Customer Reviews

The Firm: The Troubled Life of the House of Windsor

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

 

 

Although the reading was easy and interesting there was not much new information to learn. Also, it seemed as though the author needed pages of quoted information from others just to fill up the book time after time again. I would recommend checking the book out of the library rather than buying it.

While this book does contain some new and interesting information; on the whole it clearly is not historiography in any normal sense of the term. The book reads like a series of newspaper columns untouched by editing or a thematic approach.
The author does however, as they say in the tabloids, 'name names' (whether or not the average reader knows who they are.)
As a piece of gossip and current events it bears reading; but a reader looking for serious scholarship or even decent biography should wait for the paperback edition.

Ms. Junor's book is a good read for lovers of the British Royal Family. Much of the latest news is included, and there are some handsome photos.

If I had one complaint, it would be that a bit too much time is spent on the interests of the Prince of Wales. Several chapters are devoted to his pursuits.

If you are into reading about how great and wonderful Prince Charles and Camilla are, and how Diana simply got in the way of their great romance, this is the book for you...

All books on royals seem to be one-sided and this one is clearly written by a fanatic of the monarchy...which is fine, if that is what you want. Just don't expect an unbiased read.

Junor describes the nuts and bolts of how this institution runs. She covers the funding, the ownership, the organizational structure, how the ceremonies are arranged, how often chandeliers are cleaned. We get sketches of the principals and their staffs and their frustrations in managing their images through the fallout of Diana's star power and other less momentuous set backs.

I didn't know that the monarch can dissolve parliament and declare war, nor of the other powers on p. 398; nor did I understand the foundation (very loose) of the Commonwealth (p.289).

While there is a lot of information, it is not well organized. I didn't know what a lot of things were. Some are not explained, but some are explained in later chapters. This not very good organization and long quotes, make the book seem very much like it's been cut and pasted from previous columns and interviews.

The last chapter, discussing the future of this monarchy, gives some comparative information and contains a lot of quotes. It's a disappointment, because this chapter should have been substantive.

The current family has made itself relevant through charitable work, recognizing national achievement, being interesting to tourists and being helpful to the British Department of State. They (and their staffs) put in long hours, and are no doubt dedicated to their country and their work. It seems to me that this institution will probably fade when a generation of monarchs, themselves, tire of it.

I can see what the other reviewers meant by a lack of continuity. The author has a tendency to jump around and as the book progresses her views change, which can make it seem "cut and pasted." This reason alone stopped me from giving it five stars. From an American with an interest in the monarchy, I think it gives an interesting history while touching on why a monarchy works (at least as long as the Queen is the monarch in question). It also has a bunch of tidbits that make it good reading and gave another view of the Princess of Wales. All in all, I think it was a great book and I recommend it to anyone with an interest in the monarchy - especially to us Americans that don't understand it.

I love things about the royal family. But this book put me to sleep faster than a double dose of Ambian.
Penny is a Prince Of Wales fan, through and through. And she quite likes Camilla. This felt like reading a book written by the Prince's PR machine.
The most disappointing book about the Windsors ever. Too much minutia and not enough substance. I agree, check it out of the library! Caution. DO NOT BUY!

Don't waste your money on this book! It is only a pep rally for Prince Charles. Diana comes off as a spoiled brat who couldn't do anything right and Charles is a saint! It takes two to ruin a marriage so I don't think he's blameless.

It touches a bit on the rest of the royal family, but all of them come off as saints as well. Queen Elizabeth handled Diana's death perfectly, and it was all Sarah's fault that her and Andrew's marriage collapsed.

To write a book about anyone I think you have to see both sides and Penny Junor unfortunately, didn't do that. This is a big zero to me.

I tried reading this yesterday as soon as I got it, but after the first three chapters, I had to put it down.

I enjoy biographies that tell both the postive and negative side of a person or insitution; this book mostly promotes the positive side of Prince Charles, and doesn't really tell of his negative side.

This book is a total waste of time. It is highly subjective and very critical of Princess Diana. The rest of the royal family members come under scrutiny, but Diana fairs the worst. It is more than obvious that the author favors the queen and the Prince of Wales, especially the prince. The author lavishes praise on Kate Middleton and hopes that Middleton and Prince William will settle down and live happily ever after and bring credibility and respectability to the monarchy. Give me a break! I found the book to be tactless and devoid of any substance.