The Queen: Her Life - pub date 11/15/22!

This book is a perfect pick for #NonfictionNovember (and the new season of The Crown!) Thank you @grandcentralpub for my e-ARC!

This book covers it all - Elizabeth's life pre-abdication, her close relationship with her father, her marriage to Philip, her ascension to the throne, and her record-breaking reign. I was familiar with a lot of the events from watching The Crown, but it was nice to sort out fact from fiction. Morton did a great job covering Elizabeth's struggles with duty and the loneliness that came from wearing the crown.

Queen Elizabeth is easy to admire. From a shy young woman, she undertook her very public life with courage and determination. Her life was full of sacrifice for her country at great expense to her family. She maintained high morals, which unfortunately cannot be said for her children, who failed to emulate her. This was/is a dysfunctional family which did not communicate, instead airing their filthy laundry in public, as if that would improve their relationship.
I read an advance copy, which will hopefully have mistakes corrected, such as calling the battleship USS Missouri an aircraft carrier. The book comes out after the queen’s death without covering her last days. The ending seems like a rush job

Andrew Morton delivers a very readable life story of Queen Elizabeth of England. As a royal corespondent he has covered the family for years and written other books about them. I have read several biographies about the Queen and so for me the biggest drawback was there was very little new information. No surprise interviews or even personal stories about his work covering the royals.

This is a good writer that takes information from many sources, all referenced, and makes it into a flowing narrative. The story speaks of her sense of duty to her country and her devotion to her husband Prince Phillip. I like that her kids and grandchildren knew if they could get to her personally she was more willing to indulge them and their desires. And it was interesting to me that she did things differently after the passing of her mother and even more so after the loss of Diana. I loved the little story where she wanted to have a portrait of her with her hands in her pockets because her mother always had her pockets sewed closed, She was steadfast but could change.

I think this would be a great book for someone wanting to know about the life or enjoys the Netflix series The Crown. I personally am one of those Americans who loved the Queen and mourned her passing. The book ends with her making plans to be the first monarch ever to celebrate her platinum anniversary. I was surprised the book wasn’t updated to include her recent passing. Also there are no photos in my ARC. I’m not sure if there will be any in the published book. Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

After enjoying "Elizabeth and Margaret" by Andrew Morton, I knew I had to read this book. I was curious to see what fresh ground would be covered here, especially considering the Queen's passing this year.

If you've read "Elizabeth and Margaret", 60% of this book feels exactly the same to it. I didn't expect it to be wildly different, I just hoped Morton would have some insights that would further set it apart from "Elizabeth and Margaret". Or maybe it's my own fault as I finished that book a few books before diving into "The Queen".

When we get into the timeline around 1979 and we are immersed in the Prince Charles / Princess Diana / Camilla drama, things get especially juicy. There was even a dash of the Meghan Markle drama towards the end.

Overall, it was an interesting exploration of the Queen's life, her personality, her reign and impact in history.

Thank you so much, Netgalley, for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

With the recent accession of King Charles III, I immediately wanted to read and learn more about the life of Queen Elizabeth II. I knew bits and pieces from a variety of sources, but this book allowed me to learn so much more about this dedicated woman. As a mother, it seems hard to think of putting country before your family. Queen Elizabeth, from the beginning, took her responsibility very seriously and never veered from her dedication as a royal.

I found the timing of the release of this ARC to be so close to the date of the Queen's passing. I know it is one of the reasons I wanted to read this book. Morton pays tribute to wonderful and unwavering women.

An absolute delight to read! Very well written, respectful, and researched. An absolute must read for anyone who wants to learn more about the Queen!

A meticulously researched and fascinating look at the unique woman who graced the British throne for decades--Andrew Morton brings his usual skill to a portrait which is both insightful and balanced. A biography which unscrolls with the intensity of fiction, THE QUEEN is an enthralling read--mandatory for anyone intrigued by the role of the monarchy.

Many thanks to Grand Central and to Netgalley for the pleasure of the read.

A wonderful, insightful biography of one of the most pivotal rulers ever to grace the earth. This is the first book I've read by Andrew Morton, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. He managed to present her life in a relatively unbiased manner, highlighting the highs and lows of Elizabeth's long reign and marriage. He also gave insight into the marriages of King Charles III and Prince Andrew, and how both ultimately impacted the monarchy.

It was enjoyable to read about the passion that remained in her marriage until the end, and also about her sense of humor, which most people probably don't know about. In a way, it's a touching tribute to the now deceased queen. It's definitely a worthwhile read, particularly for anyone who is a fan of all things British royalty

An incredibly well written and deeply personal look into The Queen and her impact on general life in the UK. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free advance copy.

A tremendous biography of one of the world's most fascinating women, Queen Elizabeth II. From her early life to the very end of her reign, Andrew Morton gives us an insider's view into the inner workings of the royal family, including some of the reasoning behind momentous events from the second Elizabethan age. With rich descriptions of events and people, from King George VI and the Queen Mother, Princess Margaret and Prince Philip, Charles, Diana, William, Kate, Harry and Meghan, it's a must read for any royal watcher or student of recent history.

An interesting read about an iconic and complex woman! Due to personal reasons, I wasn't able to finish the entire book, but from what I did read, this is bound to capture the interest of any American-obsessed royal like myself.

