Finally - my 100th book of the year earns five stars! I smugly thought I knew everything from The Crown, and this biography shares many of the same anecdotes and societal memories that the series recreates, but having watched the show actually enhanced my reading/listening experience. I could imagine the various residences, members of the family, and historical moments that the author outlines. Brava to the narrator, Judy Bennett, and may the Queen's memory be a blessing. I am very much looking forward to Spare.

I am fascinated by the Royals. I am fascinated by the Institution. I am fascinated by the good and bad of it all! Once again, Andrew Morton, hits a royal biography homerun. As someone who just can’t get enough of the House of Windsor, I was convinced there was little I didn’t know. But Morton provides his reader with so much content, I was pleasantly surprised. How this shy and reserved child became the longest reigning British monarch, is still hard to believe. She must have been a master of compartmentalization to achieve any kind of work/life balance! I loved learning more about Prince Phillip’s background, the closeness between Prince Charles (now King Charles III) and the Queen Mother, and Queen Elizabeth II’s devotion to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. And the little tidbit about the pockets was delightful. If you are a Royal watcher, a fan of the Crown, or a fan of Andrew Morton this is a must read. Historical fiction fans, do not shy away from this! It is a very easy read that reads like HF…except it really happened! Thank you @netgalley and @grandcentralpub for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was an interesting and insightful view into the lives of the royal family. Much of the story was already something I knew but putting it all together makes it all more understandable. The Queen's quiet reserve and respect is something I've admired and fear has been lost since her passing.

I love "The Crown" show! Mr. Morton corrected untruths and exaggerations as told in the Netflix series "The Crown" which was enlightening. Of course, I requested and got approved for it laround the time the Queen passed and but her death just made it all the more interesting to read. I have always been interested in the royal family. I found her life and relationships with those in the know very interesting and thought the author did an amazing job with his research.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

As an avid Royal Family observer, I have read dozens of books about them..Morton adds no new information or point of view in this book. I wouldn't even suggest it to newcomers of the topic as it isn't detailed enough about Queen Elizabeth II's life.

For me the timing of this book is perfect. There are a lot of books written about the queen and her family, and Andrew Morton is one of the authors I trust to provide a detailed, insider's view of the monarchy. This book in particular is really good because it is so comprehensive. It covers the childhood of Queen Elizabeth and Margaret and concisely details key events up to her death. Some reviewers felt it was too concise and "clipped" but I disagree -- I appreciate that her whole life and legacy is covered in under 400 pages. If you watch "The Crown" some of the events will be very familiar but there are many I had not known about. The timing is perfect because I felt I wanted to read more about Queen Elizabeth when she died beyond the standard obituary. I recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is one of my most anticipated nonfiction releases of the year. See some topics on offer:

👑 Youth and Childhood
👑 Wartime
👑 Romance + Marriage to Prince Philip
👑 Becoming Queen
👑 Friends, Foes, and Family
👑 Secrets, Scandals, and Spies
👑 Diana. Oh yeah, of course😂
👑 Margaret and other marriage dramas
👑 One’s Annus Horribilis (horrible year)
👑 William and Harry
👑 Weddings and Funerals
👑 Kate and Meghan + the Grandkids
👑 Passing of Prince Phillip
👑 Epilogue is about QE’s passing and looking to the future.

There are already hundreds of British Royal family books rehashing the same timeline and facts over and over. There will be more added to the mix now that King Charles reign begins and questions remain about the future. Nevertheless, Andrew Morton’s books are some of my favorites because they have an excellent writing style and in my view do not overly mix in opinions one way or the other. The pictures included inside are great variety and some of the first more recent photographs such as Prince Phillip’s funeral are observable. With more recent content added, there is a sliver of new information along the decades of the same.

It’s one worth checking out and adding to your list of #nonfictionnovember if you want to read a royal figure’s history.

Andrew Morton continues to wow us with his incredibly reporting and writing on the British royal family. I am still in mourning over the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. This book helped me.

I found this a good biography, but not necessarily overly revealing or having new insights. That being said, it is very well researched and gives us timely overview of an incredible woman’s life and legacy.

Detailed, informative, and compelling!

The Queen: Her Life is the honest, fascinating biography of Elizabeth Windsor, from her carefree childhood, blissful marriage, unexpected ascension to the throne in her mid-twenties, to her stoic, dependable seventy-year rule through wars, scandals, and challenges.

The writing is comprehensive and rich. The characters are loyal, dedicated, and hardworking. And the novel is an intriguing look into the life of an amazing woman who ultimately stood by her promise to dedicate her whole life to the service of her people.

Overall, The Queen: Her Life is a well-researched, insightful, nostalgic read by Morton that is ultimately a lovely, candid look into the life of a remarkable human being, the late Queen Elizabeth II, the longest reigning monarch in British history, that you don’t need to be a royal admirer to truly appreciate or revere.

