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An Intimate Portrait of Queen Elizabeth II
Henry Holt and Company
January 2012
On Sale: January 3, 2012
368 pages ISBN: 0805094164 EAN: 9780805094169 Kindle: B005FWPMYC Hardcover / e-Book
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Non-Fiction History
A surprising and very personal biography of a woman who may
be the world's last great queen, published to coincide with
the sixtieth anniversary of her reign Elizabeth II, one of England's longest-reigning monarchs, is
an enigma. In public, she confines herself to optimistic
pieties and guarded smiles; in private, she is wry, funny,
and an excellent mimic. Now, for the first time, one of
Britain's leading journalists and historians gets behind the
mask and tells us the fascinating story of the real Elizabeth. Born shortly before the Depression, Elizabeth grew up during
World War II and became queen because of the shocking
abdication of her uncle and the early death of her father.
Only twenty-five when she ascended to the throne, she has
been at the apex of the British state for nearly six
decades. She has entertained and known numerous world
leaders, including every U.S. president since Harry Truman.
Brought up to regard family values as sacred, she has seen
all but one of her children divorce; her heir, Prince
Charles, conduct an adulterous affair before Princess
Diana's death; and a steady stream of family secrets poured
into the open. Yet she has never failed to carry out her
duties, and she has never said a word about any of the
troubles she has endured. Andrew Marr, who enjoys extraordinary access to senior
figures at Buckingham Palace, has written a revealing and
essential book about a woman who has managed to remain
private to the point of mystery throughout her reign.
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