SUMMARY OF GEORGE V: NEVER A DULL MOMENT

From one of the most renowned and accomplished historians of the British monarchy, here is a colorful, intimately researched history of a long-overlooked king who rebuilt the Crown in the wake of World War I and whose marriage to the royal Queen Mary was an epic union

The grandfather of Queen Elizabeth II, King George V governed the British Empire from 1910 until 1936, an era of tremendous worldwide upheaval. Yet no one could dispute that as a young man, George appeared uninspired. As his biographer Harold Nicolson memorably put it, "he did nothing at all except murder animals and stick in stamps.” The contrast between him and his flashy, hedonistic, playboy father Edward VII could scarcely have been greater.

However, while it lasted barely a quarter-century, George’s rule was extremely influential. He faced a constitutional crisis, the First World War, the collapse of thirteen European kingdoms, and the advent of Bolshevism. The suffragette Emily Davison flung herself beneath his horse at the Derby, he denied sanctuary to his cousin Tsar Nicholas II during the Russian Revolution, and he assisted the first Labour administration.

And, as Jane Ridley illustrates, the contemporary British monarchy would not exist without George; he recreated the institution, enabling it to survive and grow when its very existence appeared hopeless. The prestige of the British monarchy today, she maintains, is owing in significant measure to him.

How this allegedly restricted man managed to shepherd the crown over so many pitfalls and adopt an essentially Victorian institution to the twentieth century is a remarkable tale in itself. But this book is also a compelling portrayal of a royal marriage and family life.

Queen Mary had a vital role in the reign as well as being a prominent character in her own right. Under the couple's guidance, the crown emerged stronger than ever. George V built the modern monarchy, and yet his terrible dispute with his oldest son, the Duke of Windsor, ended in the existential crisis of the Abdication just months after his death.

George V may not be the most renowned of English kings, but he takes his position as one who revolutionized the monarchy at the turn of the century. He resigned as a partner with his wife, Queen Mary, inspiring the empire. He was consistent, prudent, committed to his wife, established a family, and was engaged in resolving some of the most critical issues confronting the nation. No, he wasn't excited. He abhorred all the trappings of the aristocracy and its culture.

He was a nice departure, though, from his father, Edward VII, who lived quite a different, scandal-ridden existence. As years passed by, it became extremely evident that his son, David (later, King Edward VIII), who was his successor, was not at all qualified (or interested) to become king.

Edward VIII abdicated the throne after 10 months as monarch to marry Wallace Simpson. Fortunately, for the royal family, the second son in line, Bertie (who became George VI) proved a steadier, conventional king. Though scared by the prospect of becoming king, George VI handled his stutter, gained self-confidence, and became a much-loved monarch.

There is a lot of information from the time he was born through his upbringing - standard education as currently known was not part of the studies that Edward VII or Victoria for that matter encouraged - to his training as a naval officer to his marriage to Mary (Mary) of Teck, their children, Victoria and Prince Eddy's death and Edward's coronation to the King's death and George's assumption of the throne.

The Boer War. The fight in the Crimea. World War I and the toppling of the Romanovs. World War II and the Nazis (who he despised) (who he despised). The shift in the English administration finally acknowledged the Labour party. George's connection with his various prime ministers and more and more till his final death from bronchitis (although there is a persistent rumor/allegation that his physician gave him cocaine followed by morphine and softly killed.

And so the narrative ends - not with George's death, but with Edward's (David's) abdication and Mary's 17 years without her husband.

King George V is a monarch whose life/reign is typically summed up with: "second son who wasn't intended to be king, uninteresting, twins with Nicholas II, WWI, stamps". And

These "highlights" of his life are not inaccurate, but there is a great deal more to his story. Ridley's analysis of George's life and reign is in-depth and comprehensive, and she does not gloss over any relevant information.

It is intriguing, but it also handles a lot of minutiae that would be tough to wade through if you were at all disinterested in knowing about George, so I'm not sure if I would recommend reading this to someone who isn't completely interested in learning about George. Although the guy may have wished for a less complicated existence, he was there for several historically significant events throughout the 20th century.

George was the son of King Edward VII and the grandson of Queen Victoria. His maternal grandmother was Queen Victoria. The present Prince of Wales, Charles, had a status similar to that of Edward while he was Prince of Wales.

After his mother had ruled for such an incredible amount of time, she passed away in 1901, and he ascended to the throne. He only ruled for nine years until passing away in 1910, at which point his second son, George V, ascended to the throne as King George V. George was in charge up to that terrible and drawn-out year of 1936. This "Year of Three Kings," as it were.

Jane Ridley investigates the life of George V from a variety of perspectives, both public and private. She does not hold back on the grandiose and magnificent; George's gun kill rate of birds and animals is, to put it bluntly, abhorrent.

He indulged in a variety of pastimes, the most significant of which were hunting and collecting stamps; both activities contributed in part to his notoriety throughout history.

