THE QUEEN AND I
Highlights

English
Language
NA
Edition
320
Pages
9780749313524
ISBN-13
0749313524
ISBN-10Arrow A Division Of Random House Group
Publisher
176 mm
Height
110 mm
Width
20 mm
Thickness
Paperback
BindingDescription
Townsend, author of the phenomenally successful Adrian Mole books, here brings off an audacious notion with considerable elan. She imagines a Britain where an unforgiving, newly elected Republican Party decides that the entire Royal Family must learn to live like other Britonsor in their case, like desperately poor lower-class Britons on a hideous housing estate in a pro Townsend, author of the phenomenally successful Adrian Mole books, here brings off an audacious notion with considerable elan. She imagines a Britain where an unforgiving, newly elected Republican Party decides that the entire Royal Family must learn to live like other Britonsor in their case, like desperately poor lower-class Britons on a hideous housing estate in a provincial city. A notable farceur, Townsend has terrific fun imagining how they would cope: the Queen buckles down sturdily, mindful of stiff-upper-lip duty Prince Philip goes to pieces and takes to his bed Margaret remains a royal pain, perpetually and irritably in search of a cigarette Diana haunts thrift shops for designer castoffs and snares a flashy West Indian boyfriend Charles, infatuated with a zaftig neighbor, gets involved in a brawl and is jailed , while his organic garden goes to pieces Anne copes stolidly, much helped by the gift of a horseand the Queen Mum, never quite aware of what is happening, dies peacefully in her little bungalow, and has a splendid horse-drawn funeral in a home-made coffin. Meanwhile Harris, the Queens corgi, runs wild with a pack of mongrels. The book is uproarious and touching by turns, with a perfect eye and ear for the class gulfs in Britain and the appalling lot of those at the bottom of the heap. Only a silly throwaway ending disappointsbut how else to end such a cautionary tale This was a huge seller in Britain, and should delight all royalty addicts here too.