Bøker av Sally Bedell Smith

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER *;The life and loves of Prince Charles are illuminated in a major new biography from the New York Times bestselling author of Elizabeth the Queenperfect for fans of The Crown. Sally Bedell Smith returns once again to the British royal family to give us a new look at Prince Charles, the oldest heir to the throne in more than three hundred years. This vivid, eye-opening biographythe product of four years of research and hundreds of interviews with palace officials, former girlfriends, spiritual gurus, and more, some speaking on the record for the first timeis the first authoritative treatment of Charles's life that sheds light on the death of Diana, his marriage to Camilla, and his preparations to take the throne one day. Prince Charles brings to life the real man, with all of his ambitions, insecurities, and convictions. It begins with his lonely childhood, in which he struggled to live up to his father's expectations and sought companionship from the Queen Mother and his great-uncle Lord Mountbatten. It follows him through difficult years at school, his early love affairs, his intellectual quests, his entrepreneurial pursuits, and his intense search for spiritual meaning. It tells of the tragedy of his marriage to Diana; his eventual reunion with his true love, Camilla; and his relationships with William, Kate, Harry, and his grandchildren. Ranging from his glamorous palaces to his country homes, from his globe-trotting travels to his local initiatives, Smith shows how Prince Charles possesses a fiercely independent spirit and yet has spent more than six decades waiting for his destined role, living a life dictated by protocols he often struggles to obey. With keen insight and the discovery of unexpected new details, Smith lays bare the contradictions of a man who is more complicated, tragic, and compelling than we knew, until now.Praise forPrince Charles';[Smith] understands the British upper classes and aristocracy (including the royals) very well indeed. . . . [She] makes many telling, shrewd points in pursuit of realigning the popular image of Prince Charles.'William Boyd, The New York Times Book Review';[A] masterly account.'The Wall Street Journal ';Thoroughly researched and insightful . . . In this profile, it is clear [Smith] got inside the circular barriers that protect the man and his position. The Charles that emerges is, as the subtitle suggests, both a paradox and a creature of his passions.'The Washington Times';[A] compellingly juicy bio . . . Windsor-philes will be mesmerized.'People ';Prince Charles paints an affectingly human portrait. . . . Smith writes about [Charles's life] with a skill and sympathy she perfected in her 2012 biography of Charles's mother.'The Christian Science Monitor';Comprehensive and admirably fair . . . Until his accession to the throne, Smith's portrait will stand as the definitive study.'Booklist(starred review)';[A] fascinating book that is not just about a man who would be king, but also about the duties that come with privilege.'Walter Isaacson';Sally Bedell Smith has given us a complete and compelling portrait of the man in the shadow of the throne. It's all here, from the back stairs of the palaces to the front pages of the tabs.'Tom Brokaw

A deeply personal account, of how King George VI and Queen Elizabeth's loving marriage saved the monarchy during World War II, and how they raised their daughter to become Queen Elizabeth II, based on exclusive access to the Royal Archives From the bestselling author of Elizabeth the Queen and Prince Charles'Sally Bedell Smith takes us into the inner sanctum of the Windsors, giving us an intimate and gripping portrait of a royal marriage that survived betrayal, tragedy, and war. The product of meticulous research, George VI and Elizabeth is an unputdownable book' Amanda Foreman, bestselling author of Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire--- Granted special access by Queen Elizabeth II to her parents' letters and diaries and to the papers of their close friends and family, Sally Bedell Smith brings the love story of this iconic royal couple to vibrant life. This deeply researched and revealing book shows how a loving and devoted marriage helped the King and Queen meet the challenges of World War II, lead a nation, solidify the public's faith in the monarchy, and raise their daughters, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret. From the abdication of King Edward VIII in 1936, to King George VI's fierce leadership as we navigated World War II, this is the definitive account of not only the man behind the throne, but the woman - and the marriage - that made his reign so successful. Forming relationships with Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt, and inspiring the British people with their courage and compassion during the blitz, George VI and Elizabeth also raised their daughter Princess Elizabeth. It was from her parents' leadership that she spent her childhood learning, watching, and preparing to become the future queen.---'Sally Bedell Smith's reputation rests on her commitment to scholarship and access to previously undiscovered information. But it's not enough to find it-you have to bring wisdom to it. This book is a deeply moving marvel' Peggy Noonan, columnist for Wall Street Journal'Sally Bedell Smith has written a richly textured and deeply moving paean to the power of duty, honor, and courage in Britain's darkest-and finest-hour' Evan Thomas, author of First: Sandra Day O'Connor'With a marvelous combination of sympathy and perception, Sally Bedell Smith has created a memorable and touching portrait of two decent people who took on a job they never wanted and did it with dedication, courage, and success' Margaret MacMillan, author of War: How Conflict Shaped Us

