by Andrew Morton
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Pages: 384
Format: eARC
Buy the Book: Amazon
Goodreads: They were the closest of sisters and the best of friends. But when, in a quixotic twist of fate, their uncle Edward Vlll decided to abdicate the throne, the dynamic between Elizabeth and Margaret was dramatically altered. Forever more Margaret would have to curtsey to the sister she called 'Lillibet.' And bow to her wishes.
Elizabeth would always look upon her younger sister's antics with a kind of stoical amusement, but Margaret's struggle to find a place and position inside the royal system—and her fraught relationship with its expectations—was often a source of tension. Famously, the Queen had to inform Margaret that the Church and government would not countenance her marrying a divorcee, Group Captain Peter Townsend, forcing Margaret to choose between keeping her title and royal allowances or her divorcee lover.
From the idyll of their cloistered early life, through their hidden war-time lives, into the divergent paths they took following their father's death and Elizabeth's ascension to the throne, this book explores their relationship over the years. Andrew Morton's latest biography offers unique insight into these two drastically different sisters—one resigned to duty and responsibility, the other resistant to it—and the lasting impact they have had on the Crown, the royal family, and the ways it adapted to the changing mores of the 20th century.
Kritters Thoughts: If you are a fan of The Crown and feel as though you have read all the things about the royals, I would still suggest you read this one.
With a title of Elizabeth & Margaret, this book covers both sisters and how ascending to a thrown can really change the sister relationship. While reading this book there weren't too many surprises when it came to Elizabeth's life as there are many books and tv shows that have covered her life and reign, but what surprised me most were the details of Margaret's life that are left out of those experiences.
I have read very little that focuses on Margaret's life apart from her sister and I appreciated this author putting a spotlight on Margaret but also giving the context of what is going on in Elizabeth's life and how their lives intertwined.
This book isn't for the faint of heart, although it is 384 pages, it was dense and for me it was a slow read. It was by no means boring, just a lot of detail and while interesting, felt as though it took me longer to read. I wanted to take it all in, but this one took quite a few reading hours/days!
Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row
Ebook 2021 Challenge: 31 out of 100
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one copy of this book free of charge from Netgalley I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
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