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The Queen
- Narrated by: Andrew Morton, Judy Bennett
- Length: 14 hrs and 18 mins
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The Queen
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Summary
In this entertaining and insightful biography, award-winning writer Andrew Morton, author of Diana, Her True Story and Elizabeth & Margaret: The Intimate World of the Windsor Sisters, takes you behind the scenes to uncover the woman and her world.
For years she prayed for her mother to give birth to a son. She longed to be spared her destiny as Britain's future Queen. Her dream was to live in the country surrounded by children, dogs and horses.
But Elizabeth did her duty, the young princess pledging before her people that she would dedicate her whole life to the service of Britain and the Commonwealth. She hoped that that day would be a long way off. It was not to be. Only 25 when she became Queen after the premature death of her father, King George Vl, Elizabeth has become the stuff of superlatives: the longest reigning, most travelled and, for a shy woman, the Queen who has shaken more hands and made more small talk than any other monarch in history. She has been seen and believed by millions, either in person, on television or film.
Elizabeth was set firmly on the road to becoming sovereign because of the D word—divorce. In 1936, her uncle David, King Edward VIII, wanted to marry a twice-divorced American, Wallis Simpson. When he couldn't he abdicated. Since that national trauma, divorce and the fall-out from divorce has shaped her reign. She has witnessed her sister Margaret, three of her children and several grandchildren divorce. And she has lived long enough to see the wheel turn full circle, watching as another American divorcee, Meghan Markle, walked down the aisle with her grandson Prince Harry.
While her reign has been defined by divorce, her private life has been moulded by an irascible husband, an extravagant mother and a querulous eldest son. In the winter of her reign she refereed a war between two of her grandsons, brothers William and Harry who were once inseparable friends. As she celebrates her platinum anniversary, the first monarch to reign for 70 years, she has, during a once in a lifetime pandemic, become the reassuring face of hope and optimism, the grandmother to the nation.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- POINT OF VIEW
- 10-12-22
Nothing new
Interesting book, I do remember buying Diana when it was first released and I was quite surprised by her story and felt a lot of sympathy-I listened to this around the time of the jubilee and it was uplifting but nothing I don’t know. I wish it had all been read by Andrew Morton.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Spud
- 27-09-22
Engaging
A very informative book kept me engaged throughout Made even better by the excellent narration of Judy Bennett.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- old hippy
- 26-10-22
A great insight into the life of the queen
I wasn’t sure I’d like this book, but once I started, I couldn’t stop listening. I found it interesting, funny and it has left me feeling more sympathetic towards the monarch. I hope King Charles can carry on Queen Elizabeth’s unwavering dedication to our Country.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Marie M.
- 27-06-22
Interesting, but……
I enjoyed this book, but I wish Mr. Morton had remembered that she is not only ‘ queen of England’.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Peter J Schranz
- 04-07-22
Masterfully written and beautifully narrated.
I loved the detail, chronology and honesty with which Her Majesty's reign is portrayed.
The narrator's wonderful diction made the book very engaging. Thank ýou .
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- Kara Dey
- 27-09-22
Brilliant
Absolutely brilliant book, really well written and beautifully read. So interesting, I would highly recommend.
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- Gill Bray
- 13-02-23
A fresh perspective…
on many familiar stories. So interesting to learn more about the stories which are so familiar but just flat commentary.
I listened to this in one go. Very well read by Judy Bennett.
I now have a lineup of planet characters complete with halos or horns revolving around the HMQ sun.
I would love to know what AM thinks about Harry and Meghan. One of the best biographies I’ve read/ heard.
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- Mrs N Wall
- 22-06-22
Excellent
I wasn’t too sure if I would like this book..I didn’t..I loved it! It was very well written and researched and the narration was superb. I so disappointed to have finished it that I will purchase it in the future to listen to again. I would highly recommend this audio book.
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- Anonymous User
- 01-10-22
Surprisingly good read
I downloaded this book as an anodyne soporific to send back me to sleep in the early hours. It had the opposite effect keeping me awake as I became lost in this familiar story, simultaneously revisiting my own personal history (‘where was I when….’) against the regal background of an ever present Queen through the decades. Well researched and referenced and brilliantly read ( by Shula from The Archers). Of course it’s accuracy is always going to be questionable but a kind and thoughtful biography rather than a boring hagiography
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Mr
- 28-10-22
A competent and comprehensive biography
I don't read many biographies, but I found myself more moved than I expected by the passing of our longest serving sovereign and wanted to know more about her professional and personal life. Morton does a solid job on both scores, combining the major events of her own life, the political context of the reign, and more personal insights into the queen and her family as people. I would however have liked a little more detail about day to day life and protocol in the royal circle, which there isn't much of.
Morton is clearly a monarchist in his sympathies and is on good terms with the family, so if you're looking for devastating revelations - you won't find them here. He is however admirably willing to be frank about the shortcomings of various members of the family and the less admirable decisions that have been made over the years.
It's almost impossible now to visualize just how far away culturally the world in which she was raised was from the world in which she died: and it really is a tribute to little Lillibet Windsor just how well she managed to steer the institution through its many trials and tribulations over the many years of her reign.
The narrator does a very solid job, and sounds exactly right for the material.
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