Customer Reviews

Lilibet: An Intimate Portrait of Elizabeth II

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

 

 

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!

The book was in really great condition.
I would recommend this book to anyone
who would like a really great insight
to the REAL Qeen Elizabeth II and why she
is who she is - a very regal lady.

The trouble with writing about the Windsors is that alot of other people already have. There are a number of things in "Lilibet" that are different, to say the least.

To begin with Ms Erickson mentions that King George, the Queen's grandfather, may have been the one to first call her Lilibet. Other people have said the name came into being because Margaret Rose, her baby sister, couldn't pronounce Elizabeth and it came out as Lilibet. A small thing but somewhat jarring.

Then she says that during the blitz of London, the German planes were steadily declining and the British became stronger. That Churchill's memorable reference to the "few" RAF pilots was effective rehetoric, but a distortion of the military situation.

Another incident was the fire at Windsor Castle. According to Ms Erickson Andrew accompanied the Queen from Buckingham Palace to Windsor. As I understand it Andrew was already there helping people to get the artifacts out of the burning building. If he had truly waited for his mother it would have been too late to save much of anything.

As for Prince Philip, she seems to have done a hatchet job on him. His love affairs have never been proved as she states repeadly. No one has ever come forth. Her theory seems to have been where there's smoke there must be fire.

I have read many of Ms Erickson's biographys. I loved the ones about the Tudors, but then, they are safely dead. This book is interesting, tho. Enjoy!

It is surprising that the author of such fascinating and well-researched biographies such as "The First Elizabeth" and "Great Harry" could also write "Lilibet," a piece of biographical fluff. This book manages to be disrespectful of its subject without offering any juicy insights into her life or reign. The only real shocker is the portrait of Prince Philip who comes across as a bore and a bully with an unfortunate grating laugh.

Erickson is such a gifted biographer, especially her work on the Tudors, that this book is especially disappointing: one expects so much more of her.

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.

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.

I had read that this was a different kind of biography and it proved to be. There wasn't much I hadn't read before, but I did enjoy the never-before-seen photographs.

If the book is a bit dull, it is because the subject is. The Queen isn't terribly interesting or exciting. I think she is a nice person. A good Christian and very good at her duties which she takes very seriously. Maybe that is enough. I think she relates better to animals than to her family, but that doesn't make her a bad person.

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

This is a disappointing addition to biographies of Elizabeth II from someone who should have a better understanding of the British monarchy. It's snarky and cynical view of the present queen belies a tabloid mentality and casts suspicions on her other labors in the fields of royal narrative. Her Royal Panoply survey of past monarchs certainly cannot be trusted after reading this confounding and confusingly sour effort.

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.