Bertie: A Life of Edward VII
"paints the story of Edward VII and his long, hectic life as Prince of Wales in vivid colours: no scandal is left unturned, and yet the depth and authenticity of the research make it clear that this is a serious, even magesterial work" -- Antonia Fraser Sunday Telegraph (Books of the Year) "the best biography was Jane Ridley's Bertie ... Surprisingly, a vast amount of new information, some of it truly eye-opening, surfaced in this beautifully prepared and serious book" -- Philip Hensher Daily Telegraph (Books of the Year) "A model of how royal biographies should be written... impeccably researched, with much new material, balanced, sensible, disrespectful without being offensive, funny, and a vivid portrait of one of Britain's most underrated and understudied monarchs" -- Philip Ziegler Spectator (Books of the Year) "Is all about changing perceptions of the rakish heir to the throne who, his biographer insists, was less of a womaniser that commonly thought and came into his own as king" Sunday Times (Books of the Year) "Hugely entertaining from first page to last... It is also scholarly and revealing" -- Miriam Gross Evening Standard (Books of the Year)