Edward VII

by Christopher Hibbert, Hugh Thomas (foreward)

A riveting biography that vividly captures the life and times of the last Victorian king.To his mother, Queen Victoria, he was "poor Bertie," to his wife he was "my dear little man," while the President of France called him "a great English king," and the German Kaiser condemned him as "an old peacock." King Edward VII was all these things and more, as Hibbert reveals in this captivating biography. Shedding new light on the scandals that peppered his life, Hibbert reveals Edward's dismal early years under Victoria's iron rule, his terror of boredom that led to a lively social life at home and abroad, and his eventual ascent to the throne at age 59. Edward is best remembered as the last Victorian king, the monarch who installed the office of Prime Minister.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Royalty, British Literature, Victorian, 19th Century

364 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Christopher Hibbert, MC, FRSL, FRGS (5 March 1924 - 21 December 2008) was an English writer, historian and biographer. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and the author of many books, including Disraeli, Edward VII, George IV, The Rise and Fall of the House of Medici, and Cavaliers and Roundheads.

Described by Professor Sir John Plumb as "a writer of the highest ability and in the New Statesman as "a pearl of biographers," he established himself as a leading popular historian/biographer whose works reflected meticulous scholarship.

Reviews

[Jill H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a fan of this historian and he does not disappoint with this complete story of the life of the man who waited a very long time to become King (HRH King Charles III can now claim that record). As he was the heir to the throne, his mother, Queen Victoria expected him to follow her advice on all things, no matter how minor. She was impossible to please and actually told many people that she really didn't like him His education was merciless...........what child has to study Latin when seven years old?.......especially one who wasn't very intellectual. His childhood was miserable as he had no friends and thus became very hard to handle.

As he grew older he was not allowed to be involved in any business of the monarchy and spent his time speaking at the opening of museums and other such trivial activities. He married Princess Alexandra of Denmark but took mistresses which he continued to do until the end of his life. During his long time as Prince of Wales,he became a fashion icon, a bit of a gambler, and a glutton.

But when he ascended to the throne, he mellowed somewhat and he was known as the "Uncle of Europe". He was a Francophile and could rightfully recognize that his cousin, the German Kaiser, was someone who would cause trouble for both France and the British Empire.

There is so much more in this book than just the areas that are covered in this review as Hibbert's biography is very detailed.Needless to say, it is quite interesting but is also a rather slow read. It is worth it.

[Bettie · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[KOMET · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a highly readable and informative biography about Queen Victoria's eldest son who became King at 60, helped establish an entente with both France and Russia, and became known for an era in British history that bears his name.

[Ghost of the Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

- Minor Editing Done -

Any book by Mr. Hibbert is a good book, as I discovered many years ago when I read his great bio of King Charles II.
This one doesn't disappoint at all, introducing us to Bertie and his fascinating life as the eldest son of "saintly" Prince Albert and Queen Victoria, and later as King Edward VII.
Being the son of such illustrious parents as these two, plus having the weight of being the heir on his back, I for one find it nothing short of remarkable how very much a "nice" guy he turned out to be!
God knows only being a bloody genius would have saved him from the years of that absolutely ghastly educational regime imposed upon him by his parents but still, somehow, in the end he turns out to be, true a playboy, but also a man fully aware of the world around him and much more in touch with reality - as far as a king in the early 20th century could ever be - than QV ever was!
Hibbert does full justice to the fascinating man that KE was and tells his life story in an engaging, educational and yes perhaps at times slightly partial way...but then again, I think KE is one of those lucky few who, no matter how badly he may have behaved sometimes, was clearly capable of gathering to him loyal friends and supporters who helped him through the harder moments of his life.
I have always been fascinated by King Edward so maybe I am also a bit partial but then again, given his life, wouldnt you be too?
Anyways forgive the rambling but as I said the fact this is a Hibbert book was credential enough to make me pick it up and buy, with no regrets whatsoever.
Why 4 stars and not 5? ...well I know perfection doesn't exist, but I did wish at times that the author would have been a tiny bit more impartial...and I'm a Bertie fan myself!

