This is a complete, beautifully photographed photographic history of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II from her coronation in 1952 to the Golden Jubilee this year. The photographs feature both the public pomp and circumstance and the elaborate preparations that go on behind the scenes. We see red carpets being swept, state carriages undergoing repairs, robes being laid out and rehearsals taking place to create the colorful occasions that are the hallmark of the British monarchy.
Sarah Bradford, an accomplished and very thorough biographer, offers a highly sympathetic and detailed account of Queen Elizabeth II's life up to the mid-1990s. The book sparkles early with fascinating accounts of the Queen's formative years, particularly those during the scandal involving the Duke of Windsor and her father's subsequent -- and highly successful -- reign. In her presentation of Queen Elizabeth's reign, Bradford's biography is occasionally bogged down by an excess of names. The Queen's fondness for horses is also presented in extensive detail. Nevertheless, this biography is successful at providing a peek into Queen Elizabeth's life and offering insight into the Queen's dedication to her role as Queen of Britain and the Commonwealth.
