Nicole G. (nyteacher) reviewed on 3/14/2018 + 152 more book reviews

I learned a lot I did not know about the life of Queen Elizabeth in this book. I walked away with a lot respect for her and the dignity with which she has symbolized an empire for decades. However, I think a lot could have been edited out. I don't need to know in depth details about what was served at events, for example. I also felt it was extremely biased. I understand that a biography is going to primarily give the subjects version of events. But, at times this felt like it was written to promote the queen more than to give an honest account of her life. The portrayal of Princess Diana was particularly harsh. While I understand that she was a flawed person, and the royal family has many reasons to dislike her; Smith almost completely disregarded the reasons that the public loved her and all the good she did. I find it particularly concerning that in this time, an author would essentially blame a person for their mental illness. She didn't need to make Diana out to be a saint, but there were a lot of snide comments about her that were not needed. Despite the flaws, I would still recommend it to anyone who wants to understand how the monarchy works, and the life of Queen Elizabeth II.

Back to all reviews by this member
Back to all reviews of this book
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details