Book Review- Andrew Morton's The Queen: Her Life

Thank you to Libro FM for providing me with an audio version of Andrew Morton’s latest biography, The Queen: Her Life.

Andrew Morton is the preeminent royal biographer and his latest book, The Queen: Her Life, is a deep-dive into Queen Elizabeth II. Originally published in the UK for the queen’s platinum jubilee, Morton’s book was released in the United States just a few months after her death. 2022 was certainly a big year of changes for the royal family and this biography was released at a time when public interest is running high.

Admittedly, as an American, my recent interest in the royal family has a few layers. The biggest having to due with marrying an English husband and having the opportunity to visit the various palaces on our trips to visit family. In fact, we were at Buckingham Palace just a few days before the Queen passed. Another aspect of fascination and likely many people would agree, is Peter Morgan’s The Crown. While the show is historical fiction, emphasis on fiction, it has a way of capturing the imagination and wondering how much is reality. Another layer is simply being American and the allure of a culture so different from our own. We only have Disney castles here! This is all to say that I have been building my collection of Royal biographies and I was eager to read The Queen: Her Life.

This book did not disappoint. Although the timeline of her life’s big events was mostly familiar to me, and I would imagine most readers, I relished the smaller details, especially with regards to her childhood and her relationship with her sister Margaret. I think it is most interesting to see the Queen from the perspective of things that make her relatable and somewhat ordinary, such as childhood friendships and hobbies. It made me think about a statement that a former college professor made, about history being about ordinary people who rise to extraordinary circumstances. Granted, being born into the monarchy is a type of destiny, however, as a child, Elizabeth could have had no idea how her life would play out. Morton’s book balances the private and the public, giving us a rounded look at one of modern histories most famous and influential people.

Book Review- James Reginato's Growing Up Getty: The Story of America's Most Unconventional Dynasty

Thank you to LibroFM and Simon and Schuster Audio for a copy of James Reginato’s Growing Up Getty: The Story of America’s Most Unconventional Dynasty.

Growing up in Southern California, the Getty name was part of my landscape. I went from visiting their incredible namesake museums to having a huge preteen crush on Balthazar Getty, who is just a few years older than me. I couldn’t help but be drawn to Reginato’s Growing up Getty, and I was not disappointed.

Reginato explores the humble beginnings of the Getty dynasty, which really came to fruition through the shrewd oil investments of J. Paul Getty in the early 1900’s. His father, who was also very financially successful, gave J. Paul Getty money for his initial investments, which he in turn, grew substantially. As much as J. Paul is known for his wealth, he is also known for his five marriages. J. Paul had five sons. Reginato explores these children and their off-spring, showing how each member of the Getty family has contributed to the Getty legacy.

I learned that many members of the Getty family are quite reserved and although they have contributed money, time, and ideas to better society, they have kept out of the limelight. Of those who have been in the public eye, Balthazar is famous for his acting career and youthful bad-boy behavior, and John Paul Getty III, is famous for having been kidnapped and held for ransom. The story of the kidnapping was made into a recent film starring Michelle Williams called, All the Money in the World. Reginato’s discussion of the kidnapping attempts to refute the popular mythology that J.Paul Getty was so miserly, that he coldly refused to pay the ransom. Reginato pitches an alternative scenario, where Getty is hampered by his money, power, and fame, making it a difficult decision to cave to the kidnapper’s demands.

Reginato paints a picture of a complex family tree, with diverse interests and desires. Some are using their money to work on environmental issues, some have been sidelined by addiction problems, and some are trying to strike out on their own. Its begs the question of what would the reader do if their problems were more about how to handle a legacy, than how to financially survive? I found much to admire in many of the Gettys. I was fascinated by their family rituals and deep connections in the United Kingdoms. They live in a world that is so exclusive and elusive, that I enjoyed the glimpse that Reginato provided. A fun and utterly enthralling read.