2 comments about Royal Secrets: The View from Downstairs.

1. Light fun reading from Charles' late Valet, Stephen Barry (passed away from AIDS).
   Only thing which I found annoying was like most authors on things royal is the usage of the "splendids" "most wonderfuls" and other marbles-in-mouth type terms that he and other lackies have used in their writings.
   Still, an entertaining read. Recommended.Most wonderful and splendid.



2. . . .from the former valet of the Prince of Wales. Stephen Barry, in his first book, provided a heartwarming and friendly view of the life of the British Royal Family.

   Unfortunately, in this second book, he turns from his previous image of faithful family retainer, to a new, distasteful image as a tattle-tale. As the name implies, "Royal Secrets" was a book that didn't need to be written. Nothing particularly new or scandalous is revealed (other than the author's poor sense of taste).

   Whatever good will remained between Barry and the Royal Family after his first book (quite a lot, I expect) certainly could not remain after this one.

   Very disappointing. Give it a miss.

2 comments about Princess in Love.

1. Actor Patrick Macnee reads the audio book version of the royal affair between Diana and James Hewitt, which is based on his interviews. Diana's marriage had already dissolved and she was insecure and needy when she met the handsome army captain who became her riding instructor. According to the book, Diana fairly pounced on the innocent young man and enticed him into a relationship; he was happy to "do his duty to crown and country" by giving her the unconditional love and support she craved. The affair lasted for years and when they broke up, he was devastated. (No mention is made of his selling his story to the media and going public with her love letters.)
   
   Fans of Diana will probably not learn anything new here, but it is the mellifluous voice of Patrick Macnee, brimming with fatherly pride when describing Hewitt's honor, mournfully describing the tragic parting, and lingering joyfully over the passionate passages that makes this worth listening to. Every sentence is filled with effusive, bodice-ripping melodrama and Macnee clearly loves every minute of it.
   
   Since this is based solely on Hewitt's account, he comes off as a romantic hero while Diana is the relentless aggressor who ensnares him into committing treason. No matter; it's a hoot.



2. James Hewitt wrote a book about his relationship with the deceased Princess Diana in 1992 about their affair that lasted from 1985 to 1991. It is an romantic and interesting story that people who love gossippy things. I found it passionately fastinating.

No comments about King Lucius of Britain.

No comments about King Ludwig II: Reality And Mystery.

No comments about Juana la Loca (Mujeres en la historia series).

No comments about Sissi Emperatriz: Elizabeth de Austria (Mujeres en la historia series).

1 comments about The Winter King: Frederick V of the Palatinate and the Coming of the Thirty Years' War.

1. This book is an important work of scholarship for anyone interested in the Thiry Years War. Although it deals with a highly complex period, it nevertheless reads well for someone who does not know much about seventeenth century Europe. This fascinating account of the first stages of the war is told from the perspective of Friedrich V, who ruled Bohemia for less than a year and triggered the longest, most devastating of all the conflicts of the Early Modern period. Mercenaries and kings, unceasing diplomacy and bloody conflict, loyalty and betrayal, all are seen in this sweeping, yet detailed account. This bright, energetic work challenges the usual interpretations about the causes and course of the Thirty Years' War.

5 comments about Lilibet: An Intimate Portrait of Elizabeth II.

1. I am a fairly casual reader of books about the British royalty, not a fanatic one, but I found little new in this book. Much of the information about Elizabeth's early years seems to come straight from The Little Princesses, while the later years have little to add not heavily covered in media. If you had never before read a book about Elizabeth, this might be a good starting place, as it's an easy read. It's quite a sympathetic portrait of her, but not of almost anyone else in her life, especially her husband Phillip, of whom there is barely a civil word said. The book does focus very much on her, and not her family, which is nice in a way, as there is so much out there about Diana and other family members. I would have liked to read more about her as a mother, but from what is said here and elsewhere, it wasn't one of her biggest roles. The photos included are a small and odd bunch, nothing comprehensive at all. I did perhaps feel I knew Elizabeth's personality a bit more after finishing this read, and it was not BADLY written, but I can't really say it's a necessary or outstanding book.



2. Lousy little book--I picked it up at a bookstore on the road without looking closely. Not only is there scant factual basis for the book, it inserts quotes and 'thoughts' of the subjects that the author can't know. There are so many good accounts of the lives of the Windsors that this was a true waste of time, and an insult to royals and readers alike. Avoid.



3. Having read a number of biographies of Queen Elizabeth II (beginning with The Little Princesses in the 1950s), I can only say that while Erickson does not engage in scandal and innuendo, she is too light-weight to be taken seriously. Any biographer who would refer to Her Majesty as "Lilibet" (only used by immediate family) even when discussing the Queen at the advanced age of 60 and 70 is too silly for words.
   
