The Importance of Being Edward: King in Waiting, 1841-1901
Books / Hardcover
ISBN: 0719557674 / Publisher: John Murray General Publishing Division, October 2000
In each of the past three centuries, a Prince of Wales has waited most of his life to become King. T...
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In each of the past three centuries, a Prince of Wales has waited most of his life to become King. The future Edward VII. Albert Edward, spent his best years trying to evade his first name, since it caused comparisons with his intellectual and workaholic late father, often called 'Albert the Good'. The son would become notorious as 'Edward the Caresser'.Biographer of both Victoria and Albert, Stanley Weintraub employs previously unavailable, little-used or unknown diaries, letters, memoirs and reportage from both sides of the Atlantic to throw new light on Edward VII's exasperating half-century in waiting. Pushed too hard, he rebelled. Nowadays, young 'Bertic' would probably be described as suffering from dyslexia and Attention Deficit Disorder, but in his time he was simply seen as stubborn and lazy. The Queen always blamed Albert's early death on Edward's scandalous behaviour. In her widowhood she never allowed him a formal role, and could hardly bear to have him near her. His one great gift went unappreciated by his parents: he was at case with people and an instinctive diplomat. Sent to Canada in his teens to dedicate a bridge, he became, especially in the still raw United States, the first superstar of the dawning age of celebrity.
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