Customer Reviews

Edward VII: The Last Victorian King

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

He waited in the wings while his illustrious mother ruled on and on. And when his time came to strut across the kingly stage the performance was all too brief. But it was not merely a cameo role that "Bertie" was to play as Edward V11, as this portait by Christopher Hibbert makes clear.

Hibbert traces Bertie's early life as a backward child who was to become the bane of his parents, Queen Victoria and her worthy, hardworking though somewhat stuffy Consort, Prince Albert. So concerned was Albert about his son that he consulted a phrenologist, who promptly noted the "feeble quality" of Bertie's brain.

"Poor Bertie, he vexes us so much", wrote Victoria. And the vexation turned into near hysteria a few years later as a result of Bertie's escapades with young ladies definitely not thought worthy to be considered future queens.

When Victoria's long reign ended in January, 1901, the Ewardian Age began. The new king was 59 years old, portly, and going bald. But he took up his new duties with obvious relish, fully conscious of his vocation, combining hard work with his more agreeable activities of cards, racing, partying and womanizing. Aware of the dangers of war in Europe, he set out to strengthen his country's position on the continent. He had notable success in Paris. At the beginning of the visit an aide noted the subdued response of the crowds when his carriage passed. "The French don't like us", the aid whispered. "Why should they?" replied the King and continued waving. By the end of the visit the King had won the French over and had cemented the Entente Cordiale.

Hibbert writes that Edward V11 was popular as a monarch because he was a human one, and because, in spite of his racy life, he was never hypocritical or pompous. As Hibbert puts it, "he would rather sit down to a meal with an entertaining acrobat than a tedious duke."

It's easy to form an analogy between Bertie's relationships with his parents and those between the Prince Regent and his father, George 111. And it's even more tempting to form a similar analogy between the current Prince of Wales and HIS parents, though we will probably have to rely on future historians to put that into perspective.

My main concern in writing this review is to warn readers that this is NOT A NEW BOOK by Christopher Hibbert, but a republished version of his previous book, "The Royal Victorians: King Edward the VII, His Family and Friends" published in 1976. That said, it is wonderful to see it in print again, as Christopher Hibbert's inimitable style makes history reading more enjoyable than fiction. I would disagree completely with the reviewer who thought this was a "heavy read"--Hibbert's talent at distillation turns heavy facts into fascinating narrative. I would recommend this book even to those who are not avid history buffs.

Fascinating details of Edward's life and times. Interesting for any history buff, supplemented with photos.

As i am an avid fan of Nineteenth Century Royalty and especially the reign of Queen Victoria and her royal proginy i found this book to be especially interesting and well researched as far as facts and various names of individuals which transversed the "drama" of her reign. Edward being the first born son after the birth of Big Sister Vicky had to live up to great expectations from both parents as he would one day wear the Crown of the Empire. It is a bit sad that he was always being compared to his older sister by both parents; however this is a fault which many parents are guilty of, royalty included. I am going to give this book a great review...

mr. hibbert has written an outstanding bio of edward v11. in today's language,edward would have been an abused child. the years of his kingship proved that he overcame adversity. an unloved child became a beloved king.

Finding good biographies of British royals that are an easy read is always difficult. This is a wonderfully complete study of Edward VII, but it is very academic and a difficult read. The title is misleading. He wasn't the last Victorian king. His mother was dead. He was the first 20th Century king. His affairs: they could be written a bit more juicily.

edward 7th was the uncle of kaiser wilhelm and they did not like each other