IST 605: The Ruling Class of Britain

This book is a biography of the life of King George V, describing his role as the Sailor King in the Royal Navy, to his duties during the Great War. This book does a very good job of explaining the personality and interests of the king, and how the war affected him and his family. Its strength is reliance on letters and diaries of the Royal family. It’s main weakness is that it talks more about him, and not his relations with other members of politics or military.

Chronicles the life of the late, enigmatic Duke of Windsor, scrutinizing his unusual upbringing, his complex and flawed character, his precipitous abdication, and his twenty-five years of embittered exile. This book follows King Edward through his letters as he abdicated the throne, as well as his love relationships that led him away. Its main strength is that the author tries to be sympathetic to the King. However, in later parts of the book there is more of a reliance on letters and a lack of writing from the author.

This book details the relation between king and queen, describing how King George VI rules with Queen Elizabeth and their marriage together. The author utilizes many firsthand accounts as well as pictures to showcase the relation between the two, and makes sure to humanize them and ake them relatable. It’s greatest strength is the detail in both their backgrounds, describing how they came together. It’s main weakness is that it is a short read, and so details can be sparse.

This book is a biography of Queen Elizabeth II, prepared with the cooperation of Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother and with full access to the Royal Archives. It describes her life and her marriage, her relationship to her children, and her work as queen. Its strength is that it showcases and connects to the current social climate. Its main weakness is that it was written before her death, so it doesn’t include her later actions.