4.5 I can count on Andrew Morton to bring a book that has been well-researched but not salacious in any way. Although there was not a lot of new information in this book, I really appreciated the insights he shared into the Queen's thoughts, motives, and reasons for the things she did, what she said, and the timing of it all. For instance, Morton tied a thread into what the Queen learned and did differently after Princess Diana died, and how she really felt about her. The power, perceived or real, that the Queen Mother had over her until she died. Morton tied a thread into how she was different after her mother's death. The insight in to the Queen was what was most fascinating to me. I loved the chapter where Billy Graham visited her and Franklin Graham's thoughts on their friendship until his father died. I have tremendous respect for her as a woman, and as the Queen. No one is perfect, but I have yet to see anyone faithfully serve for 70 years after her path in life was determined for her at such a young age.

👑👑👑👑👑 / 5

“The Queen looks squarely in the mirror and she likes what she sees. She has confidence that transcends beauty—that’s the most fascinating thing with her.”

Thank you to @netgalley and @grandcentralpublishing for early access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

My husband and I went to the UK and Ireland for our honeymoon in September, and we just so happened to be there while Queen Elizabeth was lying in state. I didn’t know much about her or the royal family, but I became invested in knowing more about the history of the monarch.

This biography was absolutely stunning. What a truly amazing story about an incredibly resilient, yet kind, woman! The writing is beautiful, and it’s apparent that the author has closely followed the royal family over the years. I understand that this might not present a lot of new information for those familiar with the Queen’s life, but it’s worth the read, nonetheless.

Enjoyable book covering Queen Elizabeth’s reign and impact from her reign as Britain’s longest monarch. Definitely feels more impactful reading now that she is no longer with us. A great way to celebrate her life.

While I liked this book, I didn't particularly love it. I have watched The Crown on Netflix, and feel like this book didn't really tell me anything that I didn't learn by watching The Crown. I wish there had been more... substance, I guess would be the correct word. Overall, I was disappointed- Queen Elizabeth led a fascinating life and I would have loved to have learned even more about her.
I would recommend this book but probably only those who have not watched The Crown.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this book. I just wish it didn’t end so abruptly. It was going along so well. All areas well detailed and it kind of just ended. I would have loved to see more about the recent events especially with the recent passing of the queen. It would make the book more complete and thus a complete novel of the queen’s life.
Even still, I highly recommend this book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this early read.

I’ve read several of Andrew Morton’s books on the royal family but The Queen: Her Life was my first to be focused on Queen Elizabeth II. This book was a truly engaging look into the Queen’s life, both before and during her 70-year reign. The pace, content, and level of detail were excellent throughout which kept me invested from start to finish. 📖There are many books about the royal family that feel very gossipy, as if you are reading a tabloid magazine, but Morton focused solely on retelling the fascinating life of this woman. Definitely recommend to anyone who is interested in learning more about Queen Elizabeth II. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me. Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review posted on Goodreads and Instagram.

Before going into it, I’m a monarchist in the sense that I admire them from a commonwealth country. I am able to ignore the solicitous media with the negative headlines to understand that the monarchy in today’s age, is one that is used to spotlight or highlight groups of marginalized people. That and a focus on bringing light to charities that need the spotlight.

Do I think they’re any different then any other family? Hard nope. Do I think they serve a need, I do. And even more so, I think that sometimes tradition and charitable spotlights need more of the media focus then all the negative and drama we see daily.

That said, my grandparents are from England, while I never lived there, I have a soft spot for it. And have read many many authors from there. That includes this author for this book.

Morton captures the Queen in a way that not everyone would. He centres it around major events and small tidbits without the drama of the recent years. The focus is on a queen who for decades gave up freedom for her Monarchy. I admire her as a woman in a man’s world, as a mom trying to juggle it all and have sympathy that perhaps she would have preferred a quiet life in the country but couldn’t because her ties to honor and duty were so strong.

The Queen could easily be 5 books instead of 1. Her life was a journey not a sprint. And she’s still one of the top people I would have dreamed (clearly dreamed) about meeting. I can promise you that should would have some incredible stories about her own life and all the people she had met. From controversial politicians to the average person, her mark was huge despite her statue being small.

So grateful for this arc. I loved this book. And love that it centred not around her family’s drama but her own legacy.

3.5 stars

I've read other books by Morton, so I wasn't surprised to find the writing beautiful in this enjoyable, and timely, book. While I have read, and watched, things on Queen Elizabeth in the past, there were still things in this book that I didn't know. There was a bit more about Diana than I expected to find. I'm a bit surprised that publication wasn't held off until it was updated a bit after the recent passing of the Queen. However, I'm sure this book will still garner a lot of attention due to the timing. It's an easy and engaging read.

I'm certain that there is a resurgence of interest in reading about Queen Elizabeth's life due to her recent passing, but what is different about Andrew Morton's biography is the effortless way he writes about her life. The Queen provides an overview of her life rather than focusing on a specific time period of her life. The writing is clear and concise and is a fast-paced read.

Morton, of course, is well-known for his past books about Princess Diana. He has clearly been entrenched in the royal world for decades, and The Queen speaks to his immense knowledge of this world.