"When the Duke of Windsor abdicated the throne in 1936, his shy, uncertain, unprepared younger brother became King. Sally Bedell Smith was granted by Queen Elizabeth II special access to the letters and diaries of George VI and Elizabeth, to tell the story of how their love, devotion, and strong marriage led George VI to overcome insecurities and difficulty speaking and to become an exceptional leader. His wife Elizabeth, a pretty, confident, and outgoing woman, who became known later in life as 'the Queen Mum,' simultaneously strengthened and advised her temperamental husband, while raising the future Queen Elizabeth II (who at an early age was educated to lead, and fell in love at 15 with Prince Philip) and Princess Margaret. Sally Bedell Smith explores how this loving and devoted marriage helped the king and queen meet the challenges of leading the country through war, London during the blitz, their relationship with Winston Churchill, their visit with Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt in Washington and Hyde Park, and more"

A biography of Pamela Churchill Harriman, based on over 800 interviews and archival research, charting her life from marriage to Churchills son, Randolph, through two further marriages to her eventual appointment as US Ambassador to France.

The FIRST MAJOR BIOGRAPHY to seek out the real Charles, from the New York Times bestselling author of Elizabeth the Queen. 'Brilliant, startling. The royal biography everyone's talking about' Daily Mail----------------------------- Drawing on extensive access to the Royal Family's inner circle, Sally Bedell Smith delivers unprecedented insights into Prince Charles, a man who possesses a fiercely independent spirit, and yet has spent his life in waiting for the ultimate role. Beginning with his lonely childhood, Smith details his intellectual quests, his entrepreneurial pursuits, and his love affairs, from the tragedy of his marriage to Diana to his eventual reunion with Camilla, as well as his relationship with the next generation of royals, including Will, Kate, Harry, and his beloved grandchildren. As this sweeping biography shows, Prince Charles is more complicated and compelling than we knew, until now.'For all we know about Prince Charles, there is so much we didn't know - until now.' Tom Brokaw

'To have any understanding of the Queen you must first read this book' Amanda ForemanIn THE DEFINITIVE BIOGRAPHY, discover Elizabeth, the woman behind the throne, from the bestselling British Royal Family writer, Sally Bedell Smith.----------------------------- An intimate portrait of Her Majesty the Queen.This definitive biography of Queen Elizabeth II is the first all-round, up-close picture of one of the most fascinating, enigmatic and admired women in the world. With exclusive access to the Queen's personal letters, close friends and associates, this intimate biography is a treasure trove of fresh insights on her public persona and her private life. It also explores her close relationships with her family, her children, and Prince Philip. This book will transport you back to a moment nine decades ago when a young Princess Elizabeth first discovered her destiny. Here we see how over the years she has navigated through the political challenges and personal sacrifices ahead of her, to put the Crown, the Country and her unswerving sense of duty first. There is so much more to our Queen than that which is reported, but in these pages we at last get to meet the leader, strategist, and diplomat; the daughter, wife, mother and grandmother - Elizabeth the Queen.'Sally Bedell Smith offers her readers the illusion of knowing the Queen as a friend' The Economist'A worthy addition to the shelves of royal watchers everywhere' The Independent