A Personal Look at a Great Queen

Would you listen to Elizabeth the Queen again? Why?

I would absolutely listen to this book again. I felt like I came to know her as much more than a figure-head for the British people. I was continually intrigued by the story and I found myself admiring the queen for much more than just her role as a queen.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I have adored Queen Elizabeth II since I was 3 1/2. She continued to be my favorite queen as I listened to this book.

Any additional comments?

Overall, this book is both amazingly crafted and wonderfully narrated. The narrator did voices both consistently and believably. Sally Bedell Smith did her research for real and although it could have been easy to be biased, I felt the presentation was very fair. I would highly recommend this book to anyone wanting a closer look at Her Majesty, the Queen.

9 people found this helpful

An Enchanted Life of a Queen and Duty

If you could sum up Elizabeth the Queen in three words, what would they be?

Duty, Motherhood, and Love of Country

Who was your favorite character and why?

Elizabeth the Queen of course!

What does Rosalyn Landor bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She brought compassion, reality and an incredible sense of personal knowlwedge and intimacy of a woman who will be remembered for generations.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The description of Elizabeth's relationship with her Father and losing him so young and being thrust into a role she may not have been quite ready for.

Any additional comments?

I would definately and likely be reading this again.

8 people found this helpful

A role model for all women to emulate

Where does Elizabeth the Queen rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Queen Elizabeth is the only woman who many of us have watched for decades. She has hit her stride and more. A true leader, able to change and to be sensitive to the world around her. This book opened my eyes to this truly remarkable woman.
I highly recommend it to woman professionals.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

no

7 people found this helpful

Fascinating!

I am a fan of British history going back centuries, and was not sure if I would enjoy this more contemporary biography. But, it did not disappoint. It was well written; seemed to follow history accurately, and the author did not take sides on the issues, just recorded them.

6 people found this helpful

A Fascinating Life, Well Lived

How tough is it to narrate a life that is lived so privately in public? Very tough. But that's what keeps us curious. Those who criticize William and Kate for guarding their privacy so jealously would do well to remember that they have opened themselves up in ways that the Queen never has and never will-- interviews, for example. And the appetite is more insatiable than ever. Her Majesty is something to behold, and I wonder what it would be like to have some sense of national pride that was timeless. Politicians come and go, but it would be lovely to have some traditions that were a point of pride in the US. A good, solid read on the hardest subject imaginable.

6 people found this helpful

New perspective on the Queen

Where does Elizabeth the Queen rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Near the top

What was one of the most memorable moments of Elizabeth the Queen?

Her sense of laughter

Which character – as performed by Rosalyn Landor – was your favorite?

Queen Elizabeth

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Couldn't wait to get back to hearing more about the Queen

Any additional comments?

I never imagined that I would enjoy this book as much as I did. The Queen was young when she became the Queen. Her love for Phillip began early in her life. She has alot of responsibilites. She always tries to be optimistic and not critical. I highly recommend this book.

5 people found this helpful

Interesting story of QE2

Overall, I liked this, although for me, the British narration was a little hard to take, but I am American and don't talk that way. The story begins with Queen Elizabeth's birth and does a great job of presenting the background which played into the kind of Queen Elizabeth became. My only complaint is that the book tries overly hard to paint a better than deserved picture of various members of the Royal Family and less than favorable of others, but I think that is to be expected. I liked the book and would recommend to others.

5 people found this helpful

3.5 stars- fascinating

What made the experience of listening to Elizabeth the Queen the most enjoyable?

I'm around a 3.5 on this one. The audio version was great, Rosalyn Landor has such a soothing and wonderful voice. I really enjoyed learning more about Elizabeth II as a person, and particularly liked the earlier stories about her childhood and first years of her marriage and reign. I felt that the middle sort of all ran together with different official engagements and traveling, and that it got too much into Prince Charles, Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge toward the end, rather than end by summarizing the impact and important of Elizabeth II, though much of the book had taken the time to explain her role in the governing of England and the larger Commonwealth. I do wonder whether the royal family had any real part in this biography, whether some of the more endearing stories are accurate, but all in all I thought that the author did a good job of trying to portray Elizabeth as a woman, a husband, mother and friend.

10 people found this helpful

Decent biography, not particularly revealing

Would you try another book from Sally Bedell Smith and/or Rosalyn Landor?

Rosalyn Landor's narration is first rate. The book itself is interesting for it's details about the queen's official public life, but lacking in behind the scenes details. It almost seems to respectful of the royal family's privacy.

Would you recommend Elizabeth the Queen to your friends? Why or why not?

Yes, but only for the most ardent Anglophiles and royalty fans.

What does Rosalyn Landor bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Great reader, easy to understand and very proper English accent. She does other voices just well enough to make a distinction without being distracting or overwrought.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

It makes an interesting companion read to the Netflix series The Crown.

4 people found this helpful

Very interesting read

Although this is clearly a totally rosy picture of Queen Elizabeth II, I found it very informative and interesting. The narrator did a good job too. Well worth a credit.

4 people found this helpful