Book of the week: The Lyrics by Paul McCartney
McCartney’s charming delve into his back catalogue is the ‘closest to an autobiography we’ll get’
Few monarchs have been as “discreet and inscrutable as George V”, said Ysenda Maxtone Graham in The Times. Britain’s king from 1910 to 1936 was a man who hid behind “many layers”: not only his nicotine-stained beard and thick Victorian frock coat, but also his “all-consuming, conversation-avoiding addiction to shooting and stamp collecting”.
His diaries, written up every night, chronicle the minutiae of his days – right down to the time he had breakfast – but give “no evidence of an inner life”. One characteristic entry reads: “I have got to go to London I regret today, on account of the political crisis & shall lose my day’s shooting at Six Mile Bottom”. You’d think such a man would make a hopeless subject – and yet against the odds, Jane Ridley’s biography succeeds in being “superbly un-dull”.
It achieves this by not concentrating excessively on its central subject, said Max Hastings in The Sunday Times. As monarch, George was witness to a “procession of extraordinary events”, from the assassination of Franz Ferdinand in 1914 – which obliged him to “miss a planned pheasant-shooting date with the archduke” – to his “eldest son’s manic affair with Wallis Simpson”, which after his death led to the abdication crisis.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Ridley devotes a sizeable portion of her book to such events, and also to George’s charismatic wife, Queen Mary, whose fondness for shopping led to her becoming known as the “kleptomaniac Queen”.
Ridley contends that George himself was not so much dull as ordinary, said A.N. Wilson in the TLS. And this proves to be a “revelatory distinction”. For it transforms what might have been the biography of a dullard into one “about innate, quiet decency surviving in an indecent, rowdy world”. The result is a “wonderful” book – the best royal biography I’ve read in decades.
Chatto & Windus 576pp £30; The Week Bookshop £23.99 (incl. p&p)
The Week Bookshop
To order this title or any other book in print, visit theweekbookshop.co.uk, or speak to a bookseller on 020-3176 3835. Opening times: Monday to Saturday 9am-5.30pm and Sunday 10am-4pm.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The history of Donald Trump's election conspiracy theories
The Explainer How the 2024 Republican nominee has consistently stoked baseless fears of a stolen election
By David Faris Published
-
Two ancient cities have been discovered along the Silk Road
Under the radar The discovery changed what was known about the old trade route
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
'People shouldn't have to share the road with impaired drivers'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Vanessa Bell: A World of Form and Colour – an 'expansive' exhibition
The Week Recommends The 'sweeping' show features over 140 works from paintings to ceramics
By The Week UK Published
-
Kate Summerscale picks her favourite true crime books
The Week Recommends The writer shares works by Janet Malcolm, Helen Garner and Mark O'Connell
By The Week UK Published
-
The Forsyte Saga: 'faultless' production with a 'pitch-perfect' cast
The Week Recommends Theatrical adaptation of John Galsworthy's novels is a 'must-see' show
By The Week Published
-
6 exciting homes for athletes
Feature Featuring a rock-climbing wall in New York and a basketball-tennis court in Washington
By The Week Staff Published
-
Peter Ames Carlin's 6 favorite books on pop culture icons
Feature The author recommends works by James McBride, Jim Bouton, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The Wild Robot: animated adventure is 'warm, funny and wise'
The Week Recommends 'Sharply written and richly detailed' adaptation of Peter Brown's best-selling book
By The Week UK Published
-
Francis Bacon: Human Presence – a 'stirring, splendid' exhibition
The Week Recommends 'Riveting' show at the National Portrait Gallery explores the artist's 'wild' portraits
By The Week UK Published
-
Robert McCrum shares his favourite books on sport
The Week Recommends Writer and editor picks works by Nick Hornby, David Goldblatt and others
By The Week UK Published