Edward VII: Prince and King - Softcover

St Aubyn, Giles

Softcover

ISBN 10: 057126994X ISBN 13: 9780571269945

Publisher: Faber and Faber, 2011

Synopsis

'An exceptional study, which fascinates, entertain, and illuminates.' The New Yorker

Through half a century of public service King Edward had the advantage of a private secretary whose tact, judgement, loyalty and affection never failed him. Francis Knollys was one of that small intimate circle from whom he had no secrets, personal or political. Previous biographers of the King have lamented the too perfect discretion that led Knollys to destroy all his papers on his master's death, but in fact his discretion outreached even its own reputation. The Knollys Papers were preserved with the perfect secrecy that their creator practised in the discharge of his office, but were put at the disposal of the author, enabling him to extend and deepen the commonly held portrait of a man whose physical grossness has, as in the case of the Prince Regent, been allowed to obscure both a keen intelligence and a serious even conscientious pursuit of duty. King Edward is here shown to have deserved the deep affection and respect felt for him by his private secretary.

'In Edward VII Giles St Aubyn has splendidly filled the gap between hagiography and muck-raking ... one of the most elegant yet solidly-founded studies so far produced of this splendid monarch.'. Sunday Telegraph

'This book has delighted me by its good judgement of character and its pungency, as well as by the important new material it includes.' Raymond Mortimer

About this title

About the Author:

The Hon. Giles St Aubyn was born in 1925, and was educated at Wellington College and Trinity College, Oxford. He was for a short time in the Navy during the Second World War. He subsequently taught at Eton, becoming head of the History Department in 1961. His books include Lord Macaulay, The Art of Argument, A Victorian Eminence: the life and works of Henry Thomas Buckle, The Royal George: the life of HRH Prince George, Duke of Cambridge, 1819-1904, A World to Win and Infamous Victorians.

About this edition

• Publisher: Faber and Faber
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 057126994X
• ISBN 13: 9780571269945
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 588