An engrossing history of an eventful reign.
The life of a reluctant monarch.
Drawing on prodigious research, historian Ridley brings astute sensitivity to her brisk, authoritative biography of George V (1865-1936), an “unpromising prince” who evolved “into a statesman king and the founder of the modern monarchy.” Badly educated, raised by a mother who alternately smothered and neglected him and a father who infantilized him, George was not groomed to be king but rather a naval officer. His elder brother’s sudden death from typhoid, however, put him next in line. Ridley does not inflate the personality of a man who preferred an ordered life, simple food, and the pleasures of shooting birds and collecting stamps. As a father, he bullied his sons, especially his eldest, David, the future Edward VIII; as a husband, he could be boring and sometimes frustratingly opaque. “The biographer searches George’s writing in vain for an inner life,” Ridley notes. Still, he rose to the many challenges of his reign, steering the monarchy through a constitutional crisis, the devastation and privations of World War I, the revolution that ended in the murder of his cousin Czar Nicholas II, “the collapse of dynastic Europe, Irish Home Rule, strikes, Bolshevism, the rise of the Labour Party and the Great Depression—only to be outmaneuvered by an American divorcee.” Ascending to the throne in 1911, after his father’s unexpected death, he became an “arbitrator-monarch,” confronting a host of political and Parliamentary problems. During the war, he added the role of “a service monarchy, making direct contact with ordinary people, similar to the institution as it is today.” Ridley makes Queen Mary, too often relegated to the shadows in biographies of her husband, central to this one, debunking the “royal myth” of her indifference and coldness to her children; elaborating on her contributions to British culture; and portraying her as strong, decisive, and regal.
An engrossing history of an eventful reign.Pub Date: Jan. 4, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-06-256749-9
Page Count: 560
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Oct. 11, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
A slick, vacuous glimpse into the former first lady’s White House years.
A carefully curated personal portrait.
First ladies’ roles have evolved significantly in recent decades. Their memoirs typically reflect a spectrum of ambition and interests, offering insights into their values and personal lives. Melania Trump, however, stands out as exceptionally private and elusive. Her ultra-lean account attempts to shed light on her public duties, initiatives, and causes as first lady, and it defends certain actions like her controversial “I REALLY DON’T CARE, DO U?” jacket. The statement was directed at the media, not the border situation, she claims. Yet the book provides scant detail about her personal orbit or day-to-day interactions. The memoir opens with her well-known Slovenian origin story, successful modeling career, and whirlwind romance with Donald Trump, culminating in their 2005 marriage, followed by a snapshot of Election Day 2016: “Each time we were together that day, I was impressed by his calm.…This man is remarkably confident under pressure.” Once in the White House, Melania Trump describes her functions and numerous public events at home and abroad, which she asserts were more accomplished than media representations suggested. However, she rarely shares any personal interactions beyond close family ties, notably her affection for her son, Barron, and her sister, Ines. And of course she lavishes praise on her husband. Minimal anecdotes about White House or cabinet staff are included, and she carefully defuses her rumored tensions with Trump’s adult children, blandly stating, “While we may share the same last name, each of us is distinct with our own aspirations and paths to follow.” Although Melania’s desire to support causes related to children’s and women’s welfare feels authentic, the overall tenor of her memoir seems aimed at painting a glimmering portrait of her husband and her role, likely with an eye toward the forthcoming election.
A slick, vacuous glimpse into the former first lady’s White House years.Pub Date: Oct. 8, 2024
ISBN: 9781510782693
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Review Posted Online: Oct. 14, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2024
PERSPECTIVES
An engrossing and ominous chronicle, told by a master of the form.
Documenting perilous times.
In his most recent behind-the-scenes account of political power and how it is wielded, Woodward synthesizes several narrative strands, from the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel to the 2024 presidential campaign. Woodward’s clear, gripping storytelling benefits from his legendary access to prominent figures and a structure of propulsive chapters. The run-up to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is tense (if occasionally repetitive), as a cast of geopolitical insiders try to divine Vladimir Putin’s intent: “Doubt among allies, the public and among Ukrainians meant valuable time and space for Putin to maneuver.” Against this backdrop, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham implores Donald Trump to run again, notwithstanding the former president’s denial of his 2020 defeat. This provides unwelcome distraction for President Biden, portrayed as a thoughtful, compassionate lifetime politico who could not outrace time, as demonstrated in the June 2024 debate. Throughout, Trump’s prevarications and his supporters’ cynicism provide an unsettling counterpoint to warnings provided by everyone from former Joint Chief of Staff Mark Milley to Vice President Kamala Harris, who calls a second Trump term a likely “death knell for American democracy.” The author’s ambitious scope shows him at the top of his capabilities. He concludes with these unsettling words: “Based on my reporting, Trump’s language and conduct has at times presented risks to national security—both during his presidency and afterward.”
An engrossing and ominous chronicle, told by a master of the form.Pub Date: Oct. 15, 2024
ISBN: 9781668052273
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 15, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: today
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