With the death/end of a royal generation, we always see a proliferation of biographies and books on the previous generation. So, with Queen Elizabeth II’s death, we are starting to see more books about her parents’ generation. (The veil lifts with time… etc.) Yes, there were books on George VI and the Queen Mother prior to this, but we are seeing many more now. And this joint biography is no exception! Today I am chatting about George VI and Elizabeth by Sally Bedell Smith!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
George VI and Elizabeth: The Marriage That Saved the Monarchy, Sally Bedell Smith
Granted special access by Queen Elizabeth II to her parents’ letters and diaries and to the papers of their close friends and family, Sally Bedell Smith brings the love story of this iconic royal couple to vibrant life. This deeply researched and revealing book shows how a loving and devoted marriage helped the King and Queen meet the challenges of World War II, lead a nation, solidify the public’s faith in the monarchy, and raise their daughters, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret.
When King Edward VIII abdicated the throne in 1936, shattering the crown’s reputation, his younger brother, known as Bertie, assumed his father’s name and became King George VI. Shy, sensitive, and afflicted with a stutter, George VI had never imagined that he would become King. His wife Elizabeth, a pretty, confident, and outgoing woman who became known later in life as “the Queen Mum,” strengthened and advised her husband. With his wife’s support, guidance, and love, George VI was able to overcome his insecurities and become an exceptional leader, navigating the country through World War II, establishing a relationship with Winston Churchill, visiting Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt in Washington and in Hyde Park, and inspiring the British people with his courage and compassion during the blitz. Simultaneously, George VI and Elizabeth raised their daughter Princess Elizabeth, who spent her childhood watching and learning from her parents to become the future queen. She fell in love with Prince Philip at thirteen.
Why You Should Read This…
Sally Bedell Smith’s biographies are fairly well-known. They are thorough and well-researched and provide a well-rounded story. In this biography, we largely jump in at the stage of Bertie and Elizabeth’s courtship and move forward from there. (We do get a bit of their childhoods, but only snippets.) Bedell Smith balances between Bertie and Elizabeth easily, as well as bringing in other key players of the story. And while this is quite a hefty book, much of it is notes and indexing, and it moves along very quickly.
I will say, if you’ve read anything about Bertie or Elizabeth, there is not a ton of new information here. Bedell Smith was given access to the Royal Archives to research this biography, but so much is already known about their courtship and marriage. (Most royal watchers I engage know that Bertie had to propose three times, for example.) If you are “newer” to that generation, this is a great book to pick up, though.
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Is George VI and Elizabeth by Sally Bedell Smith on your to-read list?
Cheers,
The Historian
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