But during his rule, a very significant period passed. The Great War, sometimes known as the "War to End All Wars," was fought by his nation under his leadership. In addition, the Great Depression and the building up of Germany in the early to middle 1930s were also difficulties that he faced. The Kingdom was led during World War II by his son, George VI.

George V will be remembered for being the most boring monarch of all time. A popular joke about him was made by his biographer, Harold Nicolson, who said that all he did was slaughter animals and put stamps into envelopes. His father, King Edward VII, was known for his flamboyance and hedonism, which helped define an age that continues to exert its influence and attract people to this day. The difference between the two couldn't be much starker if it tried.

But was that all there was to King George, a king who was faced with a succession of crises that are considered to be the most trying situations experienced by any British royal in the twentieth century? "He was boring, without debate," said Tommy Lascelles, one of the most astute royal counselors, "but my God, his reign never had a dull moment."

George V was able to steer the country through a constitutional crisis, the First World War, the collapse of thirteen European kingdoms, and the development of Bolshevism throughout his reign. Emily Davison, a suffragette, flung herself beneath his horse at the Derby. He denied shelter to his cousin Nicholas II, who was Tsar of Russia. He was instrumental in the formation of the first Labour administration. It's a fascinating mystery how this allegedly weak guy was able to guide the Crown safely through so many dangerous situations.

However, along with it comes an enthralling depiction of a royal marriage and family life, which allows us to understand George, Mary, and their children more completely and vividly than we ever had before, with Queen Mary emerging as an essential person in her own right. Because of the couple's leadership, the Crown is in better shape than it has ever been. George V established the modern monarchy, but his tragic feud with his oldest son led to the existential crisis of abdication just a few months after he passed away. This occurred even though George V was the founder of the modern monarchy.

This book is a lively and intimately detailed biography of a long-overlooked king who reimagined the Crown in the aftermath of World War I and whose marriage was an epic romance.

The author is one of the most beloved and distinguished historians of the British monarchy, and the book comes from his pen.

King George V, the grandfather of Queen Elizabeth II, reigned over the British Empire at a time of extraordinary upheaval on the world stage from 1910 until he died in 1936. However, it was indisputable that George did not exhibit any signs of inspiration while he was a young man. According to his biographer Harold Nicolson, who coined the famous phrase, "he did nothing at all but kill animals and stick in stamps," he did not engage in any other activities. It is difficult to imagine a more striking contrast between him and his flashy, hedonistic, and playboy father, Edward VII.

George's reign, on the other hand, was very important even though it was just twenty-five years long. A constitutional crisis, the First World War, the collapse of thirteen European kingdoms, and the development of Bolshevism were among the challenges that he encountered during his time in office.

Emily Davison, a suffragette, flung herself beneath his horse at the Derby; he denied shelter to his cousin, Tsar Nicholas II, during the time of the Russian Revolution; and he was instrumental in the formation of the first administration led by Labour. And as Jane Ripley demonstrates, without George, the present British monarchy would not exist; he reimagined the institution, which allowed it to survive and grow at a time when its very survival appeared hopeless. She believes that he is largely responsible for the prominence that the British monarchy has in today's society.

A fascinating tale in itself is how this allegedly restricted guy was able to guide the crown past so many dangers and bring an authentically Victorian institution into the twenty-first century. But more than that, this book paints a fascinating picture of the lives of a royal marriage and family.

Queen Mary was not only an influential character in her own right but also played a vital role during the reign of her husband, George V. Because of the couple's leadership, the crown is in better shape than it has ever been. George V established the modern monarchy, but his terrible feud with his oldest son, the Duke of Windsor, led to the existential crisis of abdication just a few months after he passed away. This occurred although George V was the founder of the modern monarchy.

Jane Ridley has got access to the unparalleled archives, and as a result, she can reevaluate in full the numerous misconceptions that are linked with this essential and tragic historical period for the first time. She introduces us to a royal family and world that has not been extinct for very long and that is not too unlike our own.

George V will be remembered for being the most boring monarch of all time. A popular joke about him was made by his biographer, Harold Nicolson, who said that all he did was slaughter animals and put stamps into envelopes.

But was that all there was to King George, a king who was faced with a succession of crises that are considered to be the most trying situations experienced by any British royal in the twentieth century? One of the most astute royal counselors, Tommy Lascelles, expressed it this way: "He was boring, without debate – but my God, his reign never had a dull moment."

During his reign, King George V oversaw the course of events that included a constitutional crisis, the First World War, the overthrow of thirteen European kingdoms, and the advent of Bolshevism. Emily Davison, a suffragette, flung herself beneath his horse at the Derby. He denied shelter to his cousin Nicholas II, who was Tsar of Russia. He was instrumental in the formation of the first Labour administration.

The story of how this presumably restricted man navigated the Crown through such a wide variety of dangers is riveting. Due to the exceptional access that Jane Ridley was granted to the archives, she was able to reevaluate the many myths that have been linked with this eventful historical period for the very first time.