George VI
Subtitle: the dutiful king
By: Philip Ziegler
Series: Penguin monarchs
Publisher: Allen Lane, an imprint of Penguin Books
Published: 2014
Place of publication: London, England
Language: eng
Number of pages: 93
ISBN-13: 9780141977379; 9780141977386
Subjects: Kings and rulers; Biography; History
Description: If Ethelred was notoriously 'Unready' and Alfred 'Great', King George VI should bear the designation of 'George the Dutiful'. Throughout his life he dedicated himself to the pursuit of what he thought he ought to be doing rather than what he wanted to do. Inarticulate and loathing any sort of public appearances, he accepted that it was his destiny to figure regularly and conspicuously in the public eye, gritted his teeth, largely conquered his crippling stammer and got on with it. He was not born to be king, but he made an admirable one, and was the figurehead of the nation at the time of its greatest trial, during the Second World War. This is an enjoyable book about him.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 85-90) and index.
Table of contents: title: Youth; title: Duke of York; title: Abdication; title: Becoming the King; title: The King at war; title: The final years.