Sally Bedell SmithAnmeldelser

So Prince Charles turns out to be a complicated man. By turns sad, morose, furious, lashing out, unsure of himself, taking on causes and doing good work, foisting ill-informed opinions on everything you can think of, etc., etc. He nearly wore me out in this book alone, which makes as good a story out of all those bits as possible. But I stand by my long-held conviction that there are quite a few people in the royal family who sure as heck need a JOB.

Very well researched but quite dull.

70 years after the death of George VI comes a biography of his marriage to the former Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. "Bertie" and Elizabeth became symbols of hope during the dark days of WWII, and their example set the stage for the longest reign in British history, that of their daughter Elizabeth II. Their unexpected rise to the roles of King and Queen, caused by the abdication of Edward VIII, saw them meet the challenge head on and win their way into the people's hearts.

This book is extremely readable. I have no problems giving this a 5-star rating. It deserves it and much more.

Enjoyable but wordy

I was so excited to read this biography of Queen Elizabeth II. I am glad I stuck with it but it could have been written in a more interesting and appealing manner. It read like a dot journal or an itinerary. Also, the author used uncommon and pretentious vocabulary. It was unnecessary and just served to make the reader have to stop and look up definitions. It was unnecessary.

large print edition

The author is completely star struck. All of her sources are named and, perhaps unsurprisingly, they too are worshipful. I thought this would be an interesting story, but the lack of even an inkling of criticism washes most of that interest away.

I really enjoyed this book despite is overwhelming size. I honestly though I would get bored halfway through but I didn't- in fact it just kept getting better.

The Monarchy and the Queen have always been fascination of mine and this book went nicely, probably because it was written in a good light. I find Elizabeth II fascinating and an role model for her faith, courage and strength. No one is perfect and it seemed as though this book tried to showcase a little of it.

The only part I found surprising was seeing Diana in a bad light. This book was not partial to her at all.

A clunker of a book, with over 500 pages of dining, whining, partying, complaining, inability to stay on one path -- Prince Charles of England

I thought some of the book was noteworthy, and I learned a lot about the authors perception of British politics, there was a lot of rambling, title changing, and down-right disdain of Diana, Charles ill fated marriage to a woman much younger, much more spontaneous and loving abilities that Charles clearly lacked.

Camilla Parker Bowles was a meddler. As Diana noted, "There were three of us in the marriage; it got quite crowded."

Camilla learned the nuances of Charles', she knew he needed to be first. Unlike Diana who had a bright-star personality, Camilla is very content to garden, look at books of fabric swatches, and listen, listen to this ever whining personality.

Newspapers reported that Charles needy personality was off scale. People knew he had a self centeredness that would hinder his ability to lead the nation.

Much of the book revolved around the love between Camilla and Charles. When they married, they knew each other well, they were both in their 50's when they married, and Camilla was very pleased to simply hold his hand and listen to him.

I found it interesting that he started many projects and renovations of historical buildings, only to not follow through.

Sadly, he even remarked that there were too many photo opportunities for son William and wife Kate Middleton.

Charles is a sad man. Hopefully, he will not inherit the throne.

This was somewhat boring. The author is bizarre and uses a lot of sexism to define Diana and racism in how the Prince of Wales interacts with POC. Its cringeworthy.
Charles has a lot of racist liberal tendencies. He thinks that 'primitive' people, POC, who practice their traditional religions instead of Christianity or Islam are more spiritual than 'modern' also known as white men. It's cringeworthy and probably shouldn't be in print. His fascination with traditional medicine is made much of in the book but again is par for the course in this cringeworthy narrative. Modern medicine has incorporated many aspects of so called traditional medicine, those that are found scientifically to work. The authors discussion of traditional medicine as practiced amongst people of color is just chock full dog whistle and colonial racism. This is published much too recently to not simply be a reflection of the authors own racism and internalized sexism.
Also the author hates Diana. I am not a huge Diana supporter

This book proves once again that the grass is not necessarily greener on the other side of the railroad tracks. And it makes me thankful that the American Founding Fathers had the foresight to bar official recognition of nobility.

