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Queen Mary

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Queen Mary

By: James Pope-Hennessy
Narrated by: Gareth Armstrong
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About this listen

The official biography of Queen Mary, grandmother of the current queen, originally commissioned in 1959 - with a new foreword by Hugo Vickers.

When Queen Mary died in 1953, James Pope-Hennessy was commissioned to write an official biography of her - unusual for a Queen Consort. Queen Mary's life, contrary to popular belief, was essentially dramatic, and she played a far more important and influential role in the affairs of the British monarchy than her public image might have otherwise suggested. Using material from the Royal Archives, private papers and Queen Mary's personal diaries and letters, Pope-Hennessy's biography was a remarkable portrait of a remarkable woman and received rave reviews across the press.

Long out of print, this new edition of Queen Mary will be accompanied by a new foreword from royal biographer and writer Hugo Vickers.

©2020 Estate of John Pope-Hennessy (P)2020 Hodder & Stoughton Ltd Europe Great Britain Politics & Activism Royalty Women England

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This is simply the best biography of a 20th Century UK Royal that you are ever likely to read or listen to. It is also unexpectedly honest about the vexed question arising from parenthood and - when you pause to think - upbringing. He was not aware of what we now know to be the truths behind the decision not to offer sanctuary to the Tsar and Tsarina, but that considerable gap apart, he is surprisingly honest. The sources and the writing are very tactful but it is clear that the Author and many of their contemporaries thought George & Mary only just this side of bonkers. He is direct about QM's very rackety upbringing, though the full extent of the Duke of Teck's insanity (brought on by the restrictions/frustrations of his rank in society?) and the consequent misery of her parents marriage is hinted at not explicitly stated. Nowadays we would wonder about the root cause of the Duchess of Teck's vast appetite. In the 50's nobody thought about such things. It remains a fascinating story and well worth listening to and thinking about.

Fascinating

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This is book I own and to hear it read was a joy, it was very well read although towards the end I couldn't help feeling there was chapters or parts missed out. None the less I enjoyed it.

Well Read and Written

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what an amazing life! Excellent biography and the narrator of the best! Thank you.

an excellent biography

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I was uncertain if this was a book for me. I was prepared to return it after a few chapters and ended up enthralled.
A book which took you through years of history back into Victorian times, through WE1 and then WW2. Through four monarchs and some of the politics surrounding them.
The portrait of a queen but more than anything the portrait of a human being showing that like all of us even in the circles of royalty we all experience the fun, the pain, the pain and the joy of living.
Wonderfully written it showed just how special Victoria Mary of Teck was.
I suspect I will listen to this a few more times in the years to come.

Journey into a world gone by

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Would have liked the foreign language excerpts translated into English, we don’t all speak French.

Long but worth sticking with

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I really enjoyed this one. I was thrilled to follow the twists and turns in the fascinating life of Princess May/Queen Mary. She lived a particularly interesting life, and this book allows one to experience some of it.

One little issue that some may have is there are quite a few times when French or German is quoted, for example from a Royal person's correspondence or journal. No English translation is ever given. My rusty school-girl French, and hardly better German, just about allowed me to guess what was meant (I hope!) and in most cases it is not really an issue if one didn't understand at all. But it is a bit of a potential negative for many listeners.

The narrator is very clear and pronounces the numerous names and locations properly (something that many Audible narrators seem to have problems with). A couple of times I wasn't sure whether he was still quoting something or had returned to narrating and this probably should have been made clearer.

I listened to the full length in just a few days because I really couldn't stop! I have always been interested in Victorian-era royalty, but hadn't read much about Queen Mary before. This was exactly what I needed!

Highly recommended. An extremely well narrated book, by an amusing, knowledgable and fascinating author.

Top Notch - Fascinating and Entertaining

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Probably the most interesting audible book to which I have listened. It was also well read.

Fascinating

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I first read this book about thirty years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. The luxury of now having it read to me by the brilliant Gareth Armstrong was lovely. James Pope Hennessey's classic has lost nothing in the intervening years. The witty style still amuses and, although a republican, my admiration for this remarkable woman has only deepened. If you've never read the book, read it... and if you've read it before, listen to it again.

Brilliant from beginning to end.

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I have always wanted to know more about this remarkable lady and have found this to be very informative and extremely entertaining. I don't remember her but through this I feel I have learned a lot about her. Thank you.

Fascinating and hugely enjoyable.

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I’ve listened to this book four times I listen bit by bit though a week or so , it’s so interesting and so well read .

Rosalynne

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