Now that we are a year past King Charles III’s coronation in May 2023, it does seem like we can start to reflect on Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. (That’s always the question, isn’t it- when does something become history?) Obviously we have looked at her reign thoroughly but now that it is over, we can start to assess it differently. Alexander Larman’s trio of books covers all of the Windsors throughout the twentieth century starting The Crown in Crisis and following with The Windsors at War. For this week’s Book Bite is all about Power and Glory by Alexander Larman.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Power and Glory: Elizabeth II and the Rebirth of Royalty, Alexander Larman
The completion of Alexander Larman’s trilogy about the Windsors chronicling Queen Elizabeth II’s ascension to the throne.When the Royal Family took to the balcony of Buckingham Palace on VE Day in 1945, they knew that the happiness and excitement of the day was illusory. Britain may have been victorious in a painful war, but the peace would be no easier. Between the abdication crisis, the death of King George VI, and the ascension of young Elizabeth II to the throne, the continued existence of the monarchy seemed uncertain. By the time of Elizabeth’s coronation, however, a sense of stability had returned to the country. Churchill was once again Prime Minister, and would become as vital a mentor to the young queen as he was to her father. The world had seen the founding of the UN as well as the rebuilding of Europe. Still, the question of whether or not Elizabeth could succeed and make the monarchy something that once again inspired international pride and, even, love remained.
In Power and Glory, Alexander Larman completes his acclaimed Windsor family trilogy. He uses rare and previously unseen documents to illuminate their unique family dynamic. Through his chronicling of events like the Royal Wedding, George VI’s death, the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, and the discovery of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor’s treacherous activities in WWII, Larman paints a portrait of the end of one sovereign’s reign and the beginning of another’s that heralded a new Elizabethan Age which would bring power and glory back to the monarchy.
Why You Should Read This…
Larman’s books are always interesting, and Power and Glory is no exception. This is a spanning look at George VI’s final years and how his eldest daughter was able to firmly establish herself and the monarchy.
Larman’s books are for the general population; you do not need to have any in-depth information about the monarchy to enjoy this. A lot of people are interested in the monarchy but not in a “I want to know every tiny little detail about why they do what they do and when they starting do it that way” type of way, and this book gives a great introduction to the New Elizabethan Age that any reader can enjoy. This is a biography rather than a history book, but I find that makes it much more approachable.
I think that Power and Glory’s biggest strength is its breadth. Not only are we spending time with the ailing George VI and his successor, Elizabeth II, we also get to see more of the Duke of Windsor. Edward and Wallis’ story often gets separated out but it is very much intertwined.
Is Power and Glory by Alexander Larman on your to-read list?
Cheers,
The Historian
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