The last chapter felt rushed - but other than that it was a fascinating read. ( )

A nicely done book on the formative years of Queen Elizabeth. The twists and turns of the Royal Family saga is a tale that leads to the young Elizabeth being positioned for where she is today. I find the whole concept of royalty rather absurd especially the fanaticism with which is held in the U.K. But that is their thing and so be it. This queen showed the early traits of resolve and sense of duty that has definitely served her well as she will become the longest reigning sovereign. Many good insights on what she faced and how she handled it. Also good coverage of the abdication of Edward, Prince Phillip, and Princess Margaret. Mainly the facts without a lot of the dirt. ( )

The story of the life of Queen Elizabeth II up to the time of her coronation shows that she has not changed much in her life. She was a dutiful child, a dutiful young woman and became a dutiful queen., This is not new information. What was new - at least in the way the author presented it - was how lackadaisical her parents were about her education, not really giving her any firm foundation in history or statecraft until the dowager Queen Mary took it into her own hands. Similarly, when the crisis of the relationship of Princes Margaret and Peter Townsend occurred right under the royal noses, everyone seemed to be too preoccupied with their own concerns to take notice of what was happening.. The whole family seemed to live in their own world, totally ignorant of what was going on outside the palace walls. Maybe the jolts of the 1990's were a good thing after all. ( )

Young Elizabeth: The Making of the Queen by Kate Williams came across my ARC list and caught my attention. I was quite well versed on Queen Elizabeth's children and their lives, marriages, etc but not so much on the Queen herself. I decided to take the leap to the non-fiction side and dove into this book. I have to say it was pretty interesting!

I was very grateful that the author, Ms. Williams has a writing style that brought lightness, humor and a bit of clean gossip to this book that made it an interesting, entertaining read. She included a good amount of history prior to Elizabeth being born which really helped to set the stage for the world that Elizabeth was born into. Throughout this book, the author continued to show how the world issues and changing times continued to mold her into the person/Queen she came to be. Queen Elizabeth is quite an accomplished and remarkable woman!

The only negative that found while reading this book was that it is a bit too long for my taste. Having shared that, I have to also share that I enjoyed reading Young Elizabeth: The Making of the Queen and getting to know the royal family, especially Queen Elizabeth a bit better!

Thank you to Pegasus Publishing and Edelweiss for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. ( )

For Jubilee year this is a celebration of one woman's life and dedication to duty however harsh and demanding. But it is also like a royal tale unfolding almost under the direction of a wicked godmother because everything she believed in so devoutly will be turned on its head. At a speech delivered to the Mothers’ Union a young Elizabeth condemned changing mores in her realm: 'Divorce is producing some of the darkest evils in society' such as 'growing self-indulgence, of hardening materialism, of falling moral standards'. As Kate Williams comments 'Newly-wed and a parent, the notion of marital breakdown seemed utterly impossible to her.' The end of this story is inevitable and sad but infinitely more compassionate than the beginning of reign when divorcees were treated as pariahs. There are some delightful period anecdotes. When Queen Mary insisted upon the importance of education, for the littles princesses the Duchess of York commented, 'I don't know what she meant. After all I and my sisters only had governesses and we all married well—one of us very well.' And when two girls heard of the announcement of Princess Elizabeth's engagement on the wirless they sent two pieces of toast they had burnt in their excitement 'quite an offering,' Kate Williams observes, 'when bread was on rationing.' A familiar story but excellently told.