Happy Readings!

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A self-indulgent princeling; his story needed to be set against the backdrop of events in England during his long wait for the throne.

[France-Andrée · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting biography, doesn’t talk too much about the affairs Edward VII is known for. I thought it was pretty well rounded though it doesn’t endear Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, they were pretty harsh parents. I think the childhood years is where I felt a connection with the prince, he had anger issues (throughout his life, really) and so I saw myself in him, I did not expect that from this book.

It must have been so hard to be in the shadow of Queen Victoria for so long, there was rebellion in the son, but I also think he just liked to have fun though people still had to respect him as a prince (that was like a “your my friend but” clause). I’m not sure I understand the bed hopping rules of the aristocracy at the time, seems like a lot of hypocrisy to me, but the prince was caught in a couple of scandals and I think his affairs is what he is remembered for; the book talks about this but with no salacious details and his later affairs are more long term relationships from someone who couldn’t divorce. I think that Edward VII was lucky in the wife that was chosen for him, she seemed like the right one for him and after chafing a little bit seem to adjust to whom she had married.

What surprised me is how little real power the King seemed to have, I thought that came later in the 20th Century. What influence King Edward VII had was through his family connections and those were throughout Europe at the time so it’s not like he didn’t have any power, but his prime ministers did not listen to him too often.

A fascinating man in the end, but a little eclipsed by Queen Victoria before him and Edward VIII (his grandson) after. I would maybe had liked more on his relationship with his son, the future George V, because they had a good rapport... He seemed to have been a loving father in general.

[Sara G · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this to be a serviceable biography of a rather uninteresting individual. Edward VII was the eldest son of Victoria and Albert, neither of whom treated him very well. Instead of learning about his future role and working towards anything, he was basically mistreated and overwhelmed as a child and then left to his own devices as an adult. Despite it all, it sounds like he turned out to be a relatively good-natured man who was well-loved by his intimates. This sort of life does not make for an interesting biography, though, and it didn't help that this author jumped around to different time periods (sometimes all within one paragraph). It's worth reading if you're interested in him, but it's not a must-read.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully-written (I recommend any book by Christopher Hibbert) biography of Edward VII, who was Queen Victoria's son and reigned - all too briefly due to his mother's longevity - from 1901 to 1910. Intellectually lightweight, given over to the pleasures of the table, the shooting field and the boudoir, and spoiled in a way only royals experience, Edward nonetheless was thought of as a hard-working and conscientious monarch, who did his duties and was generally liked by those who knew or knew of him except, perhaps, the Kaiser. Not a great man in the grand scheme of things, but he obviously enjoyed life, and this exceptionally readable work tells us much about aristocratic life towards the end of Europe's long peace. I couldn't escape the feeling that it would have been a pleasure to actually meet and know Edward, although having an attractive wife would have complicated the matter.

[Lauren Albert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodness. It's a miracle that Edward VII didn't turn out to be a psychotic maniac after the way he was treated by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. And it was a wonder he could be any sort of King at all after he was given absolutely no responsibilities as a prince and often found out foreign affairs from the newspaper like other Englishmen. He was treated like a blubbering idiot--while he was not brilliant and he did speak too openly, Victoria and Albert could have done better by him and led him to be a better person and King had they treated him like a man instead of a child. He had his flaws but they were not lessened by their poor parenting.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

As is often the way with Christopher Hibbert I'm never sure how much is judicious editing and how much is truly original work. That said I am genuinely of the opinion that this is by far the best short biography of it's very wide subject. He was literally as broad as he was long by the end of his life. Edward comes across as an engaging, if heavily overweight, Peter Pan type figure that refused to grow up. The anecdotes come thick and fast. The Political/Diplomatic skills of which much is made don't really come believably out. Not enough research was done - too much editing of Sir Phillip Magnus one suspects. But this is still a vastly entertaining biography of Edward and I come away from it with a firmly cigar scented picture of HM and the High Society over which he both reigned and ruled. "It doesn't matter what you do so long as you don't do it in the road and frighten the horses." I have frequently re-read this book.

