Prince Phillip: His Secret Life
The publication of these two biographies coincides with Prince Philip's 70th birthday this year. Both books offer an overview of the prince's life; both tackle the prince's "notoriety"; and both discuss the relevance of a monarchy (or a prince) in the 20th century. However, there end the similarities. The subtitle of Parker's work is a misnomer, as nothing new is revealed. Allegations of an affair or two (and even perhaps, but probably not, an illegitimate son) before his marriage to Princess Elizabeth are handled in a roundabout fashion worthy of the National Enquirer . There is a rather heavy-handed approach to Philip's German relatives (two of his brothers-in-law were Nazis) and speculation about how much it costs the British taxpayers to float their monarchy. Almost one-third of the book is devoted to a convoluted family history, of uncles and cousins and grandparents who at various times occupied the thrones of Romania, Yugoslavia, Russia, Denmark, and Greece. The three pages of family trees at the beginning are not just filler; they're a very necessary key to following the book's early chapters. In contrast, Heald's book condenses much of the prince's ancestry, briefly follows a chronological history of his life, and then emphasizes various aspects of his personality and activities. (The most interesting among these is the section where the author tours part of Scotland with Philip on one of his goodwill trips.) The fact that Heald, unlike Parker, actually interviewed Philip gives his work a slightly more intimate feeling. Heald handles much of the same controversial material regarding Philip's bluntness (he even mentions obliquely a section of Parker's book), but seeks to explain this as a part of his personality and to place all the quotes in context. While the books are, to some extent, complementary portraits, the truly interested reader should also seek out Basil Boothroyd's Philip: An Informal Biography ( LJ 10/1/71). Libraries on a limited budget would find Heald's work the more balanced and long-lasting, but readers' tastes for gossip might make the short-term demand greater for Parker's book.- Katherine Gillen, Mesa P.L., Ariz.Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.