Books

Edward VII

This lavish pictorial biography tells the public and private story of an unusual 'rake's progress.' For the first sixty years of his life Edward had fought against respectability and - in so doing - confirmed the low opinion of him held by his mother Queen Victoria. Yet, by the time of his death in 1910 only nine years after succeeding to the throne, he had become a symbol of security toa society which was uncertain and deeply divided within itself.

Kept in ignorance of state affairs by his mother Edward spent his life as Prince of Wales persuing pleasure and freely indulging his passion for the chase. Horses, yachts, cars and spas were among his favourite pastimes, while scandalous liaisons with 'professional beauties' nearly proved his undoing.

Succinctly and entertainingly, with the aid of 250 photographs, prints and drawings, Judd describes the life and reign of one of England's most flamboyant kings. In private life Edward VII was a devoted husband to Alexandra and an excellent father to their children (the future George V called him 'my best friend and the best of fathers'), and once he was in office his conviviality and natural gift for diplomacy proved invaluable in ending Britain's policy of 'splendid isolation'. It was only fitting that he should give his name to an era.

Reviews

"Many of the photographs are excellent and little known."
- Raymond Mortimer, Punch

"It is a pleasant book to read and look at."
- Best Sellers