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A review by the_bec
The King's Speech: How One Man Saved the British Monarchy by Peter Conradi, Mark Logue
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."