The Firm: The Troubled Life of the House of Windsor - Softcover

Penny Junor

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0007326467 ISBN 13: 9780007326464

Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers, 2009

Synopsis

It would be hard to invent a group of personalities more extraordinary than the British Royal Family -- known as 'The Firm' by Prince Philip. With an eye on the past, present and future, this book takes an up-to-date look at how the family really operates and reveals how they behave behind closed doors. With showbiz stars and sporting celebrities now attracting the adulation once afforded to royalty, The Firm questions what monarchy is for. Is it a hangover from the past, an expensive anachronism, a relic of a bygone age of deference and hierarchy, or is it an important and relevant part of Britain in the 21st century -- something that gives stability and continuity to the country, and richness and glamour to our national life in ways that a republic never could? If so, do the media mock, hound and criticize the Royal Family at their peril? Has Prince Charles sacrificed the throne for love? Could Prince William decide that the long lenses and the scrutiny of his private life is too high a price to pay? Penny will also look at how the dynamics of the royal household have changed over the last year and what repercussions these changes will have. Whilst in the hardback edition Penny Junor was able to discuss the implications of Charles and Camilla's marriage only two months after it was announced, the paperback promises to offer a host of new surprises and implication for the future of the House of Windsor, as well as an inside view of how The Firm have taken in their newest member. Whatever happens over the next year, we can be sure that Penny will update this paperback edition to make it an essential buy for anyone who has even a passing interest in Britain's most dysfunctional and fascinating family.

About this title

About the Author:

Penny Junor is a frequent commentator on the Royal Family on TV and in the press. She is the author of a number of bestselling royal and political biographies.

Review:

London journalist and longtime Windsor-watcher Junor ("Home Truths,"" Charles: Victim or Villian?, Charles and Diana: Portrait of a Marriage," etc.) considers the British royal family's continuation into the 21st century in this sympathetic account, covering Diana's death to the present day. The explanation, Junor believes, lies both in the "magic" of the monarchy and in the family's organization into the titular businesslike entity, a phrase coined by Prince Philip. She asserts that the value of the monarchy-during this era without hierarchy, deference and respect-is to act as "a fixture in this morass" of modern life. Junor has met nearly all the royals, as well as many of their associates, and her observations plus long excerpts from interviews give the book an insider feel. This is a favorable, respectful portrait: Junor tempers any criticisms with admiring descriptions of the royals' good deeds, especially their charity work. And despite the book's subtitle, she doesn't dwell on the royal scandals, focusing instead on the details of her subjects' lives and personalities. This approach generates some extraneous chapters, such as the passage exploring the minutia of the Queen's private interests (e.g. horses). However, this book's depth and gentle commentary on a subject usually dominated by tabloid expos??'s should gratify those with an affectionate interest in Britain's monarchy. "Color photos."" (July)" "... a solid analysis of the monarchy." --"Booklist""A favorable, respectful portrait . . . should gratify those with affectionate interest in Britain's monarchy." ---"Publishers Weekly" "Interesting . . . jaw-dropping . . . highly recommended." ---"Library Journal" .,." a solid analysis of the monarchy." --"Booklist""A favorable, respectful portrait . . . should gratify those with affectionate interest in Britain's monarchy." ---"Publishers Weekly" "Interesting . . . jaw-dropping . . . highly recommended." ---"Library Journal" JUNOR, PENNY. The Firm: The Troubled Life of the House of Windsor. Thomas Dunne Bks: St. Martin's. 2005. c.464p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 0-312-35274-3. $25.95. HIST Readers of this interesting and occasionally jaw-dropping look at the world's most famous dysfunctional family will find plenty to engage them. Journalist and royal biographer Junor (Charles: Victim or Villain; Diana, Princess of Wales) tells the reader that "the Queen...believes that with few exceptions everything that has gone wrong for the monarchy in the last twenty years has been attributable to Mrs. Parker Bowles." And the reason Prince Harry wore a Nazi uniform to a costume party? "Today's young are blissfully unaware of history (some of them aren't even taught it in our schools)." The reader comes away from the book feeling that had this family ever actually sat down and talked to one another a lot of their very public misfortunes might have been avoided. However, Junor doesn't just dish the dirt. She goes to a great deal of trouble to explain how "The Firm" works (and the queen, Princes Philip and Charles, and Princess Anne work very hardindeed) and at what actual cost to the nation. Given the Royal Family's frequent appearance in the headlines, this work is sure to be in demand. Highly recommended for all public libraries.-Elizabeth Mellett, Brookline P.L., MA .".. a solid analysis of the monarchy." --"Booklist" ..." a solid analysis of the monarchy." --"Booklist"

About this edition

• Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0007326467
• ISBN 13: 9780007326464
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 496