On Royalty: Amazon.co.uk: Jeremy Paxman: 9780670916627: Books

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Product Description

What does it mean to be royal? At a time when the monarch no longer rules by divine right and governing powers fall to our elected leaders, the concept of royalty grows ever more elusive. The intellectual argument for the abolition of the monarchy is strong, and yet public interest in the royals continues to grow. Jeremy Paxman seeks to find out how the role of our head of state has changed over the years and what the implications have been. With characteristic intelligence and humour, he looks at every aspect of the monarchy and how it has related to politics, religion, the military and the law. With a mixture of popular history, direct reportage and hilarious anecdote, the master of investigative journalism seeks to find out just how important the Royal Family is to our national identity.

About the Author

Jeremy Paxman is a journalist, best known for his work presenting Newsnight and University Challenge. His books include Friends in High Places, The English and The Political Animal. He lives in Oxfordshire.

Inside This Book (Learn More)

First Sentence
On 16 August 1923 the London Evening News carried the frontpage headline 'A CROWN AWAITS AN ENGLISHMAN'. Read the first page

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Customer Reviews

9 Reviews

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4.3 out of 5 stars (9 customer reviews)

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37 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Up The Royal, 12 Oct 2006

By

Dr. J. N. Glover (London) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: On Royalty (Hardcover)

This is the third in Paxman's highly readable and intelligent books on aspects of British culture. The language, politics and now royalty of these sceptred isles suggests an ongoing and welcome attempt to find the things which are quintessential to the English. Royalty here is discussed in a broader European context but inevitably focuses on our own dear royal family. It is intended, by his own admission, to be a chronicle of his journey from republican to reluctant monarchist sympathies. There are lots of interesting anecdotes about the British (and other European) monarchies. One gets the impression that Paxman is more than capable of being a serious public intellectual with "something to say" but, strangely, since he is no shy, retiring flower on "Newsnight" or even, dare I say it "University Challenge", he invariably seems to stop at just that point where he is about to say something truly contentious. Perhaps his experience as an hard-hitting interviewer makes him reluctant to expose himself (there are copious unnecessary endnotes). This is a different voice of Paxman's than we hear on television and one well worth listening to. At least this is one book about royalty you won't have to cover up on the train.

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars On Royalty, On the Spot, 26 Oct 2007

By

Joanne D'Arcy (Portsmouth, UK) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE) (TOP 1000 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

This review is from: On Royalty (Hardcover)

I am interested in history and also royalty and I thought this would be an interesting book which would not bore like some scholarly texts! I was happily pleased.

This book concentrates not just issues with Royalty in our own Royal Family, but also those of nations further afield. It is not afraid to talk about the issues connected with them as well - taxes and their role with God. In fact Republicanism is discussed. It made me think, would our country be the same without a Royal Family as recognisable figureheads, what do they bring to the nation?

There are some interesting points made throughout the book, along with a number of tales of strange ways and habits of current and former royalty. It concentrates on major events through history, the Abdication Crisis of 1936 (changed my view on Edward VIII), the execution of Charles I as well as King Zog! It also successfully tackled the issue Of Diana, Princess of Wales impact on the Royal Family (both before and after her death) it could have consumed a great part of the book, but was spattered throughout and never took up more than half a page.

This is a good book, if you fancy a bit of history and royalty is fascinating, their mystery remains the interest in my opinion and doesn't come across as scholarly and certainly not a chore to read.

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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Paxman tugs his forelock, 3 Oct 2007

By

Tyke (England) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)

This review is from: On Royalty (Paperback)

Given Paxman's reputation as an intellectual Rotweiller, it comes as a surprise that he frequently seems to hold himself in check in this appraisal and analysis of royalty, ancient and modern. It is by turns impartial, critical and sycophantic.

He occasionally seems to get off the leash in respect of the current incumbents, referring to Charles' `jug-ears', describing him as `Eeyorish' and not shying away from mentioning the excruciating content of the `Camilla-gate' tape. He also makes no bones about the selfishness and lack of intelligence which mark the royal bloodline. These observations bode well for republican readers, but after a brisk, candid and often amusing first half, the book slides in the second into something rather lukewarm.

There is a good deal of analysis throughout, giving an historical perspective on the purpose of monarchy and how it was perceived from early times. He points out that, while there is no logical argument for a monarchy in Britain, its appeal has been largely undiminished throughout the centuries and that the majority still prefer to keep the Royals where they are. He examines why this is the case and puts forward some reasonable theories for it. He also draws attention to the privileged and bizarre upbringing thrust upon royal children, the current Prince of Wales in particular. Further, he presents a pretty thorough and even-handed examination of the difficulties of living in a gilded cage. We also get a visitors-eye view of palace protocol and are told of the futility of hiding one's dirty underpants on top of the wardrobe ...

Other European royal families are mentioned plentifully in the context of how so many of them fell in the early 20th century, while the British monarchy remained stable and Paxman examines why this was the case. Albania and King Zog get quite a bit of coverage in the early pages.

Diana pops up throughout, though increasingly as the chapters progress, his tone changes from one which acknowledges her affinity with the common herd, to one which seems to share the embarrassment and denial which the Royals themselves are alleged to feel. He makes no real criticism of Diana's adulteries, nor of the Prince's with Mrs Parker-Bowles, though does refer to her as Charles' `mistress' and not `friend', which was the euphemism used by the BBC during their affair.

Too much space is given over to an account of the trial and execution of Charles I. Of course this event is relevant in any discussion of the institution of British monarchy, but a lengthy re-telling of such a well-known part of history seems unnecessary in a book which, elsewhere, is largely concise in its comparisons and references. This space would have been better used to expand on his discussion of how little is known of the Queen's wealth and why she is exempt from death duties.

His final chapter, `The End of the Line?', does not continue with the views he appears to hold at the beginning. The Queen is hailed in sugary terms and the Prince is praised as being his own man with his own opinions, unafraid to put them forward despite the handicap of his birth and his undefined role in life. Of course, he is quite right to state his opinions and conclusion, but they come as somewhat of a surprise from a man with such a world-weary superciliousness.

Overall however, it is an enjoyable, informative and easy to read analysis of the development and role of the British monarchy, but those who hope to find a downright castigation of the House of Windsor will be disappointed.

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