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E. A. Smith

George IV (The English Monarchs Series) Paperback – February 1, 2001

by E. A. Smith (Author)

26 ratings

Part of: The English Monarchs Series (26 books)

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This engrossing biography of George IV, king of England from 1820 to 1830, gives a full and objective reassessment of the monarch’s character, reputation, and achievement. Previous writers have tended to accept the unfavorable verdicts of the king’s contemporaries that he was a dissolute, pleasure-loving dilettante and a feeble and ineffective ruler who was responsible for the decline of the power and reputation of the monarchy in the early nineteenth century. Now E.A. Smith offers a new view of George IV, one that does not minimize the king’s faults but focuses on the positive qualities of his achievement in politics and in the patronage of the arts.

Smith explores the roots of the king’s character and personality, stressing the importance of his relationship with his parents and twelve surviving siblings. He examines the king’s important contributions to the cultural enhancement of his capital and his encouragement of the major artistic, literary, and scholarly figures of his time. He reassesses the king’s role as constitutional monarch, contending that it was he, rather than Victoria and Albert, who created the constitutional monarchy of nineteenth-century Britain and began the revival of its popularity. Smith’s biography not only illuminates the character of one of the most colorful of Britain’s rulers but also contributes to the history of the British monarchy and its role in the nation’s life.

Print length

320 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Yale University Press
Publication date

February 1, 2001
Dimensions

6.14 x 0.7 x 9.21 inches
ISBN-10

9780300088021
ISBN-13

978-0300088021
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A delightfully written and stimulating contribution to English royal history." -- Derek Turner, Literary Review

"Smith's . . . sympathetic account portrays a king's grand indulgences as decorative flourishes of a darker political era." -- Kirkus Review

About the Author

E. A. Smith was reader in history at the University of Reading and the author of A Queen on Trial: The Affair of Queen Caroline, among other books.

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Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0300088027
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Yale University Press; New edition (February 1, 2001)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780300088021
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0300088021
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.12 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.14 x 0.7 x 9.21 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #913,966 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,759 in Royalty Biographies
- #2,068 in Historical British Biographies
- #6,885 in Great Britain History (Books)

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RPT

A Stellar, Concise and Balanced Biography of a Complex King

Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2022

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Prior to reading this book, my impression of George IV was that he was the dissolute son of George III; a man of passion, excess consumption (of both food and women), neglect of duty and excess frivolity. But the George IV that emerges from this work is much more nuanced, much more interesting and much more consequential. He overcame the rebellious nature of his youth (his parents were the original "Victorians" who failed to instill those values in their eldest son) to assume his duties first, as Prince Regent during his father's bouts of mental illness, then as King in 1820. In fulfilling his duties, George IV, though a much different man than his father, maintained the position of the monarch as the consequential center of British political life. The defeat of Napoleonic France occurred during his Regency. His interests in the arts, science, culture and architecture promoted each of these areas and continue to associate the Regency era with high culture and scientific advance. He overcame an early reputation for profligacy in his personal affairs to become a king who, while enjoying the finest things in life, balanced his books, showed genuine care for his parents and siblings and the society around him. It was under George IV that we also see the transformation of central London into the city we see today (with the magnificent parks, large squares, broad streets and even Buckingham Palace itself). While he was unhappily married and his only daughter and heir died before she could succeed him, he nevertheless left a sound country and monarchy to his brother William IV. I highly recommend this book for those interested in the Regency period, early 19th century Britain and the British monarchy.

Helpful

Edward Poitevent

This gave him great frustration as he was an 18th century man and ...

Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2015

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Very well written. Clear, concise style. Interesting vignettes of the life of a man with enormous appetites who wanted desperately to rule but who ended up beginning the shift from British monarchs who rule to those who reign. This gave him great frustration as he was an 18th century man and an absolutist who was forced to adopt a style that suited him badly due to 19th century democratic political realities.

One person found this helpful

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Glen Beebe

Four Stars

Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2017

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I very good book about an exciting time.

Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2007

This guy was the epitome of decadents. The author described in 3D so it seams the parties,the spending, the frustration, the many mistresses of this unpopular king. No one was sorry when he passed away. That is sad indeed. The author also showed that this king was a great patron of the arts. He built schools. Great book.

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Alessio Pimpinelli

Highly Recommended

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 10, 2017

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Highly detailed account on this most controversial and highly debated sovereign. In his work, Smith attempts in doing justice to the late king, too often labelled as a deprecate, lax and vicious man. Instead, thanks to the author's patient work, George is shown in all his humanity, as a person with his everyday concerns and passions more than a distant and impassible king. Highly recommended.

N.B.: at times the narrative can become a little heavy to the massive amount of superficial details that may not interest the general reader. However, they only add to the greater picture of presenting George as a man of his own time, focusing on particular in the political upheaval of that period.

One person found this helpful

The Keen Reader

The life and times of George IV

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 29, 2013

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This is one of the books in the excellent Yale English Monarchs series. First published in 1999, this biography of George IV, while somewhat brief (fewer than 300 pages), is remarkably entertaining and readable. The book seeks to recover George's reputation from that of a dissolute, extravagant spendthrift whose major claims to fame may be most publicly seen as his sneaking relationship with Maria Fitzherbert, his extravagant overspending on projects such as the Pavilion at Brighton, his machinations towards the Regency on his father's incapacity, and his appalling marriage to Caroline of Brunswick.

George IV seems to have been a man of wild emotional extremes; prone to `extravagance rather than generosity' as observed Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire. His wild behaviour over Maria Fitzherbert, his effusive speech, his extravagant and overblown gestures, both political and personal, all colour his real achievements. This was a difficult century for monarchs, with the American War of Independence, the French Revolution, unrest on the European continent, and the push for reform with the advent of industrialism and the middle classes at home. For the author, the major achievement of George was his importance in the preservation of the status and constitutional importance of the Crown in British politics.

The confusing and often contradictory politics of the time are explained very clearly; there are some aspects of George's life which I felt the author could have perhaps spent a bit more time on (even if the book ended up being appreciably longer). But this in no way detracts from the delight of the book, which writes empathetically yet realistically of George, his life and his reign. In all, George "was not a strong character but he was not a bad one." Highly recommended.

One person found this helpful

Artsreadings

Very good

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 1, 2012

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In 24 chapters and 292 pages, Smith goes through the various aspects of the life and time of George IV, from his childhood to his death and posterity.

It reads really well, with chronological chapters addressing issues of personal relationships, political circumstances and acquaintances, artistic patronage, family and educational background...

It may be confusing at times as chapters at the crossroads of chronological and thematic approaches overlap and mention events happening after and before events mentioned earlier on in the book.

The book contains an insert of several pages in glossy paper with black and white reproductions of paintings and artworks representing likenesses of George IV and his lovers, and significant places he got involved with for refurbishments.

Well recommended.

6 people found this helpful

A E Richardson

A fair and balanced history, fascinating and enjoyable

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 3, 2020

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My limited view of George IV was based upon caricature, infamy and perhaps an unfair comparison to his father (ironically part of his problem) so to read this balanced and affectionate yet honest history was a real eye opener. There are times reading this book you despair of him, find him unpleasant but then want to put your arm around and guide him - this is down to the man but also down to the skill of the author.
A very enjoyable read. I sourced a hardback second hand and was very happy with service and condition.

Steven L.

The title of the book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 25, 2019

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The Yale English Monarchs series of books are of good quality.

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