   Bookschlepper



4. A very readable biography but I agree with the previous reviewer that it tends to be a bit on the light and fluff side. Many of her citations for quotes turn out to be from other biographies, most notably Kitty Kelly's THE ROYALS which diminished the seriousness of the work for me. But still, an interesting portrait that highlights the ordinary humanness of the Queen.



5. Initially, I was wary of reading this book. I thought it had a pretty cover and a relatively intriguing title, but didn't figure that Elizabeth II would be anyone who was fascinating enough to write about. But nonetheless, envisioning a book filled with an agonizingly boring chronicle of this seemingly "deadly dull" woman's life, I began "Lilibet."

   And was I ever in for a surprise! Carolly Erickson has done an outstanding job with this biography and completely captured the essence of this queen. The pages keep turning, and it is one of the highest compliments I can give to a biography to say that it "reads" like a good novel-I can certainly say that in this case. Chronicling the Queen's life from birth until 2002, Erickson uses a winning "formula" to ensure a satisfyingly complex character portrait.

   Granted, the simple factual matter of "Lilbet" was admirable. Yet other characteristics make "Lilibet" so enjoyable. First, I enjoyed the quotes/testimonials from the queen and others that Erickson used. It sometimes seems in a biography that the quotes chosen are unremarkable and cliche, yet "Lilibet" includes sparklingly memorable quotes from those who know Elizabeth as well as intriguing "morsels" from the queen herself.

   Furthermore, "Lilibet" was enhanced by the way English history (and crucial royal family events) were woven into the story line. These happenings are presented to the reader in a clear and interesting manner, and as said, they add richness to the story. Time and time again, Erickson deftly shows how events like the World War 2, the Wallis Simpson incident, and the scandals recently plaguing the royal family played their part in the life of the Queen.

   But best of all, the author shows excellent psychological insights during her writing. When I think about why exactly I found this book so fascinating, I realize that it was due in part to the sharply intelligent analysis of Lilibet's character. Erickson does not portray the queen as a "whitened" saint or as a cruel elderly woman-she seems to understand and empathize with the queen's character enough to see both the good and the bad in it.

   Solid facts, expert inclusion of history and background information, memorable psychological insight, and just plain an interesting read! What an EXCELLENT biography!

1 comments about Ladies Of The Bedchamber: The Role Of The Royal Mistress.

1. Friedman is clearly more a psychologist than an historian, because throughout the book he has the family relations of the royals in this book often completely messed up. His most stupid fault is calling King William IV "Silly Billy" (even in the title of the chapter about him); "Silly Billy" was the nickname of William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester, a cousin and brother-in-law of King William IV.
   The book is not really about "the role played by the royal mistress" or "the effects of extramarital sex on marriage", as the author claims. It's more about the influence of one's upbringing on one's later sex life, both for the royal and his mistresses. The youth and relations of both the Kings and their paramours are described in much detail. In my opinion, he oversimplifies the complicated reality of relationships by explaining everything in terms of childhood needs.
   Nevertheless, the book is easy to read and Friedman sheds a new light on Wallis Simpson's behavior during the abdication crisis.

3 comments about Royal Service: My Twelve Years As Valet to Prince Charles.

1. I recently found this book - in hardback - as I was going through some boxes of royal junk and miscellany. Upon re-reading it I had not realised how inconsequential it was - but I suppose Mr. Barry had to cash in on his job experiences in order to maintain the lifestyle to which he was not born and in which he got very comfortable, indeed.

   He needed a really good editor and/or proofreader because there are some real howlers in his text: "Duke of Argyle" for "Duke of Argyll", "Castle of May" for "Castle of Mey" (the late Queen Mother's northern Scottish residence), "the Earl of Spencer" for "the Earl Spencer", "Lord and Lady Spencer" for "the Earl and Countess of Spencer", "Lord Snowden" for "Lord Snowdon", and he keeps referring to some entity called the "Gold Coast" - I believe he means the "Ivory Coast (Cote d'Ivoire) in Africa. This is not the complete list of his inadequacies as a royal diarist and passable writer.

   That being said, there is one telling photograph that is unattributed showing The Queen and her family on the Royal Yacht Britannia. In it, Her Majesty is wearing SLACKS! There was a recent controversy that when The Queen exited the hospital after surgery on her leg that said that this was only the second time she had been photographed in such garb. Apparently, all the pompous pundits forgot about THIS photograph. It made for good cocktail chatter for about two weeks and friends were amazed that I could dredge up proof of the factual errors of ALL of the newspapers and scandal rags.

