Royal Book Challenge: Happy and Glorious! by Marion Crawford

28/500
Happy and glorious! by Marion Crawford
Published 1953
93 Pages
ASIN: B001GF6UM0

Nowadays, it is very rare for me to walk into a used bookstore and find a book about the royal family that I do not already own. So when I came upon Happy and Glorious! I was delighted. Having enjoyed Marion Crawford's previous publication The Little Princesses, I was thoroughly looking forward to reading this as well.

Marion Crawford was the Queen and Princess Margaret's governess for seventeen years. When she wrote The Little Princesses, the royal family saw this, understandably, as a betrayal. Having become a pariah, Crawford had nothing to lose by milking her royal connection. Not that she offers any dirty secrets. The appeal of Happy and Glorious! is that it is written by someone who holds affection for the Queen, offering a true insight into the character in a respectful, informative and insightful way.

© Marilyn Braun 2012

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Royal Book Challenge: Princess by Robert Lacey

27/500
Princess by Robert Lacey
Published 1982
128 Pages
ISBN: 978-0812963298

 Princess by Robert Lacey covers the period from Diana's engagement to the early months of her pregnancy with Prince William. Much like other books, it contains typical photographs of Diana at her loveliest, showing her burgeoning sense of style. The photographs offer few hints of the glamorous princess she would become. Nor do they offer any clues to the marital and personal troubles behind the smiles.

Many comparisons have been made between Catherine and Diana in terms of how they have adapted to royal life. The text offers some striking similarities between the two women. Notably Mr Lacey questions the adulation heaped upon Diana for doing nothing more than marrying into the royal family. By that point she had said and done very little of substance to warrant it. One passage about Diana is just applicable to Kate 30 years later.

'Our admiration, of course, derives from other things: her freshness, her royal status, the yet more royal status awaiting her in the future, her youth, her beauty - and her dress sense. She looks like a princess, groomed, elegant and clad in garments which are familiar to any woman but which, somehow have been dusted with an extra glamour..'

Mr Lacey offers a nice portrait of a princess on the verge of something greater. Given all of the troubles that would occur later, it's nice to read about a more innocent, younger Diana, with a glittering future in front of her.

© Marilyn Braun 2012

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Royal Book Challenge: Rose: My Life in Service to Lady Astor by Rosina Harrison

26/500

Rose: My Life in Service to Lady Astor by Rosina Harrison
Originally published in 1975
368 Pages
ISBN: 9780143120865

Capitalizing on the success of the television series Downton Abbey, publishers are rushing to release books about the lives of servants in Edwardian times. Rose: My Life in Service to Lady Astor by Rosina Harrison, is one of them. 

Rosina (Rose) Harrison was born in Yorkshire with a desire to see the world. Destined to a life of service, she became a lady's maid, joining the service of Lady Astor in 1925.There she would remain for the next 35 years, until her ladyship's death. 

Lady Astor was one of the most interesting women of her time, being the first woman to take a seat as a Member of Parliament. This book does not give an idea of just how remarkable Lady Astor was because that side of her is barely depicted. Instead Rose focuses on her experience as Lady Astor's dresser for some of these important events. Though Rose obviously holds affection for her, Lady Astor could be a demanding and mercurial employer.

While it's interesting to read, at first, there's a repetitiveness to this memoir. Rose travelled all over the world with Lady Astor, resulting in endless rounds of packing and unpacking. Rose experiences stresses with Lady Astor's jewels and grumbles about travelling about too many of Lady Astor's hats. She does not glamorize her work but it is difficult to gain any insight into the experiences of a true Edwardian servant, who were not nearly as fortunate in the positions they held.

Other than Rose being on the receiving end of 'Shut up, Rose' from Lady Astor on more than one occasion, there's little conflict between the two. The description reads that Lady Astor has 'met her match', but any battle of the wills is anticlimactic at best.

