Diamond Queen: Elizabeth II And Her People (2011) - Plot & Excerpts
I enjoyed this book because it is a biography from a different perspective. "Portrait" probably is a better word to describe Marr's work. He places the Queen in personal and political context, explaining her vision of the monarchy and her place in it. This is not a "tell-all" biography and it is not a strictly linear approach. That is what made it enjoyable for me. However, if you are looking for a factual chronology of the Queen's life, you might enjoy this book less than I did. I confess (most probably due to my ignorance of the British political system), I did tend to get lost in some of the details. Well done. Instead of a chronological repetition of already well-known anecdotes of the life of Elizabeth II, Andrew Marr examines various aspects of her life and how each aspect has affected the strength and popularity of the monarchy, for good or ill. Marr occasionally makes editorial comments that are both interesting and clearly identified as being opinion rather than fact. So far, the best of the many new biographies that have sprung up surrounding the Diamond Jubilee.
What do You think about Diamond Queen: Elizabeth II And Her People (2011)?
A very interesting book, and one that was very readable for the amount of information it gave.
—vero
Fascinating. Easy to read and bang up-to-date. I thoroughly enjoyed it
—kkreinest
