The Queen Mother

Praise

“Fascinating . . . Anglophiles and lovers of the crown will relish every morsel.” —USA Today 
 
“A totally absorbing and highly readable account of a remarkable life. . . . Shawcross’s book is genuinely revelatory.” —The Times (London)
 
“Remarkable.” —Los Angeles Times
 
“Lively and elegantly written. . . . A rich portrait.” —The Economist
 
“Splendid. . . . An entertaining page-turner. . . . This masterly biography reveals a character whose charm was matched by courage, optimism, a strong sense of duty and a liking for fun. . . . A wonderful book, authoritative, frank and entertaining. It sets new standards for royal biography. . . . Anyone who finds royal biographies dull and dutiful is in for a surprise.” —The Daily Telegraph (London)

“A portrait of a remarkable life lived in step with a century of sweeping change.” —Bloomberg News
 
“A colossal book about a colossal life, a spectacular journey across the entire 20th Century through the eyes of a thoughtful woman who took the hand of a shy royal understudy and was propelled through modern history.” —Daily Mail (London)
 
“A behind-the-scenes glimpse at the Royal Family. . . . Fascinating reading. . . . Shawcross has written a remarkable book.” —Tucson Citizen
 
“[Written] with unprecedented access to the private papers of the queen mother. . . . Her life is seen here as a mirror of the 20th century.” —New York Post “Required Reading”
 
“Shawcross has been given access to the Royal Archives and they have yielded a rich harvest. . . . [There is an] immense amount of new material here. . . . He is to be congratulated for selecting so many juicy tidbits.” —A. N. Wilson, Daily Mail (London)
 
“Engaging. . . . Colorful. . . . Delightful as well as dignified.” —The Washington Times
 
“The correspondence in [The Queen Mother] is illuminating for both royal watchers and historians. . . . Divulges the Queen Mother’s opinions on topics ranging from feminism to homeopathy.” —The Associated Press
 
“Impressively researched. . . . Shawcross avoids the traps [of] hagiography. . . . He succeeds in the difficult task of keeping his subject resolutely centre-stage in an elegant account.” —The Independent (London)
 
“Shawcross’s journalistic skills are evident in the innumerable dabs of pointilliste detail. . . . There are many unexpected vignettes. . . . He serves his subject well.” —Sunday Telegraph (London)
 
“Offers new and fascinating insights into the woman behind the pearls and pastel dresses.” —Mail on Sunday