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maggie_sotos's review against another edition
3.0
A well-researched and documented story, this fills in many of the gaps surrounding Lionel Logue and his background as a speech pathologist. I was hesitant at first when I realized this book is by the grandson of the famous man, fearing this would be one of those "moon reflecting the light of the sun" types of set ups.
Glad I stuck it out! This definitely gave me a greater appreciation for the work and preparation that this team put into curing the Duke's speech impediment. I great story of support, encouragement, and triumph.
Now, is the title hyperbolic and overblown? Yes. Logue did not "save" the British Monarchy, by any stretch of the imagination. The monarchy would have continued whether or not its ruler had a stutter or not. And in fact I found the last few pages of the book to be the most thought-provoking, as the author finally addressed the troublesome fact that, by editing each of the king's speeches beforehand and removing the toughest words, Logue never in fact completely "cured" the monarch of his stutter. As a millennial who has been bombarded with enough of this nonsense about "participation trophies" and "expecting everything to be done for them," I felt a little annoyed to learn that after all of this praise and legend about the king conquering his own speech impediment, it turns out his speech therapist was actually taking the hardest words out of all of his speeches for him. That felt like cheating, somehow, or at least a diluted victory. Sorry, but at some point you just call bullshit on that. You're not cured of something if you're just removing the most challenging levels of obstruction.
Glad I stuck it out! This definitely gave me a greater appreciation for the work and preparation that this team put into curing the Duke's speech impediment. I great story of support, encouragement, and triumph.
Now, is the title hyperbolic and overblown? Yes. Logue did not "save" the British Monarchy, by any stretch of the imagination. The monarchy would have continued whether or not its ruler had a stutter or not. And in fact I found the last few pages of the book to be the most thought-provoking, as the author finally addressed the troublesome fact that, by editing each of the king's speeches beforehand and removing the toughest words, Logue never in fact completely "cured" the monarch of his stutter. As a millennial who has been bombarded with enough of this nonsense about "participation trophies" and "expecting everything to be done for them," I felt a little annoyed to learn that after all of this praise and legend about the king conquering his own speech impediment, it turns out his speech therapist was actually taking the hardest words out of all of his speeches for him. That felt like cheating, somehow, or at least a diluted victory. Sorry, but at some point you just call bullshit on that. You're not cured of something if you're just removing the most challenging levels of obstruction.
melspedit's review against another edition
4.0
Definitely different than the movie. Gives great context to the times Logue and the king were living in and the importance of Logue's work and the king's duties.
kaykayhoo's review against another edition
5.0
The title was a bit misleading because the entire book was more than how "one man saved the British Monarchy." The book discussed Lionel Logue's upbringing, his working and personal relationship with the King, and a quick recap of the war when George VI reigned. A well-written book that was truly enjoyable. The fact that the book was written after the movie didn't make it a mediocre read. Instead the book gave details and I got to know Lionel Logue better. His life long friendship with the king was simply sublime.
The audiobook version included George VI's famous war speech, and the book included some precious pictures.
The audiobook version included George VI's famous war speech, and the book included some precious pictures.
mmarijkev's review against another edition
2.0
Couldn't wait to finish this book... so I could start a new one. This book couldn't keep my attention because it's more like a long and dry summary of all the facts Mark Logue found. While the back off the book didn't make that very clear before reading. I thinks it's probably a great book if you're somehow related to the Logues, or family of friends, or have some other connection with them. Probably also if you have a special interest in British history, and specifically King George VI.
Just not my kind of book.
Just not my kind of book.
beckmank's review against another edition
5.0
An excellent book. I picked this up after watching the film to learn more about Lionel Logue and his work with King George VI. I was surprised to discover that the film was not based on this book. In fact, the author chose to write this book when he discovered they were making the film. Written by Mark Logue, Lionel's grandson, he had always known his grandfather had helped the king, but it never hit him as to how important his grandfather's work was until the movie studio contacted him about the upcoming film.
Mark went through Lionel's old papers and hunted down scrapbooks passed through the family so he could write out his grandfather's full story. Lionel had kept every letter he sent to and received from the King. He cut out all newspaper clippings he could find related to the King's various speeches and saved them in a scrapbook, and he kept a diary with personal accounts.
I found this book to be very deeply moving. The relationship was that of friendship, but it was clear that the two men were in different classes through their letters and interactions. I also found it fascinating that Albert (known as Bertie), Duke of York and "the spare" to the throne, should not only find himself suddenly and unexpectedly crowned King in 1936 as his brother left for a life of exile, but then less than three years later be the leader of a country drawn into the second world war. Looking at both Logue and Bertie's lives through the lens of his treatment and speeches was a very interesting perspective.
Mark went through Lionel's old papers and hunted down scrapbooks passed through the family so he could write out his grandfather's full story. Lionel had kept every letter he sent to and received from the King. He cut out all newspaper clippings he could find related to the King's various speeches and saved them in a scrapbook, and he kept a diary with personal accounts.
