The Strangest Family: The Private Lives of George III, Queen Charlotte and the Hanoverians

Probably a great book but...

What did you like most about The Strangest Family: The Private Lives of George III, Queen Charlotte and the Hanoverians?

I'm sure this is a fascinating story. It appears to be beautifully researched but perhaps a little heavy on the groundwork as half the book is about the preceding Georges! This DOES give context which is helpful, but I really don't think it needed to be so long. I got to two thirds through and still no mention of the 'madness of King George'!

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Strangest Family: The Private Lives of George III, Queen Charlotte and the Hanoverians?

I gave up as I couldn't stand the silly little girl voices in the narration. I do hope it's re-narrated at some point as I DO believe the book itself would be excellent and I, for one, would be willing to buy another version as I think the author has done a great job.

What didn’t you like about Adjoa Andoh’s performance?

She ruined it. She reads intelligently and very clearly which is one of the reasons I bought it as the sample was great but she will insist on reading the female voices as though they are 4 year old children. This works when the characters ARE children but when she is conveying a strong, educated and feisty woman, it just sounds daft and is utterly offputting. It actually made me scream out loud at one point as she renders their words absurd.

(Imagine a 4 year old giving pronouncements on matters of state or liberal education and add a couple of octaves to your imagining, mix in a bit of a whiny 2 year old and you'll have her narration perfectly!

Any additional comments?

My review should IN NO WAY reflect on the quality of the book itself which I think is excellent and the author has done a fantastic job with her research and narrates an intelligent, coherent timeline. Just the ridiculous narration voices that spoil it.

12 of 12 people found this review helpful

In depth account of a dysfunctional family

Where does The Strangest Family: The Private Lives of George III, Queen Charlotte and the Hanoverians rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I found the topic interesting because I do not know much about the Hanoverians and British dynasties. By focusing on their family and personal lives, I now have a clearer idea of the personality and background of the members of this family.

What did you like best about this story?

What a dysfunctional lot. It makes you realize how little emotional intelligence people had and how being a king or a royal made you a prisoner of your destiny more than the actor of it. You don t finish this book thinking you would like to be one of them.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Unhappiness begets unhappiness, especially for kings

Any additional comments?

The depiction of George III and his family was a bit long and repetitive but it is not the fault of the author: George III was emotionnally rigid, adverse to change and made the life of his many children a motionless misery for over 50 years. Recounting all that (and his bouts of madness) definitely makes for a long depiction of unhappiness and over-boring domestic life.

11 of 11 people found this review helpful

Fascinating story

Where does The Strangest Family: The Private Lives of George III, Queen Charlotte and the Hanoverians rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is one of the best historical biographies I can recall listening to (if the life stories of about 25 people can be described as being "a" biography)

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Strangest Family: The Private Lives of George III, Queen Charlotte and the Hanoverians?

The descriptions of George III's descent into madness is, as always, a fascinating field for historical speculation, and the relationship of the Prince Regent with his wife again, as always provides some fine farce!

Have you listened to any of Adjoa Andoh’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The isolation of the Princesses by their parents is a challenge for any historian to justify, and some of their sad letters to their brothers and putative husbands/lovers are particularly moving

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed this reading. It seems to me to be a particularly challenging task to progress the life stories of so many people in a coherent and understandable manner, a task that the author has achieved.
The story is so fascinating that I kept seeing it as a potential "bonnet-drama" on BBC on Sunday night!
Its a long "listen" but at the end I was under the impression that the lives of the sons of George and Charlotte were rather ignored at the expense of the fascinating (if ultimately dull) lives of the daughters...the fate of Mrs. Jordan would provide enough material for a book of its own!
That apart I can strongly recommend this book and this reading of it. Thanks.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Couldn't stop listening. A briiliant book!

I really enjoyed this book. A very engaging book and I feel I have learned so much about this dysfunctional and fascinating family! I am now disappointed I have finished it! It is a long book and I thought I could be bored in places but how wrong I was! Beautifully written and the narration is brilliant as well! Five stars all around!

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

A little confusing

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I got a bit confused about which George was which in the first half of the book, we kept jumping between I, II and III. A very interesting listen and some parts quite unbelievable.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Sad but understandable given the oddities of royalty.

What about Adjoa Andoh’s performance did you like?

Lovely reading voice.

If this book were a film would you go see it?

No, I prefer the family to remain in my imagination from half remembered portraits and school history books.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Engaging and detailed

For those interested in British history, this is a thoughtfully constructed perspective which nuances understanding of this period popularly examined through the lense of the monarchy's engagement with parliament. The argument for the central importance of detailed examination of the royal household and its internal dynamics is persuasive. It provides us with some new ways of thinking about the transition through and the end of an era with vastly different ideas of court, kingship and family than those worked out during the long nineteenth century. Fascinating content, and well read.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Fascinating history

What did you like most about The Strangest Family: The Private Lives of George III, Queen Charlotte and the Hanoverians?

This was a period of history I knew next to nothing about, and the in depth treatment of the subject has certainly changed that for me.

Who was your favorite character and why?

All of the principal characters were equally intriguing - the roles of the various princes of Wales and their relationship to their fathers is quite unbelievable.

What about Adjoa Andoh’s performance did you like?

When giving a simple narration, she is excellent - clear diction and with feeling.
Not quite as good when quoting the characters, but her voices were, I think, consistent, even if, at times, quite strident and, as another reviewer has said, child-like. It took a bit of getting used to, but, unlike the other reviewer, it certainly did not put me off the book, and I would happily listen to other works narrated by her.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This is not a book with much happiness! Hearing the constant stream of family discord didn't cause an "emotional reaction", but I was left thinking how different it could have been. The final episode of madness was sad - I came away from the book with a more sympathy for George III than I started with.

Any additional comments?

A fascinating read - I recommend it.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

What lives they had.

What a looooong book. I would recommend it be read/ listen to in 3 or 4 chunks with something lighter in between. Having said that it is a well written and well narrated book which casts a different light onto the lives of King George iii and his rather large family. I would recommend this book but read it in smaller chunks.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Fascinating Read

This was a fascinating insight into the whole life of King George 111 and his family - not just wholly about his illness although this of course has to play a large part. The rest of the family are also shown as interesting people.

Extremely Interesting

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, it is an excellent book for history lovers - it is engaging, interesting and performed well.

What did you like best about this story?

I didn't know much about this period of British history and this book seemlessly drives you through the family history (and all of the Georges) in a smooth ride which keeps you engaged and eager to hear more. Often Non Fiction books are very hard to listen to as they offer up lists of dry dates and its hard to follow but this book doesn't fall into that trap.

Which character – as performed by Adjoa Andoh – was your favourite?

I thought the narrator was adapt at using different voices to bring the characters to life and, more importantly, distinguish between all the characters (there are a lot of people to keep track of - often with the same name).

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, but it is hard to do so as there is a lot of information to digest, but it certainly makes you want to come back for more. I did not get tired of listening to this book.

Any additional comments?

This book takes you on a journey through the history of this dysfunctional family. It not only gives you the facts but it dives into the relationships and gives you a fascinating insight into why the characters behaved the way they did. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about House of Hanover.