Although Rose does not come across as a prude,  towards the end she opines on religion, raising children, alcohol and the excesses of wealth, offering nothing controversial or juicy in the process. If you want to get an idea of the experience of a servant who travelled the world first class, packing and unpacking clothing, with a wry observation thrown in for good measure, then this book is for you.

© Marilyn Braun 2012

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Royal Book Challenge: Elizabeth: Reigning in Style by Jane Eastoe

25/500
Elizabeth: Reigning in Style by Jane Eastoe
Published 2012
112 Pages
ISBN: 978-1862059481

As mentioned in a previous post about Robert Lacey's new book, A Queen a Life in Brief, I am concerned that there will be nothing new to add about the Queen's life once she heads to that great, palace in the sky.

In this respect, Elizabeth: Reigning in Style stands out. While she was beautiful  and stylish when younger, referring to the Queen has a fashion icon stretches it - in my opinion. If anything, the author at least offers a (somewhat) new perspective on her life. We may not know her true opinion on politics or anything else for that matter, but at least we now know who designed her clothing and footwear and who is responsible for some of the atrocious hats she has worn throughout her life.

© Marilyn Braun 2012

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Royal Book Challenge: The Queen: A Life in Brief by Robert Lacey

24/500
The Queen: A Life in Brief by Robert Lacey
Published 2012
166 Pages
ISBN: 9780062124463

In the introduction, noted author  Robert Lacey writes, 'this little book is intended to distill and reshape what I've learned into one pleasant afternoon's reading.'

And so it does. Even if it took me more than an afternoon to read it.

Despite being written by the well respected and noted royal historian Robert Lacey, I was skeptical. Could a book about the Queen, the second longest serving monarch in British history, ever be brief yet do justice to her at the same time? With book-a-zines, documentaries and a dozen or more new books attempting to offer fresh perspectives on Queen Elizabeth's life and reign, The Queen: A Life in Brief, is just another book amongst them.

So far, none have offered any new insights or revelations that haven't already been published before. This book breaks no ground in this respect either. It just offers the Queen's life story in a more condensed fashion. Which is very appealing considering the weighty, repetitive books competing with it.

The amount of releases marking her Diamond Jubilee makes me wonder whether there will be anything new left to say when she dies. Other than updating these publications with the date of her death, my prediction is that there won't.

© Marilyn Braun 2012

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Royal Book Challenge: Marrying Up by Wendy Holden

23/500

Marrying Up by Wendy Holden
Published 2012
384 Pages
ISBN: 0755342631

Marrying Up revolves around the destinies of three women, Polly, an archaeologist, the beautiful but clueless Lady Florence (Florrie) Trevorigus-Whyske-Cleethorpe and Allison Donald, who will do anything to become rich, famous and marry well. Including changing everything from her name to her appearance.

Allison Donald, who changes her name to Alexa MacDonald, will do anything to marry well. Love is a secondary consideration to titles and money. Accompanied by her equally ambitious and irrepressible sidekick, Barney van Hoosier, from auctions to funerals, no opportunity to find a titled and wealthy husband is passed up. Her scheming becomes so pathetic, it's a cautionary tale in the making.

Polly is the opposite, an accomplished archaeologist with a broken heart, marrying well is not on her radar when she falls in love with Max, a veterinarian and unbeknownst to her, Crown Prince of Sedona. A reluctant royal, Max must leave Polly behind in England, and return to Sedona to marry and secure the royal line. Unaware of his destiny, Polly finds out he's a prince and goes to find him, for entirely different reasons than Alexa.

Lady Florrie is a clueless yet stunningly beautiful aristocrat whirling from one party to another, her ambitious mother Lady Annabel schemes to have her daughter marry into the royal family. Polly, Alexa and Lady Florrie, eventually end up in Sedona, two as potential brides for Prince Max.

Marrying Up has several unexpected plot turns. At times in it's a bit heavy handed with the royal title satire: Ancient Order of the Norwegian Reindeer Smokers, Royal Swedish Order of the Golden Cod, (OK I get it, the titles are ridiculous) it is otherwise a fun read.

© Marilyn Braun 2012

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.