Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch

by Sally Bedell Smith
Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch cover
Good Books rating 4.25
Biography and Memoir
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Paperback • £14.99
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  • ID: 156
  • Added: 2025-09-03
  • Updated: 2025-09-10
  • ISBN: 9781400067893
  • Publisher: Random House Incorporated
  • Published: 2012-01-01
  • Formats: 33
  • Reviews: 3

A tribute to the life and enduring reign of Elizabeth II draws on numerous interviews and previously undisclosed documents to juxtapose the queen's public and private lives, providing coverage of such topics as her teen romance with Philip, her contributions during World War II and the scandals that have challenged her family. (This book was previously listed in Forecast.)

Reviews
Confessions of a Book Addict · 2025-09-03
engaging 4.25

A fascinating, though sometimes lengthy, audiobook ideal for monarchy enthusiasts and fans of The Crown, highlighting the Queen's enduring grace, resilience, and unique personal stories.

This reviewer enjoyed the comprehensive chronological coverage of Elizabeth II’s life, praising the detailed portrayal of her relationships, historical context, and personal qualities such as bravery and dignity. They were particularly struck by the Queen’s calm and composed response to extraordinary situations, including a palace break-in, and appreciated the inclusion of personal details like her fashion and love of horses, making the biography engaging for both royal fans and casual listeners.

Quick quotes

    Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch is a festinating, albeit lengthy at times, audio book for true fans of the monarchy.

    She always carried herself with such grace and dignity.

    Some occurrences in her life were seriously stranger than fiction, such as the person who broke into her room in the palace.

Kirkus Reviews · 2025-09-03
insightful 4.00

A meticulously detailed portrait that balances admiration with critical insights, revealing the Queen’s humanity beneath royal duties and highlighting family dramas and palace intrigue.

The reviewer describes the book as an exhaustively thorough biography that reveals the Queen as a real person beyond the pomp, with duties that define her identity. Although it includes detailed protocol explanations that some may find excessive, it provides plenty of palace drama and an insightful portrayal of Elizabeth as the resilient, stable center of the monarchy through decades of change and turmoil, including complex family relationships and scandals.

Quick quotes

    God save the Queen. She is a human being, and an extraordinary one at that.

    Elizabeth’s position, and her duty to uphold its honor, is who she is at her core—Queen and country always come before wife and mother.

    Elizabeth rarely makes a misstep, remaining the solid center that keeps the monarchy standing.

Goodreads · 2025-09-03
respectful 4.50

The biography offers a detailed and respectful portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, highlighting her grace in handling both personal and public challenges and the delicate balance she maintains between openness and royal mystery.

This review appreciates how the book provides an in-depth look at Queen Elizabeth II’s life and reign, particularly emphasizing her grace and dignity amidst trials, including family frustrations and public scrutiny. The reviewer found it enlightening, especially as someone not deeply familiar with the royal family, gaining a new respect for the Queen and insight into the complexities of monarchy and historical events from a fresh perspective.

Quick quotes

    See the trials she endured, and watch as she handles it all with grace- both the good and the bad.

    She’s represented the monarchy with grace and dignity.

    This is a very in depth look at Queen Elizabeth’s life, giving readers a rare glimpse of how fragile the line is between the desire for openness and the need for retaining a certain air of mystery.

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