Queen of the World

November 1, 2018
A portrait of Queen Elizabeth II (b. 1926) that highlights her many accomplishments.As the longest-reigning monarch in British history, Elizabeth II is currently more beloved than ever. Recent acclaimed dramas such as the 2006 film The Queen and the hit Netflix series The Crown have further sparked our universal fascination, as each work has delved into Elizabeth's more private life and aimed to reveal a woman with complex ambitions and passions. Daily Mail writer Hardman, who has written extensively on the British monarchy (Our Queen, 2011, etc.), approached this book alongside his current TV documentary. While not exactly serving as a companion book to the series, both vehicles assert a similar reverential approach to the material, choosing to elude the more personal dramas that have beset the royal family and focusing instead on the queen's tireless work ethic and long-standing dedication to her role. Hardman examines the broader areas of accomplishment that have been particularly significant during her reign. "By any measure," writes the author, "her life and reign comprise a vault of experience unrivaled by any world leader. It is one of the reasons that even those who are not royalists by inclination applaud her dedication to duty." Rather than providing a linear account, Hardman looks at particular topics: the queen's diplomatic accomplishments throughout the Commonwealth as well as Africa, Europe, and the U.S; her associations with various leaders, including her line of prime ministers and her close rapport with accomplished statesmen such as Nelson Mandela and the many American presidents who have come into power during her reign. "There can be few people in the USA, let alone the rest of the world, who have lived through the administrations of sixteen presidents--more than one-third of the total," writes Hardman. The book is grounded in lucid historical detail and often highlighted by colorful anecdotes. However, as a full biography, the dense volume, while accessible, lacks an engrossing throughline to maintain lengthy reader engagement.A respectful and thoughtfully documented history of the British monarch but not the definitive biography one might hope for.

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December 1, 2018

A monarch who has reigned for over half a century is bound to have made an indelible mark on global affairs, and that is the contention at the heart of Hardman's (Her Majesty: The Court of Queen Elizabeth II) intimate, detailed look at Elizabeth II's role in British foreign relations. Recounting the most memorable of the queen's visits to nations outside the UK, as well as state visits she's hosted for numerous world leaders, Hardman shows how the queen has served as Britain's most effective "export;" a figure able to transcend politics and preserve harmony in international relationships, even when governments fail to see eye to eye, gracefully handling the transition from Britain's historical empire to its modern Commonwealth of Nations, for which she serves as both official head and enthusiastic champion. Drawing on the anecdotes of former private secretaries, diplomats, and heads of state, Hardman provides behind-the-scenes glimpses into Elizabeth's comprehensive grasp of international relations, attention to detail, and steely determination to maintain a respectful, cooperative spirit among her "family" of nations. VERDICT Royal enthusiasts will find much to enjoy in Hardman's portrait of the woman behind the crown.--Sara Shreve, Newton, KS

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from December 1, 2018
Having recently surpassed Queen Victoria as the longest-reigning monarch in British history, the present queen is generally accorded the distinction of being the most recognized figure in the world. To refer to this surprisingly wide-ranging, complete appraisal of Her Majesty and her significant role and function in not only British society but also in the world order as a "biography" is to employ a label too restrictive and, frankly, off the mark. From the outset, royals expert Hardman, who has exceptional access to Queen Elizabeth II and her family, stresses the uniqueness of the monarch. The queen has made it her goal, in her quiet but steady and determined fashion, to redefine the "role of Britain and the monarchy itself in a post-imperial world of equals." Hardman insightfully addresses her royal tours, state visits of foreign leaders to London, her leadership in the evolution of her position as head of the Commonwealth, her participation in the special relationship with the U.S., and the role of the royal yacht, Britannia, in spreading the goodwill of the queen globally. Hardman also contrasts the character and personality of the queen and her son, the Prince of Wales. Throughout, Hardman's analysis is discerning, knowledgeable, and fascinating.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)