Elizabeth the Queen

The Life of a Modern Monarch

By: Sally Bedell Smith

Narrated by: Rosalyn Landor

Length: 21 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best-seller.

Perfect for fans of The Crown, this magisterial biography of Queen Elizabeth II is a close-up view of the woman we’ve known only from a distance - and a captivating window into the last great monarchy.

From the moment of her ascension to the throne in 1952 at the age of twenty-five, Queen Elizabeth II has been the object of unparalleled scrutiny. But through the fog of glamour and gossip, how well do we really know the world’s most famous monarch? Drawing on numerous interviews and never-before-revealed documents, acclaimed biographer Sally Bedell Smith pulls back the curtain to show in intimate detail the public and private lives of Queen Elizabeth II, who has led her country and Commonwealth through the wars and upheavals of the last sixty years with unparalleled composure, intelligence, and grace.

In Elizabeth the Queen, we meet the young girl who suddenly becomes “heiress presumptive” when her uncle abdicates the throne. We meet the thirteen-year-old Lilibet as she falls in love with a young navy cadet named Philip and becomes determined to marry him, even though her parents prefer wealthier English aristocrats. We see the teenage Lilibet repairing army trucks during World War II and standing with Winston Churchill on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on V-E Day. We see the young Queen struggling to balance the demands of her job with her role as the mother of two young children. Sally Bedell Smith brings us inside the palace doors and into the Queen’s daily routines - the “red boxes” of documents she reviews each day, the weekly meetings she has had with twelve prime ministers, her physically demanding tours abroad, and the constant scrutiny of the press - as well as her personal relationships: with Prince Philip, her husband of sixty-four years and the love of her life; her children and their often-disastrous marriages; her grandchildren and friends.

Praise for Elizabeth the Queen:

“An excellent, all-embracing new biography.” (The New York Times)

“[An] imposing, yet nimbly written, biography [that] dwarfs the field...a most satisfying and enjoyable read, one to be savored at length.” (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

“Fascinating.... After sixty years on the throne, the monarch of Britain is better known for her poker face than for sly wit or easy charm. Yet in biographer Sally Bedell Smith’s Elizabeth the Queen, Her Majesty sparkles with both.” (More)

“[A] smart and satisfying book.” (Los Angeles Times)

©2011 Sally Bedell Smith (P)2011 Random House Audio

Superbly written

Fantastic research as expected because it’s SBS, wonderfully written and fairly current. A MUST for the interested!

A look at Elizabeth the Queen.

This book looked at the highs and lows of a woman of great service and love to her country and family. An incredible person living and amazing life. A beacon of history. A true Queen.

Interesting and enjoyable to listen to

It was good coverage of Queen Elizabeth. It was a times rather biased against Diana but it’s interesting to hear that point of view. Very relaxing to listen to this narrator.

An Enchanted Life of a Queen and Duty

If you could sum up Elizabeth the Queen in three words, what would they be?

Duty, Motherhood, and Love of Country

Who was your favorite character and why?

Elizabeth the Queen of course!

What does Rosalyn Landor bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She brought compassion, reality and an incredible sense of personal knowlwedge and intimacy of a woman who will be remembered for generations.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The description of Elizabeth's relationship with her Father and losing him so young and being thrust into a role she may not have been quite ready for.

Any additional comments?

I would definately and likely be reading this again.

I love the book. I enjoy being read to .

I love this book. I love the ideal being read to since my eyes won't allow me to read very long.

God Bless Queen

Wonderfully entertaining! Much of information wasn't new but presented in such a way as to make it more human. Learned some things new which was a surprise. What a remarkable lady Queen Elizabeth. I recommend this book for a refreshing look at her life.

Amazing

What a treat this book was. I kept walking just to hear more of it. Loved every chapter. The narrator was perfect as well!

The Crown

Loved it! Very thorough history. Very long book with lots of interesting facts. Well worth listening to.

Yawn

The book is interesting but the narration is so boring and uninteresting. She just drolls on and sounds so dull.

Fascinating!

I am a fan of British history going back centuries, and was not sure if I would enjoy this more contemporary biography. But, it did not disappoint. It was well written; seemed to follow history accurately, and the author did not take sides on the issues, just recorded them.