George V
Never a Dull Moment
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- $18.99
Publisher Description
The prequel to The Crown: the first truly candid portrait of George V and Mary, the Queen's grandparents and creators of the modern monarchy
Shortlisted for the Elizabeth Longford Historical Biography prize and the History Reclaimed Book of the Year prize
The lasting reputation of George V is for dullness. However throughout his reign, the monarch navigated a constitutional crisis, the First World War, the fall of thirteen European monarchies and the rise of Bolshevism. The suffragette Emily Davison threw herself under his horse at the Derby, he refused asylum to his cousin the Tsar Nicholas II and he facilitated the first Labour government.
How this supposedly limited man steered the Crown through so many perils is a gripping tale. With unprecedented access to the Royal archives, Jane Ridley has been able to reassess the many myths associated with this dramatic period for the first time.
'Wonderful... Never a dull paragraph' Ysenda Maxtone Graham, The Times
'Magnificent... An evocative and touching portrait of a surprisingly impressive man' Philip Hensher, Spectator
'A big, beautiful beast of a book. Fair, thorough and unexpectedly funny' Lucy Worsley
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Biographer Ridley (The Heir Apparent) delivers a richly detailed yet somewhat ponderous portrait of King George V (1865–1936). Focusing more on the era than the monarch, Ridley delves into world events including the Irish Home Rule crisis, the 1917 Russian Revolution, and the rapidly deteriorating geopolitical situation that resulted in WWI. She claims that George took to heart journalist Walter Bagehot's dictum that the sovereign of a constitutional monarchy "possessed three rights: the right to be consulted, the right to encourage and the right to warn," and limited his wartime duties to "troop inspections, hospital visits, factory visits and medal pinning"—mundane yet important work that helped make the monarchy "seem more accessible than ever before." The narrative picks up when Ridley's focus shifts to supporting players, including Queen Mary, who is brought to vivid life as her tepid romance with George evolves into "a true partnership and a strong marriage." Though Ridley's expert understanding of the era's political and cultural tumults shines through, it's not enough to lift this biography above its admirable yet bland subject. Readers will agree with George V's assistant private secretary that he was "dull, beyond dispute."
