Princess Mary: The First Modern Princess (Hardback)
Elisabeth Basford (author), Hugo Vickers (foreword)
Basford’s fascinating biography of Princess Mary, the Queen’s aunt, reveals one of the monarchy’s most formidable and unpretentious members who won the hearts of the people with her hands-on philanthropic work.
Princess Diana is seen as the first member of the British royal family to tear up the rulebook, and the Duchess of Cambridge is modernising the monarchy in strides. But before them was another who paved the way.
Born in 1897, Princess Mary was one of the hardest-working members of the royal family, known for her no-nonsense philosophy. During the First World War she came into her own, launching an appeal to furnish every British troop and sailor with a Christmas gift, and training as a nurse at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
As the only daughter of King George V and Queen Mary, she would live to see not only two of her brothers ascend the throne but also her niece Queen Elizabeth II. In the first biography in decades, Elisabeth Basford offers a fresh appraisal of a princess who redefined the title for the modern age.
Publisher: The History Press Ltd
ISBN: 9780750992619
Dimensions: 234 x 156 mm
MEDIA REVIEWS
'At last a biography of Princess Mary, the Queen's aunt - and a good one ... She has long deserved a full study and in Elisabeth Basford, she has found a dedicated and sympathetic biographer, who has done her full justice' - Hugo Vickers
'An enjoyable, worthwhile story, not least in its celebration of an exemplary royal record undertaken with modesty, kindliness and sincerity' - Matthew Dennison, The Daily Telegraph
'She was an exemplar of the unflagging postwar countess, always doing good, always keeping busy to stave off grief. When we contemplate the Queen's lifelong devotion to duty, we sense the influence of her unpretentious aunt' - Ysenda Maxtone Graham, The Times
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“A shame”
Unfortunately a dull read. This felt like a list of dates and engagements - not the style I enjoy. I also noticed some unfortunate errors that I’m surprised were not picked up by the proofreader.
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“Dull drivel”
My wife gifts me a royal biography every year, unfortunately this year’s fell well short of the mark.
The writer’s style is truly tedious… utterly joyless to the extent that each page felt like a real slog… I also...
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“Exceeded expectations”
What a beautifully written, and insightful book about this little known Princess, written by the immensely talented Elisabeth Basford. This was recommended to me by a friend, and I thoroughly enjoyed every chapter.
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