I found this book to be very deeply moving. The relationship was that of friendship, but it was clear that the two men were in different classes through their letters and interactions. I also found it fascinating that Albert (known as Bertie), Duke of York and "the spare" to the throne, should not only find himself suddenly and unexpectedly crowned King in 1936 as his brother left for a life of exile, but then less than three years later be the leader of a country drawn into the second world war. Looking at both Logue and Bertie's lives through the lens of his treatment and speeches was a very interesting perspective.
wvalice's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting look at the birth of modern speech therapy, the first real proponent of it, and the role it played in the life of King George VI.
bookworm1858's review against another edition
3.0
The King's Speech by Mark Logue and Peter Conradi
Sterling, 2010
229 pages
Non-fiction; Book to Screen
3/5 stars
Source: Christmas present from my sister
Summary: The story of Australian commoner Lionel Logue, the speech therapist who helped the future King George VI, or Bertie, overcome a speech impediment as well as their friendship.
Thoughts: I loved the movie so of course I was pleased to see the historical account of the men. I know that movies often compress and distort a story so I wanted to read a more in-depth version. Unfortunately I was disappointed with this book.
On the one hand, the book draws out the story instead of the somewhat compressed storyline in the movie. It covers all of the years that Logue knew Bertie and how their friendship grew and continued to the end of King George's life.
On the other hand, the writing was very repetitive and the focus was a bit too narrow. I would have liked more of a traditional biography of both men included, which would have made this a much longer book, admittedly. Most of the points were repeated many times without variation and without adding anything to my knowledge. There were also several editing errors, I guess because they wanted the book out for the holiday season and the release of the film.
Overall: If you are very, very interested in the film, maybe try this; otherwise skip.
Cover: Geoffrey Rush + Colin Firth = Awesome!
Sterling, 2010
229 pages
Non-fiction; Book to Screen
3/5 stars
Source: Christmas present from my sister
Summary: The story of Australian commoner Lionel Logue, the speech therapist who helped the future King George VI, or Bertie, overcome a speech impediment as well as their friendship.
Thoughts: I loved the movie so of course I was pleased to see the historical account of the men. I know that movies often compress and distort a story so I wanted to read a more in-depth version. Unfortunately I was disappointed with this book.
On the one hand, the book draws out the story instead of the somewhat compressed storyline in the movie. It covers all of the years that Logue knew Bertie and how their friendship grew and continued to the end of King George's life.
On the other hand, the writing was very repetitive and the focus was a bit too narrow. I would have liked more of a traditional biography of both men included, which would have made this a much longer book, admittedly. Most of the points were repeated many times without variation and without adding anything to my knowledge. There were also several editing errors, I guess because they wanted the book out for the holiday season and the release of the film.
Overall: If you are very, very interested in the film, maybe try this; otherwise skip.
Cover: Geoffrey Rush + Colin Firth = Awesome!
the_bec's review against another edition
5.0
When I saw the first trailer for 'The King's Speech', I knew it was a movie I had to see. (I now own it.) I also knew that if there was a book to go along with the movie, I had to read it. After seeing the movie, I finally got my hands on a library copy of 'The King's Speech' to read. I was expecting to read the version of the movie, to have something of a relaxing day just going over the textual version of what I'd watched. I was wrong.
The movie, while entirely splendid, does not do this novel, or the true story, justice enough. From the first pages you are introduced to the two men, Lionel Logue and King George VI (or 'Bertie' as I love to call him). The former is an Australian born man of modest theater performances, the latter the second son of the British monarchy. The first few chapters bring these unlikely friends together when Logue, an amateur speech therapist, assists the then Duke of York with his severe stammering problem.
The book follows their relationship as Bertie progresses through his role as Duke, and then King after his brother's Abdication. It also follows Logue, who aside from his moments of fame due to his connection with HRH, lives a modest life as a speech coach in England. The text further tells of their work together through the King's rule, the second world war and beyond, seen through the king's famous speeches.
By the end of the novel, which carries the reader into the two men's deaths, you feel as if you've read a slice of biography about one of the most influential monarch's in England's vast history, but a piece that was untold until now. The impact is very rewarding.
Colin Firth portrayed Bertie in the film, and I believe he said it best in the behind the scenes footage that came with my DVD. He called it a "bromance."
The movie, while entirely splendid, does not do this novel, or the true story, justice enough. From the first pages you are introduced to the two men, Lionel Logue and King George VI (or 'Bertie' as I love to call him). The former is an Australian born man of modest theater performances, the latter the second son of the British monarchy. The first few chapters bring these unlikely friends together when Logue, an amateur speech therapist, assists the then Duke of York with his severe stammering problem.
The book follows their relationship as Bertie progresses through his role as Duke, and then King after his brother's Abdication. It also follows Logue, who aside from his moments of fame due to his connection with HRH, lives a modest life as a speech coach in England. The text further tells of their work together through the King's rule, the second world war and beyond, seen through the king's famous speeches.
By the end of the novel, which carries the reader into the two men's deaths, you feel as if you've read a slice of biography about one of the most influential monarch's in England's vast history, but a piece that was untold until now. The impact is very rewarding.
Colin Firth portrayed Bertie in the film, and I believe he said it best in the behind the scenes footage that came with my DVD. He called it a "bromance."
jpalfreyman's review against another edition
3.0
Overall this is a very interesting read, but the movie gave it more life. This is written by the grandson of the King's therapist. He was born 12 years after his grandfather's death and knew very little about his life until Hollywood came calling. This story is amazing because the therapist/patient relationship, which survived the over-whelming, the good, the bad and the ugly.