The Queen and I was first published in 1992, unfortunately I did not get around to reading it until I was 20 and in need of non strenuous entertainment as I was heavily pregnant at the time.
The Queen and I is work of the legendary Sue Townsend, a writer with a sense of wit and comedy and is responsible for other comical books such as The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole 13 ¾ and The Cappuccino Years.
I have admired Sue Townsend’s work from an early age and loved every book of hers that I have had the pleasure of reading and this book was no exception.
The story tells of the election of a republican government and its removal of the royal family in to the real world. They are stripped of their wealth and houses and are forced to live like others on benefits within a two bed roomed council house and an elderly person’s bungalow on a council estate in the Midlands named Flower Estate. But their life is not to be a bed of roses, in fact they suddenly realise about the state of the country today and the struggles and stresses that normal working class people go through just in order to live.
The family are situated at number nine Hellbourne Close, known as Hell Close by the local residents in account that the letters bourne had fallen off the street sign. Their new neighbours wre to be that of Tony and Beverley Threadgold, who had no idea who their new neighbours were, simply thought the wife (the Queen) was posh and that the husband (Prince Phillip) had been let out of an institute in to the community to die.
Imagine the Queen drinking tea from a cracked mug, Prince Phillip drinking out of a cup saying ‘A bonk a day keeps the doctor way”, the queens precious corgi carrying a dead rat in to the house from their new back garden, the Queen Mother receiving meals on wheels and Prince Charles being arrested for fighting in the street, yes this book has it all.
It has feelings, a mix of emotions and most of all humour. I think the most comical character throughout the book has to be that of Prince Phillip, who enters a stage of depression as soon as he is faced with the new life of which he has to lead. He doesn’t wash, shave and sits around in a dirty dressing gown and pyjamas making strand and sarcastic comments at every opportunity.
The whole story shows the ups and downs of the ex-royal family, and some of the problems that they encounter along the way, many of which you the reader may be able to relate to, I certainly did.
Reviews on the book, by top newspapers gave the following results;
Spectator
“An extremely enjoyable Royalist extravaganza. There is hope for the monarchy yet”
Daily Mail
“This wickedly satirical writer has hot upon another brilliantly funny idea which kept me rolling about until the last page”
Cosmopolitan
“Side-splittingly subversive”
The above are just a selection of comments issued about this book, so as you can see it is not just myself that recommends the quality of this book, but other top reviewers as well.
Sue Townsend as I said before is an exceptional writer and this book is equal to her other best sellers as it kept me laughing and giggling all the way through.
If you are looking for some excellent comedy entertainment, this is definitely the book for you.
I would suggest that snuggling down on the couch a glass of wine in one hand this book in the other, is better than a night out on the tiles.
THIS IS A BOOK YOU WILL NOT WANT TO PUT DOWN!!!!
Priced at a reasonable £5.99 and available from most booksellers how can you go wrong.
**Please note that this book was written prior to Princess Diana’s death**
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Advantages: It will brighten up your day without a doubt. You'll never look at the Queen mum in the same way again. You can just imagine her in her council bungalow, savings 50ps for the gas meter. Disadvantages: The poor ending. It actually seems as if Townsend had ran out of time at the end and just think of something at the last minute.
Advantages: It will brighten up your day without a doubt. You'll never look at the Queen mum in the same way again. You can just imagine her in her council bungalow, savings 50ps for the gas meter. Disadvantages: The poor ending. It actually seems as if Townsend had ran out of time at the end and just think of something at the last minute.
Jul 2nd, 2003
very helpful by (98%):
helpful by (2%):
