Title: The Heir Apparent: A life of Edward VII the Playboy Prince
Author: Jane Ridley
Genre: Nonfiction
Synopsis: A complete biography of King Edward VII of England.
My Thoughts
It has been a while since my last review, so I'm glad to be posting here again in the new year. It actually took me over a month to read this biography of Edward VII. I had been trying to find a novel that featured Edward the VII, or Bertie as he was known by his family and friends, but little is written about him in the fictional world. So much of royal history and fiction is written about his mother, Queen Victoria, and his grandsons, Edward the VIII (who abdicated) and George VI (another Bertie), and of course his great-granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II. I really wanted to know more about him and was thrilled when I found this biography.
This is an all-encompassing biography. It starts from the time Queen Victoria discovers she is pregnant with Bertie and ends at his death. It gives insight into his parents' lives, his siblings, his education, his marriage and many affairs, his children, and his relationships with the monarchs of other countries (who he was related to by the many marriages of his siblings). Then the reader learns about his reign as monarch, his policies, his working relationship with prime ministers, his focus on foreign policy, and his shift from 'playboy prince' to dutiful monarch. It is hard to believe how much of his life is chronicled in this work, especially considering that he tried to eliminate anything related to his personal life upon his death.
I thoroughly enjoyed learning all about Edward VII, and though it took me a while to read, it did not feel difficult to get through. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in British royal history.
Comment below if you have read this book or have suggestions for others like it!
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