The Rise and Fall of the House of Windsor [Paperback]

A.N. Wilson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 10, 1994

"For those who seek coherence beyond the weekly wrap-up offered by PEOPLE magazine comes a book that ponders the deeper effects of this slow decline of the world's last great monarchy....An interesting overview of what has happened to royalty."
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Divorce and separation. Steamy telephone tapes. Brewing custody battles. Embarrassing photographs. Is the House of Windsor self-destructing? The brilliant writer A.N. Wilson, whose biographies include C.S. Lewis and Toltoy, sets out to answer this vexing and fascinating question in his spectacular new book. An observer and writer of great style and an Englishman of particular opinions, Wilson is uniquely placed to rail about the royal follies even as he defends the monarchy's usefulness. He asserts that the Windsors have actually gained in political power under Elizabeth II, and puts all the naughty goings-on in a historical context. A riches-to-ruin saga as bizarre as any novel, THE RISE AND FALL OF THE HOUSE OF WINDSOR is by far the most intelligent--and most surprising--account of the catastrophe that the Royal Family have brought on themselves.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Wilson presents a savvy and gossipy look at the history of the Windsor family and the future of the British monarchy.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Wilson poses the question "Can the British monarchy (and the House of Windsor) survive?" The ensuing discussion is interesting, but wading through the unsubstantiated allegations is tiresome. In particular, Wilson objects to Prince Charles, whom he finds totally unsuitable to be king, based principally on the fact that Charles did not attend Eton and that he made what some consider an ill-judged speech in 1992 while the British government was engaged in delicate trade negotiations. Wilson first defines the monarchy today as having only three functions and then sets out to prove that Charles and the Windsors cannot fulfill them. He contends that Britain needs a wholesome royal family to act as role models and fulfill various ceremonial duties but who are, as individuals, too dull to inspire public interest. Wilson is the author of numerous novels and biographies (e.g., C.S. Lewis , LJ 2/15/90; Eminent Victorians , LJ 6/1/90). Buy this if you must, but there's nothing new in fact, just interpretation.
- Katharine Galloway Garstka, Intergraph Corp., Huntsville, Ala.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (May 10, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0449909328
• ISBN-13: 978-0449909324
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,068,592 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books on the British Royal Family, February 3, 2002

By 

A reader (Litchfield Co., CT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rise and Fall of the House of Windsor (Hardcover)

I had read this book before, but just re-read it this weekend.
It is one of the best books on the British Royal Family that I have read. The author's insights and observations are right on target. It was published in 1993 before the tragic death of Princess Diana, but that does not change his thoughts on the problems of the monarchy. Nothing will change until the death of Queen Elizabeth II as she is too bound up in tradition to modernize. The whole family lives in a time warp.

I recommend this book highly to anyone who is interested in the history of the House of Windsor and how it is crumbling.

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting but needs editing, September 1, 2009

By 

tantos libros... "so little time" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Rise and Fall of the House of Windsor (Paperback)

This book is largely opinion- and speculation-based and annoyingly repetitive. Also, the faulty 1992 perspective (Charles will never re-marry, Diana will always be the mother of a future King) sometimes makes it hard to put much faith in the author's other claims.

Various times I would start to give up on this book, but then there would be another interesting tidbit, so I stayed with it. It was worth it, and I recommend the book, but it will annoy you.

One reason I was glad I kept reading was that the real shocker comes at the end--and I don't consider this a spoiler; in fact I'm surprised the author doesn't mention it in the first chapter--when Wilson recommends abandoning the House of Windsor for British Monarchs. I won't mention whom he prefers for a replacement dynasty.

The author reminds us that the Monarch has always historically served at the pleasure of the aristocracy, the main problem being that the aristocracy lost its hold during Elizabeth II's reign. I hadn't thought of it in that way before, but I was reminded of Tina Brown's book on Diana, The Diana Chronicles, where she points out that the Spencers are a much older, more important family than the Windsors.
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