[Bree · Rating 3 out of 5]

An in-depth look at King Edward VII. The overall organization of the book made it both challenging, and readable. Rather than follow a strict chronological sequence, it was broken into 3 chronologies - childhood, Prince of Wales, King. But within those chronologies were topics, like Foreign Affairs, etc. So although it made it hard to follow time sometimes, it also prevented overload on one specific instance.

Most eye-opening was the attitudes of Victoria and Albert toward their son. Over her entire reign, Victoria never once relied on Edward for anything, preferring to (micro-manage?) the crown. So he ascended with absolutely no hands-on experience.

[John McCarthy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting look at the man but strangely lacking in places. No mention of the decision against his mother’s wishes to take the regnal name Edward. And his son’s involvement in the Cleveland street scandal is barely hinted at, much less discussed. Seemingly very surface level.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Revealing biography.

First of all I can't believe how Bertie was treated by mother and father. Their actions were despicable. He became a very caring king to his people and his own children.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall, rather dry and boring.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every once in a while I have the special experience of reading in short order two books about the same person or the same historical period. It is exceptionally interesting to compare and contrast.
In the case of Edward VII, the Hibbert bio was more complete and more dignified (than "The King in Love: Edward VII's Mistresses." Obviously!)I enjoyed both-- especially because I read them in tandem.
Hibbert's version, though it does not omit the mistresses, focuses more on the royals and international relations-- largely on poor Edward's more-than-fraught relationship with his mother, Queen Victoria I. It seems poor "Bertie" hardly ever got a break in her stern regard. Given other opportunities and more warmth, he might have achieved-- well, more than he was allowed to.
His notorious "playboy" lifestyle is unsurprising, given the atmosphere and events that Hibbert discusses in detail. But he was a good deal more than that caricature: in spite of the limitations he faced, he also seems to have been a genial and affectionate man, someone you might want to include on your Imaginary Dinner Party Guest List. (But as host, you would need to have the proper jacket and trousers for the event, and the hostess must have a proper tiara, too. Edward would demand the proper attire.)

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I may or may not have fallen asleep through the last chapter, its all a bit fuzzy.

Up until recently Edward was the longest heir apparent and continues to be longest serving Prince of Wales (typically given to the direct heir). In many ways he was the most ill prepared heir. Considered a trouble child and was blamed for his father's death, the beloved Prince Albert, despite it being typhoid that killed him.

From the very start of his reign he threw out the traditions of Victoria and started over. In the end he was an effective diplomat for Europe. Obviously not always successful, shortly after his death Wilhelm, his nephew, started World War I. I enjoyed the contrast and contention between himself and his mother. Victoria refused to prepare him for the throne, but he stepped up and did the best he could.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a somewhat interesting biography of a man with too much money, too much time all which lead to too many women, drinks and trips. His mother thought him too dull to give him anything to do so he existed for decades with little to do.



The title is a silly since there was no Victorian dynasty and he was in all things the opposite of his mother. I don't know how Mr. Hibbert could have chosen the poorest description of who he was.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very competent, readable, and concise biography. Nothing new here, but well presented with an excellent use of diaries, letters, etc. The material is presented both chronologically as well as thematically. Well worth the time.

[Richard Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable and well researched biography - it's probably got all you might need to know about an interesting figure although the other biographies of him are equally worth reading to get a rounded picture.

[Jeannine wakefield · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting. Queen hated her own son and couldn't stand the sight of him after Prince Albert died. He had a horrible childhood.

[Sole · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good, only a bit too gossipy at times and yet to focused in facts at another times. It seemed like the author couldn't make up his mind about te kind of book he was writting I guess.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, slow at times