The prologue and first chapter of the book Monarch: The Life and Reign of Elizabeth II does not begin with her childhood. Rather, it focuses on two on the most marked events of the royal family in the last 200 years: Queen Victoria's reign and the death of Princess Diana. The book uses the Queen's reaction to the Princess's death to highlight Elizabeth the II's character: she posses a great deal of common sense, has an unbreakable determination and is brutally honest. The book uses not her quotes, which could be biased by humility, but the quotes of those close to her. A private secretary of the Queen's told Lacey that "'The Queen has ruthless common sense... If you can explain clearly why something has to be done, and she agrees, that's the end of the matter'" (8). This was particularly referring to her decision to fly a flag at half mast above Buckingham Palace, something that had not been done for anyone ever before and which the Queen was against. This reminded me of John Grady's preference for an older, simpler, and quiter life. She does not believe in saying things that she does not believe. Lacey writes of an incident where the Queen displayed her overwhelming honesty. Lacey writes, "' I am very pleased to be in Kingston today,' the draft [of the speach] confidentely started. The young queen crossed out the word 'very.' 'I will be pleased to be in Kingston,' she explained. 'But I will not be very pleased" (9). The Queen refuses to say anything she does not mean from her heart. This refusal to be someone else's puppet, even in small matters like the word very, reminds me of Blevin's refusal to show off to impress John Grady an Rawlins. Queen Elizabeth is also compared to Queen Victoria, in her will, strength and reign.
Lacey, Robert. Monarch:The Life and Reign of Elizabeth II. New York: The Free Press, 2002.
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3 comments:
This sounds like a very interesting book. The life and the innerworkings of the mind of a royal is very intruiging. It seems like brutal honesty would be a good trait in a queen. But on the other hand, the queen is mostly just a figurehead, so one could say she should be more agreeable just to appear all the more likable (not that she isn't likable in the first place). Your post was really interesting, but sometimes I was a little confused as to whether you were referring to Queen Elizabeth or Queen Victoria. But that could just be me because I am super tired.
You picked a very interesting book! Althoug I'm not very interested in Queen Elizabeth or Queen Victoria the way you wrote about them made them seem intruiging. I agree with Lida that it got a little confusing as to who you were talking about, but othe than that you did a great job!
Your book does sound interesting. Although I agree that it is good to brutally honest, I think that the Queen can only go so far. If the English army was about to go into battle, and the Queen thought they would loose, I don't think she should say "You're all going to die. Have a nice day." Since she is more of a figure head, I think that she has to have a little bit of lying ability.
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