5613. Reflected Glory The Life of Pamela Churchill Harriman, by Sally Bedell Smith (read 17 Feb 2019) This very detailed and well-researched biography of a fascinating woman was published in 1996, the year Pamela died. She was born 20 March 1920 in England, her father shortly after her birth became the 11th Baron Digby. In October of 1939 Pamela married Randolph Churchill, Winston Churchill's son and on October 10, 1940 Pamela's only child,(named Winston Churchill,) was born. In 1942 Pamela and Randolph were divorced and after various affairs on May 4, 1960, Pamela married Leland Hayward, and after Hayward's prior marriage was annulled Pamela and Hayward were married in a Catholic ceremony. Hayward died March 18, 1971, Pamela had had an affair with Averell Harriman during the war and on Sept 27, 1971, she and Harriman were married in St Thomas More Catholic Church in New York. She was 51 and he was 79. He died in 1986 and in 1993 she became the U.S. Ambassador to France. She died in Paris on Feb 5, 1997. All of her affairs and quarrels are set out in the book in vivid detail--one is amazed by how much is set out in the book. Some is not too interesting but much is. Amazingly, she worked very hard to be a good Ambassador and did not do too bad, despite her lack of brainpower and training in diplomacy. Harriman was of a wealthy family and was kind of stingy but she got most of his money when he died and spent it as fast as she could--I was unimpressed by her extravagant and wasteful life style. The book has source notes and a good bibliography and an index. It is a well put together book.

I loved this book. It gave me a whole new look on the Queen as well as her son Charles. This really is a great book. If you want to learn more about the Queen from more than just news sources this is great book to find out more.

This is not great literature by any means, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's not terribly thought-provoking, but perfect for summer: a non-fiction beach read. It is very pro-monarchy, pro-Elizabeth, and not a little anti-Diana, so if any of those things will bother you I would stay far far away. But if you can let your republican tendencies go for a bit, this is an entertaining and ultimately touching portrait of a mostly unknowable woman.

This book is a very comprehensive biography about the life of Prince Charles. There is so much more to him than the average person sees on the surface. Sally Bedell Smith provides the reader with an insight on just who he is – not on the public face that most of us here in the United States see on television or in our newspaper.

The Prince is a very complex person. It is interesting to learn how his early life shaped his personality and to see how he can wallow in self-pity one day and throw himself head first into a cause that he feels strongly about on the next. He walks a fine line with his public stance on political issues as that is not in keeping with the role of the monarchy.

No book on the monarchy, especially one devoted to the Prince of Wales, would be complete without touching on his marriage to Diana. This book covers the subject well. Of course, his relationship and marriage to Camilla is also carefully explored.

I appreciate the author’s inclusion of information related to succession to the throne. It explains the chain of hierarchy and the complications if the role is passed through any reason other than the reigning monarch’s death.

I received an Advance Reader’s Copy from the publisher in a giveaway. I am not required to write a positive review, or even write a review at all. However, this book is well worth the read for anyone with an interest in Prince Charles or the Royal Family.

This is a very thorough biography. I felt there were many many parts that were boring sprinkled with a few interesting events. There is too much time spent on describing clothing, flowers, table arrangements, and interior design. There is little criticism of the queen and a lot of criticism of everyone around her. This may be just. I am not educated on the Windsors enough to say. I did not get a real sense of the marriage between The Queen and Prince Philip, and really it was hard to get a real sense of what the queen is like out of the public eye. I wanted to like this but much of it could have been shortened.

An overly long & pretty much fawning biography of Queen Elizabeth II. This book needed a good editor.

Biografie Prins Charles

I'll admit I'm fascinated with all things English Royal Family, so I began reading already knowing I'd rate it 5 stars. What a fantastic, well written book. The private Prince Of Wales is vastly different from the public Prince Of Wales (duh) but what I really liked about this book is while the author strips off the veneer she doesn't judge. She lays everything out, warts and all, but doesn't offer any opinion as to how we should view or treat the Prince. Some things aren't pretty, but Bedell-Smith doesn't pass any judgement on character. I knew I liked the Prince, but after reading this book I really like him. He's so quaint, traditional, and formal I want to be like him. I admire his refusal to adapt despite his views, lifestyle, and attitude being stuck in the past. Good for him. It does cause him to be petty, pedantic, inflexible, and even mean, but at the same time he sticks to his ideals and doesn't waver. He has a vision of what a Prince Of Wales and king should be, and if it causes him to be unpopular so be it. On a simpler level I've re-committed to keeping up on my written correspondence, and I'm inspired to take up drawing and possibly watercolor painting. And long walks in the garden. You go, Charles.

I didn't learn much that I didn't already know, but I did get a better sense of just how hard he works. I think Smith paints what is probably a fairly realistic picture of the true prince. He is, like all of us, a mixture of good and not-so-good, mellowing with age. I learned about many projects that he has championed over the years and can appreciate the struggles he has had becoming a more modern member of the royal family.

