Elizabeth the Queen

The Life of a Modern Monarch

Book Reviews

Washington Times
January 30, 2012
Sally Bedell Smith's "Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch" examines the monarch's career - the 60th anniversary of the coronation will be marked in June - in prose that shines as brightly as a new proof sovereign coin, revealing one of the most impressive people of our age....

All this, and a great deal more, is detailed with graceful precision by Mrs. Smith, a best-selling biographer who previously detailed Princess Diana's tumultuous life. This book brings a reader closer to the queen than one expects and offers a very human - and very humane - portrait.

A word must be said about the way in which Mrs. Smith tells her story: It is filled with insightful anecdotes and asides, framed in language that is delightful as it is instructive. And so I imagine even the most small "r" republican will say after encountering Sally Bedell Smith's portrait of this remarkable person: "God Save the Queen!" More »

New York Times
January 20, 2012
"an excellent all-embracing new biography of Queen Elizabeth II by the superb chronicler Sally Bedell Smith....[who] pulls fascinating details into her portrait of Elizabeth, shining a beam onto unlighted corners of the monarch's experience." More »

Newsday
January 19, 2012
"Elizabeth the Queen: A monarch's life" by Sarah Weinman. "Elizabeth the Queen...comes as close to answering [the] questions as anyone can without hearing directly from Elizabeth...a meticulously researched volume...with choice details gleaned from countless interviews of those close to Queen Elizabeth" More »

National Post
January 18, 2012
Shinan: Queen Elizabeth, more than a pretty smile More »

MSNBC.com
January 10, 2012
Sally Bedell Smith explores the life of one of the world's most enigmatic women. More »

More.com
January 10, 2012
"A fascinating new biography on the monarch of Britain" by Rebecca Adler Warren
More »

LA Times
January 9, 2012
"Much has been written about the British monarch, but the American author manages to mine new tidbits - with the help of the queen's family and friends." More »

Daily Mail
January 8, 2012
"History's repeating itself: Ex-Archbishop tells of the Queen's 'despair' over Charles's split from Diana and love for Camilla in a revealing new biography" by Sharon Churcher And Elizabeth Sanderson More »

Boston Globe
January 8, 2012
A sprightly 85 and still clutching her signature handbag, Queen Elizabeth II is more popular than ever. More »

"She was so young, and the task was so enormous. Yet with grace and a determination to do her duty come what may-and so much has indeed come-Elizabeth II studiously made herself part of the fabric of global civilization in the most tumultuous of times. This is a terrific book about a fascinating figure."-Jon Meacham

"A deeply researched, unvarnished, and therefore totally fascinating portrait of the transcendent icon of our age... Many authors have written about Elizabeth II, but none of them can match the literary style, wit, or insightful commentary of Sally Bedell Smith."-Amanda Foreman

"In an era plagued by flawed public figures, the world's most famous woman has graced her realm impeccably for sixty years. She does so by being both mysterious and grounded. Sally Bedell Smith, through great reporting and insightful writing, provides a revealing look inside the palace to show how the Queen balances being both modern and traditional. Our celebrity-saturated world could learn a lot from her-and from this book."-Walter Isaacson

"This is a biography that avoids none of the difficult questions. Sally Bedell Smith asks them in a way no one else has dared."-Nancy Milford

"Elizabeth the Queen shows the woman as well as the monarch, and helps us to understand how Elizabeth has become a key figure in the history of our times."-Margaret MacMillan

"Elizabeth the Queen is an engaging, insightful, and altogether entertaining journey through the life and trials of the world's most beloved monarch. By the end of Sally Bedell Smith's winning book, I felt as if I had a new friend in Buckingham Palace."-Tom Brokaw

"A compelling, deeply human portrait of the remarkable Elizabeth II. This is a biography not to be missed."-Lynne Olson

"Sally Bedell Smith's Elizabeth the Queen is a remarkable and sympathetic portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. At the same time, it provides a fascinating picture of the major modern enterprise that monarchy has become. It is a deft and very readable book."-Michael Korda

Sally appreciates hearing from you! Please take a moment to contact her directly to let her know what you think. She is not able to respond to every submission, but she will read them all.

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