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  • George V

  • Never a Dull Moment
  • By: Jane Ridley
  • Narrated by: Joanna David
  • Length: 22 hrs and 7 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (113 ratings)
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George V cover art

George V

By: Jane Ridley
Narrated by: Joanna David
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Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

The first truly candid portrait of George V and Mary - the queen's grandparents and the creators of the modern monarchy.

The lasting reputation of George V is for dullness. He was a crack shot and an outstanding stamp collector, but that's about it. The flamboyance and hedonism of his father, Edward VII, defined an era whose influence and magnetism is still felt today. The contrast between the two could hardly be greater.

But is that really all there was to King George, a monarch who faced a series of crises thought to be the most testing faced by any 20th-century British sovereign? As Tommy Lascelles, one of George's most senior advisors, put it: 'He was dull, beyond dispute - but my God, his reign never had a dull moment.'

Jane Ridley is one of the very finest royal biographers, celebrated for her immaculate research, highly entertaining style and piercing insights. How this supposedly limited man managed to steer the crown through so many perils and adapt a Victorian institution to the modern world is a great story in itself. But with it comes a riveting portrait of a royal marriage and family life that challenges myths and lets us see George, Mary and their children more fully and clearly than ever before.

George V was the queen's grandfather, and Jane Ridley takes right into the drawing rooms Elizabeth was born into. She brings us a royal family and world not long vanished and not so far from our own.

©2021 Jane Ridley (P)2021 Penguin Audio

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Tough going..

Wanting to supplement my woeful knowledge of my own country's history I slogged through this book. The biggest drawback was the narrator, whose constant pauses, halts, and hesitancy completely altered the meaning of so many sentences. There was little flow at all....even sometimes stopping to decide how to pronounce words! And that smokers croake! This was my experience.

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5 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars

An interesting account that doesn't spare blushes

First of all the narrator used for this book reads poorly. Her stilted, stop and start cadence is quite annoying - sometimes reading paragraphs as if she was listing items on a shopping trip. Unpredictable hesitation sometimes even ruins the meaning of sentences because the emphasis and punctuation is lost. I persevered beyond Joanne David because Jane Ridley's account is well researched and worthwhile.

I have the Jane Ridley biography of George V's father - Edward VII - and that has a much better narrator. I was disappointed that they didn't use the same voicing on this - the continuity and performance would have been much better.

Despite this, Ridley has created an pretty unflinching account that offers a window into the establishment, into royal entitlement, and into much of what is right and wrong with monarchy in a relatively modern democracy. She does get a touch sentimental about her central subject towards his death and she credits him with a lot - there is perhaps some generosity there, and she's pretty sympathetic about his handling of the Russian Czar Nicholas and the murders of the Russian Royal family - but in other regards she's robust and doesn't hold back, so it probably is quite balanced. As a historical account it feels evidenced and reliable. As a narrative journey, as a piece of compelling entertainment it is well well structured and is never too dry or too preoccupied with irrelevant details. There are some anecdotes that really amuse and you do - at times - feel quite close to what is going on. This is no mean feat really because George V presided over some pretty complicated folds in history, in diplomacy and in international affairs. There is some genuine achievement in that. Definitely worthy of your time if the subject is something you're curious about.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars

A treat for republicans

Despite the astonishing deference of the introduction, this excellent biography confirms many negative views of monarchy: snobbery; ego; entitlement and so much more.
A wonderful expose !

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Excellent

Informative and enjoyable biography that is perhaps kinder to George V than some historians have been. Really a shared biography with Queen Mary to the end of their marriage on George’s death.

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A wonderful biography

I enjoyed listening to this biography of King George V. He is very often put down as grumpy and a bad father but this biography brings the more human family man side of him to light. Lots of very interesting and easily understood important historical events which help to understand his attitudes. I find Jane Ridley an excellent historian as a storyteller. The narrator Joanna David is first class.

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Easy to follow

I really recommend this for anyone who enjoys history, I have learnt a few things and have had a few things I thought I knew confirmed. A king that I feel is not giving enough credit for his reign. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book..

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A good insight

An enjoyable read and very interesting insight into his reign through difficult and challenging years

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Loved it!!

This is a fascinating book!!! Beautifully written and performed. Very gripping surprisingly, I will certainly look forward to reading more from this author!

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Loved it! Jane Ridley is brilliant

A very interesting and well written book. The narration is nice and I really enjoyed it. I'm sure I'll be listening to it again soon

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Excellent book, excellent listen

Very engaging narration of a great, impeccably researched book. Definitely worth it. Interesting historical detail

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