   I feel the reviews by the two other readers were gushing and over-the-top - the book is only a tarted-up diary with some very occasional and all too infrequent insights. But the photos are interesting and of some archival use. Mr. Barry later succumbed to AIDS.

   Timothy Wingate, Canada




2. There is an old saying that goes 'No man is a hero to his valet'. That may
   or may not be the case, however Stephen Barry's innocuous memoir was written
   to reveal as little of the un-heroic side of the Prince of Wales as possible.
   The book suffers for the discretion of the author and In light of the
   revelations to come after this book was written, it does so needlessly.

   Serving Charles as his valet from 1970 to 1982, Barry was in a unique
   position to observe Royalty close-up. He makes the most of the opportunity
   and is willing to let a few (and only a few) tid-bits out of the bag. Did
   you know that the Prince is obsessed with making sure that his favorite brand
   of honey accompanies him wherever he travels? Or that the Prince prefers a
   sweater to central heating (A trait he shares with Queen Victoria)? These
   and many other startling revelations await the reader of "Royal Service: My
   Twelve Years as Valet to Prince Charles" Not surprisingly, one topic that

   permeates the book is Charles' desire for privacy. This was a desire that was
   often unheeded by the many people around him. Knowing this, one wonders why
   the book was written at all.

   Both the author and the Prince were born in 1948, thus after a few years
   training, as a footman Barry is the right man of the right age in the right
   place to become the valet to Charles. This relationship persists until
   shortly after his wedding to Diana. That proved to be a period during which
   many of the long-term servants of the household go on to new duties.
   Strongly and repeatedly denying any sort of a fight between himself and the
   Princess, Barry writes "Understandably she would not wish to have around
   herself and her husband those who had known him at earlier times when there
   were other girl friends".

   Primarily, the book is organized along topical lines. Travel with the
   Prince, Holidays with the Prince, the Prince and the other members of the
   family, The many girl friends of the Prince, and so on. There is also some
   material organized in a chronological fashion about the duties that Barry
   held in the palace prior to his work for Charles.

   Barry is the first to point out the dichotomy of the situation that he was
   in. He often saw more of his royal master that Charles' family or friends.
   And yet it was always from the perspective of the master/servant
   relationship. After all, "However kind and friendly they are, in the end
   they are Royal".

   Barry is quick to play up this relationship (going so far to point out that
   at least one portrait of the Prince is Charles' head and Barry's body wearing
   garter robes). However he often gives short shrift to the many other members
   of the team who worked with the Prince. While the Policemen who serve
   Charles often are mentioned in anecdotes it is only on occasion that we hear
   about the junior valet who also works with Barry to tend to the Prince. In
   fact the assistant is never mentioned by name!

   While the book hints at many things in the intimate female relationships the
   Prince has had Barry is quick to mention that Charles always handled his love
   interests with such discretion that Barry never found the Prince in bed with
   anyone! This comes after he repeatedly states how it was his duty to awaken
   Charles each morning at 7:50. This may or may not be so but in any event it
   belies the closeness that Barry seems to have felt.

   Time has not been good to this book. It abounds with many unintended
   ironies. Barry himself did not live to see all of them come to public light
   but here is a sample of some from the book:
   "People always seemed to die when we were at Balmoral. This complicated
   things for me, getting the Prince's wardrobe together"
   On Camilla --
   "For many years before he married, the gossip was that the Prince of Wales
   was strongly influenced in his choice of girl friends by two married women -
   Lady Tryon .... And Mrs. Camilla Parker Bowels, the wife of a cavalry officer.
   ....
   The Prince is simply not the type of man to dally with married women."
   "Mrs. Camilla Parker Bowles, is a hunting friend....and the friendship ... seems
   to have survived the marriage"
   On Diana -
   "she was a friendly and open young woman. The crew of the Britannia fell in
   love with her to a man"
   "She liked giggling and she loved eating sweets. She always got into the car
   with her Yorkie bars or bags of toffees. 'Have one Stephen,' she'd say. 'Go
   on.'
   'You'll get fat,' I used to warn her. But she undoubtedly burned up all those
   calories contending wit the pressures that were building up. "
   "The camera flashing in her face, the constant pestering finally got through.
   She burst into tears. ......
   The prince came back as soon as he could and comforted her, but it was easy
   to see that he was worried. Was she going to fail to cope with all that being
   Royal demands, right at the last minute, five days before the wedding? ... But
   the young lady is very resilient and she soon perked up again"




3. . . .by the former valet of the Prince of Wales. This is not a tattle-tale tell-all -- instead it is, especially for Americans, an intimate and heartwarming look into the mystique of the British Royal Family. Barry is discreet and complimentary throughout, while relating amusing anecdotes about the Royals as he moves through their lives as one of the principal servants to Prince Charles.

   An enjoyable read.