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A review by lisyda
Elizabeth & Margaret: The Intimate World of the Windsor Sisters by Andrew Morton
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
For someone who hasn't read a ton of different biographies about the royal family, this was a very interesting read. I was recommended this book after I finished The Crown (loved that final scene!) and I'm really glad I picked it up.
Although it's a non-fiction book, it's written in a storytelling style, which makes it quite easy to read. Facts have been stringed together into depictions of moments in the sisters' lives. Since visual mediums – e.g. shows like The Crown in this case – have an easier time of implanting their stories in our minds, the lines between fact and fiction get blurred and muddied, so I appreciated getting a more factual overview of some of the stories that had already taken root in my brain from the TV show.
While the book tells the story of both Elizabeth and Margaret, it felt like there was more of an emphasis on Margaret's narrative, especially in the later half of the book. Based on a couple of other reviews, I'm not alone in feeling that way, but it seems to make sense as there have been more works published on the life of Elizabeth already. Nonetheless, it was a very interesting read and I always find it fascinating to glimpse these times gone by.
The part I found most intriguing was the truth about Margaret and Peter Townsend's relationship and the marriage that didn't happen. It was also interesting to note that their correspondence will be made public in 2030, so I'm predicting Margaret & Peter books being published in the future.
If you're like me and haven't read every royal biography out there but are still interested in learning more about the history, I'd recommend picking this one up.
Although it's a non-fiction book, it's written in a storytelling style, which makes it quite easy to read. Facts have been stringed together into depictions of moments in the sisters' lives. Since visual mediums – e.g. shows like The Crown in this case – have an easier time of implanting their stories in our minds, the lines between fact and fiction get blurred and muddied, so I appreciated getting a more factual overview of some of the stories that had already taken root in my brain from the TV show.
While the book tells the story of both Elizabeth and Margaret, it felt like there was more of an emphasis on Margaret's narrative, especially in the later half of the book. Based on a couple of other reviews, I'm not alone in feeling that way, but it seems to make sense as there have been more works published on the life of Elizabeth already. Nonetheless, it was a very interesting read and I always find it fascinating to glimpse these times gone by.
The part I found most intriguing was the truth about Margaret and Peter Townsend's relationship and the marriage that didn't happen. It was also interesting to note that their correspondence will be made public in 2030, so I'm predicting Margaret & Peter books being published in the future.
If you're like me and haven't read every royal biography out there but are still interested in learning more about the history, I'd recommend picking this one up.