20th Century British History - General & Miscellaneous, Britain - Historical Biography - Rulers & Royal Families, Britain - Historical Biography - 19th Century, 20th Century British History - Monarchy

Edward the Caresser

Name: Edward the Caresser
Author: Stanley Weinstraub
ISBN: 9780684853185

by Stanley Weinstraub

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Overview

"In each of the past three centuries, a Prince of Wales has waited most of his life to become King, from George IV to Edward VII to Prince Charles. Each one disappointed his reigning parent. Each had an unhappy marriage and famous affairs. But only one single-handedly gave his name to an age: the future Edward VII, Albert Edward, eldest son of Queen Victoria." "How did such a roguish Prince become such a beloved King? The story of "Bertie" is the story of one of the first superstars in the dawning culture of celebrity. Drawing on previously unavailable, little-used or unknown diaries, letters, memoirs, and reportage from both sides of the Atlantic, acclaimed biographer Stanley Weintraub paints an unforgettable picture of the Prince and his worlds: his difficult and frustrating childhood, his introductions to gentlemanly sins at Oxford and Cambridge, his chilly arranged marriage to the pretty but dull Princess Alexandra, and his constant escapes to balls, races, spas, and country houses, where he gambled, gourmandized, caroused, and whored. Husbands who hoped to advance among the gentry worked to arrange affairs between the Prince and their wives, maneuvering to situate bedrooms near his chambers. His string of "god-children" included some almost certainly his own." "Yet despite, or because of, Bertie's flaws, he was loved wherever he went. He was a natural diplomat, able to charm strangers and dance all night. When he toured the United States in 1860, he was a media sensation, and there was even talk of a marriage with President Buchanan's niece. When Victoria finally died in 1901 after decades of withdrawal from public life amid continual mourning for Albert, England relaxed and celebrated for the first time in years. Edward the Caresser presents an extraordinary picture of tragedy and farce, qualities that fit Edward perfectly for the role of modern monarch."--BOOK JACKET.

About the Author, Stanley Weinstraub

Stanley Weintraub

Stanley Weintraub is Evan Pugh Professor Emeritus of Arts and Humanities at Penn State University and the author of notable histories and biographies including 11 Days in December, Silent Night: The Story of the World War I Christmas Truce, MacArthur's War, Long Day's Journey into War, and A Stillness Heard Round the World: The End of the Great War. He lives in Newark, Delaware.

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From Barnes & Noble

Being England's Prince of Wales is like being in the on-deck circle in baseball. You wait, sometimes impatiently, for your turn at bat -- to serve as king, in this case. While the prince waits, it's up to him to prove he's ready to rule. In the last 300 years, there have been some disappointing performances -- George IV and Prince Charles readily come to mind. But neither rivaled the behavior of the future Edward VII -- Albert Edward, the eldest son of Queen Victoria. Gambling, laziness, philandering, profligacy, drunkenness, and gluttony -- these were just some of Edward's questionable habits during his 59 years as Prince of Wales. So how did this rogue of a prince go on to become a beloved king? Stanley Weintraub presents an intimate biography of "Bertie," the royal disappointment who would, eventually, succeed his mother to reign for nine years as king of England.