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The Queen Mother cover art

The Queen Mother

By: Lady Colin Campbell
Narrated by: Jennifer M. Campbell
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Summary

Packed with stunning revelations, this is the inside story of The Queen Mother from the New York Times best-selling author who first revealed the truth about Princess Diana.

Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother has been called the 'most successful queen since Cleopatra'. Her personality was so captivating that even her arch-enemy, Wallis Simpson, wrote about 'her legendary charm'.

Portrayed as a selfless partner to the king in the Oscar-winning movie The King's Speech, The Queen Mother is most often remembered from her later years as the smiling granny with the pastel hats. When she died in 2002, just short of her 102nd birthday, she was praised for a long life well lived. But there was another side to her story.

For the first time, Lady Colin Campbell shows us that the untold life of The Queen Mother is far more fascinating and moving than the official version that has been peddled ever since she became royal in 1923. With unparalleled sources - including members of the royal family, aristocrats and friends and relatives of Elizabeth herself, this mesmerising account takes us inside the real and sometimes astonishing world of the royal family.

©2012 Lady Colin Campbell (P)2018 Tantor

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What listeners say about The Queen Mother

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Very interesting

A very interesting and eye opening listen just proves how much we don’t know about the history of the royal family’s

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Not up to standard.

It is a pity Lady C.never,thought to ask different people to comment,on the character,of The,Queen Mother..
The Duke of Windso..and The Duchess Of Argyll..Both of whome were of very bad character,the Duke a Nazi sympathvisor and The Duchess of Argyl W
ell a woman who had her photo taken sucking a naked man,s penis...I must admit I was very surprised when I read their comments... and lets not forget the Duke was debatable a German spy.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Entertaining malicious gossip

Well known facts of a well known life but slanted to show the scheming unpleasant side of the Queen Mum.
The narrator is flat voiced and mispronounces so many easy names and places that it grates. ForFAR, Balcarres, Southesk, capercaillie, Castle of Mey (Mai ?) etc. Does no-one check these ?

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1 person found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A bit of an eye opener

Having lived through WW2, my mother adored ‘The Queen Mum’. Not sure what she’d have made of this book, which portrays her icon as having been an unpleasant narcissistic manipulator whose public face of charm was merely an act (the first of several such women to enter the Royal Family in recent years).

One gets the feeling that there is no love lost between the author and her subject in this well researched, detailed and deep-digging biography which covers Elizabeth’s long life from conception to death. Lady Colin Campbell has not shied away from the use of court gossip but it is, for the most part, bolstered by fact or viable reasoning.

The narrator falls short, being monotone and at times sounding like she’s reading a shopping list.
Nevertheless, I stuck with it to the end, partly with my eyes popping at some of the details revealed and partly because it was, overall, an interesting book.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Narration so awfulness Narration, unlistenable

Story interesting. Narration too awful to listen to. Is it the author? The voice is crucial, especially for older listeners

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great read

Really enjoyed this audio book - well researched - with a great insight into the character of the QM. Not quite as sweet as we’ve been led to believe

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Enlightening

Well I'd heard some of the rumours but it's wonderful to have them so eloquently confirmed by Lady C, who, in my opinion, is always fair, balanced and truthful. A fascinating listen and highly recommended to anyone who has an interest in the history of the Royal Family.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Well that was a surprise!

Shows how little we know about how the other half live.

Good narration. Interesting and informative.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Exciting and a bit salacious

I enjoyed learning new facts and rumours, in particular the origin of her nickname ‘Cookie’ & her part in PM’s unhappiness.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Pure vitriol

I felt much of this book was written to relieve the author of her personal dislike and jealousy of the queen mother.
I would also doubt much of its veracity
The worst £2.50 I have ever spent

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3 people found this helpful