Q: A Voyage Around the Queen by Craig Brown
US pub date - 10/1/24
I was born in 1973 and Queen Elizabeth was, without exaggeration, the most consistent thing in my life. Even as a N American, she was always there - on magazine covers, in the news, on the news. Her presence loomed larger than any other person and in many ways, I knew (and know) more about Queen Elizabeth than I knew about my own grandmother who was also born in 1926. Her life and presence were so iconic and consistent that I imagine so many people grieved her loss as I did - someone we never met but felt we partially knew nonetheless.
“No one in human history lived a more chronicled life than the Queen.” - the author.
To ponder that quote is horrifying - I can’t imagine living my life under such a microscope as the working royals have had. Her legacy will live on.
I was thrilled to receive early access to this book, and at 672 pages, what a book it is.
It’s a fascinating look at the most famous woman in the world. - 111 chapters, with numerous photos, history, trivia, quotes about and by. I enjoyed this one very much and it’s a book I’ll buy for my own bookshelf.
Q: A Voyage Around the Queen is an absolute must for fans, royalists, monarchists, and those interested in history.
I was fortunate enough to receive an ALC for this title as well and found that the narration by both the author and Harriet Walter was excellent. For my own taste, I’d want to be able to look through a physical copy as well for the photos.
**in the author’s note post chapter 9, the author gives an example of Meghan Markle and Harry complain
ing about living in Nottingham Cottage to Oprah Winfrey. I think it bears notice that the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Catherine, along with Prince George managed to live there without complaint.
Thank you to Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for the DRC and thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC
