- Paperback: 480 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd; New edition edition (2 Sep 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0140257373
- ISBN-13: 978-0140257373
- Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 13 x 3.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 463,351 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Clearly and engagingly written, with evident affection for his subject, Christopher Hibbert's George III describes the life and times of the man widely believed to have mistaken an oak tree for the King of Prussia. He didn't. That was one of many rumours spread by courtiers during his first bout of the insanity caused by porphyria: a rare hereditary disease, endemic in the Stuarts and transmitted to the Hanoverans via George I's mother, Sophia.
Colourfully illustrated and studded with witticisms, this book shows how George III's efforts to behave as a king ought to have earned him considerable popularity. Like Hibbert's Life of Johnson, Nelson and Wellington, this is more than a biography, and is subtitled A Personal History. This means that we don't only get the inside information on the monarch's manifold eccentricities, his charitable deeds, his love of books, clocks and large families, his cheerful fidelity to a plain and difficult wife, and what he felt about his nine legitimate and approximately 53 illegitimate grandchildren. We also learn about the background to the American War of Independence, the anti-Catholic Gordon Riots and the intricacies of English--or rather British--politics during the second half of the 18th century.
A terrific, informative read for anyone interested in the monarchy and 18th- century history and politics.Lisa Gee --. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
This biography is a re-examination of George III's political beliefs and aspirations, of his relationships with his ministers, and of the reasons why he was so widely loved by the British but reviled by his American subjects, who declared him "unfit to be the ruler of a free people".
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As usual Hibbert gives the reader a view of his subject which is always readable and never dull. By virtue of thorough research and plenty of anecdotes we get a picture of a king as a father and a husband who also wore the crown of England for an exceptionally long period. Hibbert is also remarkably good at setting the scene in particular the turbulent times of the late 18th century and the changes taking place in the world both in society and in politics. We see a king coping with the rebellions in the American colonies and developments in parliamentary power. Finally we see a man and his family who have to deal with his"madness" which leads to his retreat from society. Hibbert manages to infuse this biography with warmth and compassion for the man rather than the king.
A superb book to begin with understanding English history in the 18th/19th century.
A superb book to begin with understanding English history in the 18th/19th century.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Hibbert is one of our most readable biographers and his latest book is no exception. Hibbert's meticulous research into this much maligned and mis-understood Monarch is impressive and his story brings the Hanoverian period to life in all it's colour, pomp, peculiarities and excitement.
George III is generally only know for two things; losing America and going mad. Hibbert, however, deals with all facets of George III's life; political, personal and regal and a fascinating picture emerges of a King devoted to his Country and his subjects and whose sole ambition was to be a good King. This biography is an excellent account of a most interesting period in our Country's history.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I knew very little about George III before I bought this book - limited mostly to Nigel Hawthorne's sympathetic portrayal in the Madness of King George and his supposed interest in farming and agriculture.
I now know some more about the man, his background and the politics of the time. But, for a 400 page book, I don't feel as though I have come away with as much as I had hoped. There is a lot about the continuing change in the government and his seemingly life-long battle with Pitt the Elder and Charles Fox (their life, not his as he outlived them both), some information about the American War of Independence and the Napoleonic wars and a little about his infamous madness.
However, for me the book seemed to struggle, there was not enough information about the wars or government policy which brought about his intense dislike of certain politicians and the seemingly continual change in government. Or, maybe it was merely a reflection of George himself, and that his likes and dislikes were not about the politics, just the men, I am not sure.
I know that it is usually a novelist's preserve to make you feel strongly about the central character, but I also would like to feel something for the subject of a biography, and, I didn't. I finished reading this unsure if I wanted to read any more about George or the period in case I had missed something, or whether that was all there was. I didn't really care about George III, I am not sure whether I liked or disliked him, which is a shame, because I wanted to.
Whilst I will agree that the book was well researched, and, I could not in truth call it boring, neither could I say it was particularly fascinating either. It is a potentially interesting book that has perhaps concentrated in the wrong areas, whilst not a difficult read, it made it seem like a never-ending read.
I now know some more about the man, his background and the politics of the time. But, for a 400 page book, I don't feel as though I have come away with as much as I had hoped. There is a lot about the continuing change in the government and his seemingly life-long battle with Pitt the Elder and Charles Fox (their life, not his as he outlived them both), some information about the American War of Independence and the Napoleonic wars and a little about his infamous madness.
However, for me the book seemed to struggle, there was not enough information about the wars or government policy which brought about his intense dislike of certain politicians and the seemingly continual change in government. Or, maybe it was merely a reflection of George himself, and that his likes and dislikes were not about the politics, just the men, I am not sure.
I know that it is usually a novelist's preserve to make you feel strongly about the central character, but I also would like to feel something for the subject of a biography, and, I didn't. I finished reading this unsure if I wanted to read any more about George or the period in case I had missed something, or whether that was all there was. I didn't really care about George III, I am not sure whether I liked or disliked him, which is a shame, because I wanted to.
Whilst I will agree that the book was well researched, and, I could not in truth call it boring, neither could I say it was particularly fascinating either. It is a potentially interesting book that has perhaps concentrated in the wrong areas, whilst not a difficult read, it made it seem like a never-ending read.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
George III: a personal history
If you have little prior knowledge of George or his reign, this book is an excellent introduction. The book concentrates on George's personality and his personal relationships... Read more
Published on 1 Jun 2010 by Carroty Nell
George III
Before I read this book I had the opinion that most people have that George III was
a) mad
b) lost our American Colonies and was generally another Royal waste... Read more
a) mad
b) lost our American Colonies and was generally another Royal waste... Read more
Published on 26 July 2006 by R. C. Morris
King George was not only mad!
Very well written and very interesting. Tells much more about this King, who is almost totally known for his madness, which is quite sad. Excellent book, read it.
Published on 21 Jan 2005 by "ossie_87"
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