her too often. We get the idea, and read her foibles the first several times she mentioned them, they do not need to be repeated again and again. But I have heard more than once that the Queen Mother was not the nicest person so none of this surprised me. I have also read previously that she had more of a hand than anyone knew in pushing The Duke of Windsor off the throne. How much is true, we'll never know but Ms. Campbell does have many sources, some well connected, that she lists.
There is also a lot of connecting the dots between family members , who they married and where those spouses came from. Again, you need to be really a royal fan to wade thru it . I did. but even I at times was skipping a line here and there on the marriage connections.
It is long book that needed a few pages cut, but overall I found it not only a good read, but I sped through with great interest.
Many have pointed out that it seems the author has an axe to grind with QM and that may be. She denigrates her too often. We get the idea, and read her foibles the first several times she mentioned them, they do not need to be repeated again and again. But I have heard more than once that the Queen Mother was not the nicest person so none of this surprised me. I have also read previously that she had more of a hand than anyone knew in pushing The Duke of Windsor off the throne. How much is true, we'll never know but Ms. Campbell does have many sources, some well connected, that she lists.
There is also a lot of connecting the dots between family members , who they married and where those spouses came from. Again, you need to be really a royal fan to wade thru it . I did. but even I at times was skipping a line here and there on the marriage connections.
It is long book that needed a few pages cut, but overall I found it not only a good read, but I sped through with great interest.
December 18, 2022
Lady Colin Campbell is a good writer. She’s funny, witty, sarcastic, suggestive, naughty, gossipy, polite, wise, erudite, intellectual, a stunningly thorough researcher, and an incisive observer of human nature.
This book is not only an historical biography, it’s a cultural history, military history, a case study, a behind the scenes exposé. It explains the why of things regarding the British royal family that don’t make sense on the surface. And by extension, it’s revelatory about human nature and the disingenuousness of the faces we present to the world.
My only criticism is that the concluding paragraph attempts to wrap up in a tone that’s far more laudatory than the rest of the book. It’s a jarring effect and I’m not sure why she chose to do this. It felt hurried.
Otherwise an excellent, interesting read.
This book is not only an historical biography, it’s a cultural history, military history, a case study, a behind the scenes exposé. It explains the why of things regarding the British royal family that don’t make sense on the surface. And by extension, it’s revelatory about human nature and the disingenuousness of the faces we present to the world.
My only criticism is that the concluding paragraph attempts to wrap up in a tone that’s far more laudatory than the rest of the book. It’s a jarring effect and I’m not sure why she chose to do this. It felt hurried.
Otherwise an excellent, interesting read.
April 7, 2024
This book left me feeling underwhelmed and frustrated. While there were occasional glimpses of intriguing new information, they were overshadowed by the book's numerous flaws. The writing style felt disjointed, and the excessive mention of names made it confusing to follow. The lack of chronological order made the narrative feel repetitive, as if the same story was being told over and over again. Considering the Queen Mother's long and eventful life, I expected a more comprehensive exploration of her experiences. Unfortunately, the book fell short, offering little beyond the same old anecdotes. One mildly interesting revelation was the Queen Mother's past interest in Berties brother, the king, but even that couldn't salvage the overall reading experience. In short, "The Queen Mother" could have been much shorter and more focused, with a more engaging narrative structure.
October 5, 2012
The author paints a picture of the Queen Mum as an ambitious and self-centered social climber and not the sweet and smiling little old lady she seemed to be. Although this may have some truth, I take things with a grain of salt when an author, and a member of the aristocracy, gets her facts wrong. She misinterpreted the protocol for dynastic naming (which is pretty much basic) and claims that Georgiana, duchess of Devonshire had an affair with the future George IV and bore his child.
Other than that it did make me a bit more sympathetic to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. There is so much more to that story, that the circumstances surrounding the abdication of Edward VIII will never be totally known.
Other than that it did make me a bit more sympathetic to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. There is so much more to that story, that the circumstances surrounding the abdication of Edward VIII will never be totally known.
April 13, 2016
An interesting read, although once you realize the author sought to reveal the dark side of Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, the book becomes rather monchromatic. The book appears to be well-documented, and does serve to provide a different perspective on the phenomenal life of this icon of the 20th century. But you don't feel you've actually come to know the subject very much better. The detailed descriptions of titles, peerages, relationships, etc., are enough to make your eyes cross and make you wonder if there are actually any commoners left in the UK. This will hardly be remembered as the definitive work on this larger than life woman.
April 8, 2021
Where to begin. The book is exceptional, the character not. I have been reading since I was very young, I am now 81. Never have I read a book where I hated the main character as much as I hate Elizabeth The Queen Mother. The reason I read the book is "to see how it ends". I always thought highly about her but did not know what kind of a human being she was. Despicable and a controlling person. I could go on but is not worth it. I think that Lady Colin Campbell did an excellent job. Ready for the next book.
August 12, 2016
"... pod pozorną słodyczą kryła się wyjątkowo kontrolująca i agresywna osobowość. Trzeba było jednak bardzo dobrze znać (...) lub też mieć dostęp do jej pamiętnika i listów, a także wnikliwie przyglądać się jej poczynaniom, aby móc przeniknąć pozory... mściwa królowa, która nigdy nie wybaczała ludziom mającym czelność przeciwstawić się jej"
November 7, 2016
This book is by a member of the aristocracy. As such it spends much of its time on the type of gossip that the British aristocracy find endlessly fascinating, without much regard for pacing or information.
September 5, 2019
Flimsy and very biased. An. Author who obviously disliked The Queen Mother and wants it to be known !
I feel like I have read a fairy story. Would not recommend. Would not want to read her books again.
I feel like I have read a fairy story. Would not recommend. Would not want to read her books again.
August 17, 2012
A little too "dishy" for my taste....the Queen Mum's world, through whispers heard from the friend of a friend.....
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