I will say, The Crown holds a particular space in my head. It was the first “big” Netflix show for me- the one where I avidly watched for news and waited for release dates. As an historian who studies the history of modern monarchy, I am always interested to see what creatives do with these very interesting and oftentimes dramatic people. And The Crown does not disappoint on the drama front. However, they do play fast and loose with the history. (Which I am okay with but also like to see the history being discussed.) Enter my Book Bite for this week: The Royal Family vs ‘The Crown’ by Catherine Curzon!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Royal Family vs ‘The Crown’: Separating Fact from Fiction, Catherine Curzon
For six seasons, royal watchers across the globe have been hooked on Netflix’s smash-hit factual drama, The Crown. Over sixty episodes, multiple casts and headline-grabbing storylines, The Crown has promised to throw open the closed doors of Britain’s palaces to reveal the deepest secrets of the House of Windsor. From the last days of George VI to the accession of Queen Elizabeth II and into the twenty-first century, it has told the story of the monarchy in an ever-changing and turbulent world.
The Royal Family vs ‘The Crown’ turns the spotlight on the glittering Netflix series and lays bare what’s fact and what is very definitely fiction. Season by season, episode by episode, The Royal Family vs ‘The Crown’ digs deep into history to examine the plots, the trivia and the characters who have stepped out of the throne room and into the living room, telling the real stories behind the drama that has thrilled and scandalised audiences worldwide. From the abdication of a king to Princess Diana’s infamous Panorama interview, the marriage of Charles and Camilla and everything in between, this is your indispensable guide to the true stories behind the streaming phenomenon.
Why You Should Read This…
It is safe to say, I loved this book! It is short and moves along at a good pace, but also covers many major and minor (but very interesting) moments in the royal family’s history.
The book methodically goes episode by episode, which I think will very much appeal to fans of the show. Curzon tackles the major plot-points of each episode, such as the fog in S1E4, as well as the running themes throughout the seasons.
While it may not be anything massively new to those familiar with the history behind the show, it is still very interesting. I found that while reading it, I noticed/remembered more from the show that I did not see when watching it at release time. (I’ve watched the first three seasons multiple times but I’ve only seen the last three once- they did not grab me in the same way.) It is extremely well-written and well-researched (as all of her books are), and it moves along at a good pace.
Curzon lays out at the beginning that she is not fact-checking on things like orders and jewellery. However, she absolutely is able to “correct” several smaller details throughout, which I also loved.
One of my favourite quotes is from the first episode discussion (own bolding):
“The first episode of the first season of The Crown has got a whole lot to pack in and, as we’ll increasingly find as the seasons pass, it concerns itself largely with male stories.” (This is why I think it is so important to continue to prioritise women’s history!)
Is The Royal Family vs ‘The Crown’ by Catherine Curzon on your to-read list?
Cheers,
The Historian
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