Prince Charles: The Passions and Paradoxes of an Improbable Life by Sally Bedell Smith is a comprehensive biography of the Prince and heir to the throne. If he succeeds to the throne he will be the oldest ever to assume it. This biography devotes much coverage to the Prince's charity efforts which I found boring. In fact this Prince Charles comes off as boring. I prefered the parts that talked about Charles' private life much of which we know from the years of news. But it was fun. Would I run out to buy this biography? NO but I did finish it which says something about the book.

This book was sent to me by the publisher Random House via NetGalley. Thank you.

The latest biography of Prince Charles is a balanced and sympathetic work by the biographer of the Princess of Wales and Queen Elizabeth II. She acknowledges the good Charles has done, but also does not play down his missteps and there have been many in his life.

Charles was raised very differently than Elizabeth II. While she had a loving, carefree family environment until the age of ten when her parents had to assume the throne, Charles was three when his mother became queen. The 27 year old queen was a monarch who took her duties very seriously so she and Prince Philip traveled the world in her capacity as head of the Commonwealth. Charles and Anne were left behind in the care of nannies and the Queen Mother who gave him the hands-on affection children crave. If Charles was the first heir to attend school rather than be taught by governesses and tutors, the schools, from day school in London to Gordonstoun to Trinity College Cambridge, had to deal with the heir for the first time. It did not make for a fulfilling time for Charles where he could not be treated just as another student. He had body guards and special foods; students were either in awe or dared to bully him. Even university was not memorable; he made lifelong friendships with his tutors, but not with his contemporaries. The 60’s were tumultuous and Charles was a traditionalist. He had nothing in common with the long-haired protesting demonstrators.

Of course, a great part of the book concerns his disastrous marriage to Diana Spencer. Why he would propose to a girl he had been alone with a mere twelve times, was twelve years younger than he was, was unintellectual with a minimum education, remains a puzzle. Smith suggests that he felt pressured into getting married and needed a suitable unspoiled female. Even while he had doubts, the press train was chugging down the tracks and he could not back out without damage to his reputation and even more interestingly, to the hapless Diana’s. Even Prince Philip cautioned that Diana’s reputation would be in shatters if Charles broke the engagement. So the tragedy unfolded with everyone scarred.

Smith examines his long time love affair and marriage to Camilla Parker-Bowles. How different the history of the monarchy have been if he had married this funny, caring woman instead of the fragile Princess of Wales. She dicusses his relationship with his children and the irony that when he was married to their mother, Diana overshadowed him and now William and his family are doing the same thing.

But the Charles in this biography, with all his baggage, is a very capable, astute, person. His many charities have benefited the underdog, especially the Prince’s Trust which gave seed money to disadvantaged young people who set up their own businesses. So many were helped with very little publicity. Charles sponsored everything from small farmers in Scotland to saving traditional villages in Romania and gave more than just his name to the cause. He worked one-on-one with the administrators to achieve the best results for the price. A few times a charity might not succeed, but most times it did.

So many of his ideas when he first mentioned them were laughed at by the experts. But today organic farming is an accepted alternative to using chemicals and his view on the environment/global warming is the norm. If his antipathy to modernist architecture has not changed and probably never will, he has had an influence on town planners to make new developments more “liveable”. Still, Smith discusses the controversies, especially his opposition and even interference with architectural firms who are changing the skyscape of London. He has been unsuccessful in getting the National Heath to include homeopathic medicine as an option to traditional care.

Charles is a complicated, charming, and prickly man. Sometimes he is too hands-on and sometimes his insecurities make him lash out. He has been described as an 18th century man out of his time. Smith does him justice in her biography, showing his attributes and not shying away from his flaws.

Extremely long--could have been much shorter. Interesting insights into someone who could never end his career. Answered many of my questions about the 20th Century society.

This is not great literature by any means, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's not terribly thought-provoking, but perfect for summer: a non-fiction beach read. It is very pro-monarchy, pro-Elizabeth, and not a little anti-Diana, so if any of those things will bother you I would stay far far away. But if you can let your republican tendencies go for a bit, this is an entertaining and ultimately touching portrait of a mostly unknowable woman.

Long read, but then she's lived a long life! While not an official biography, but lots of help getting it written. Very interesting read, learned a lot of history.

This biography is very interesting to me, her childhood or lack of it and her stoic behavior through her lifetime is very interesting to me to read about.