Obviously there are dozen (probably hundreds) of biographies of Queen Elizabeth II that have been published over the years, and Andrew Morton has the convenient timing of his publication coinciding with the Queen’s death to pique public interest. I’ve been a fan of Morton’s writing since first reading his biography of Diana, and I appreciate his seemingly objective and quite thorough portrait of the Queen here. It would be understandable that he might not be able to write about two such polar opposite figures with the same display of warmth and humanity, but he achieves it. I didn’t really learn anything radically new, but I think this would be a great introduction to a royal biography, and fans of the monarchy will certainly love it.

This is a comprehensive overview of the queen’s life. It tries to show the thoughts behind the actions and why they took place. It brings in all of the royal family and discusses the the effect they had on the queen’s decisions. Very interesting if you are interested in the British monarchy!

The royals are fascinating to me and I am not a huge non fiction reader. I do think, however, that I may be picking up some more books by Andrew Morton. His writing is excellent and I loved finding out some new info about the royal family from one who knows them well

I admit to being American, and that may be coloring my review a bit. (only because of what I was lacking in understanding the roles everyone played) I didn't know all that much about the Queen and looked forward to reading this book and getting to know her and her Queendom better. Perhaps if I had watched many of the film adaptions of her life, I would have liked and understood this book better.

What I found was a mind-boggling amount of dry facts, people I had no clue as to who they were, and early on in the book-a Queen who put everything else but her family in the forefront. I suppose that is the life of a Monarch ( as well as a President). I was left thinking, what a cold woman. She seemed to care about her horses more than her family. Unlike many reviewers, I felt that the book's first and last third were more interesting as they put Queen Elizabeth in a warmer, more touchable light.

As a woman, I did not like Elizabeth all that much. But as a Monarch and a leader, I admired her greatly. To have accomplished so much starting as a very young woman, she was fantastic. As the years of her reign went by, she loosened up. This began with the death of her mother.

As I said earlier, I didn't have the background to understand who was who and what was what. However, I believe that if you are enamored with learning about Great Britain and the Monarchy, this will be your cup of tea.

*ARC supplied by the publisher Grand Central Publishing, the author, and NetGalley

Reading this one was bittersweet. I loved reading about the Queen's life but on the same note it's sad because reading it we know she'[s no longer here.

I feel so honored to have been able to review this book so soon after the Queen's passing. Whereas yes, colonialism is bad, and propping up the monarchy is inherently not good for any country, this was a woman who broke through many different glass ceilings through her life and as a woman, deserves to have her praises sung where they are deserved. This wonderful biography paints the queen in a different life I had seen in so many previous documentaries, articles, books, and movies. Andrew Morton, through his intense research and knowledge of so many people close to the royal family has created an Elizabeth that is much more relatable and able to be understood. This is a woman who loved her children, and hated confrontation. I found myself understanding completely her avoidance of conflict by leaving to take her dog for a walk. She had faults, but so do we all. I would highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to more clearly understand the triumphs and failings of what she really was - a human.

This ebook was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Being caught up in watching "The Crown," I was especially eager to read this book. I certainly was not disappointed. Morton's insight into Queen Elizabeth's persona was fascinating. He presented a fair and humble examination of a many-faceted person. Once again, as in his previous book, he presents a definitive account of the Queen's life in an entertaining and informative fashion.

In his newest book The Queen: Her Life, Andrew Morton centers his journalistic lens on the most revered member of the British royal family, Queen Elizabeth II.

From her birth in 1926 up to the death of her beloved husband Prince Philip in 2021, in The Queen: Her Life, we are given an in-depth account of the life of Queen Elizabeth II--from her childhood confidants, family members, and those who served during the highs and lows of her unprecedented seventy-year reign.

The Queen: Her Life is a testimony of a life of devoted, unwavering service to her people and her country.



4/5 Stars
Thank you to #GrandCentralPublishing and #NetGalley for providing a review copy of #TheQueen for my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This biography was incredibly fascinating as Morton provides a glimpse into the life of Queen Elizabeth, who reigned 70 years over the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms. The hardships, personally and professionally, she managed with grace and dignity. Her families experiences living under the rules of the crown brought about scandals and conflicts that shaped her leadership up until her death.

I especially enjoyed reading about the times I remember from my youth. I was 11 in 1981 when Lady Diana Spencer and Prince Charles got married. I recall that I set my alarm so I could watch "live" broadcast in the states. I appreciate The Queen's dedication to handbag too.

Her legendary reign has forever left a lasting impression on the world.

Thank you Grand Central Publishing for the advance reader copy.

Andrew Morton's Diana: Her True Story helped topple Diana's marriage to Charles, leaving the Royal family in tatters. However, the author's newest gives readers a noncontroversial look at Queen Elizabeth II, one the Royal family should be proud of. An engaging bio of the world's second-longest reigning Monarch, and a must-read for those addicted to all things related to the real crown.