Queen Anne (The English Monarchs Series)

I have no authority to call this book the definitive work on Queen Anne's life and reign, but that is how I feel after having read it. Gregg's research is exhaustive and very well documented with over 50 pages of reference notes following the main text. Needless to say, this is an excellent starting point for any student's research. Moreover, if you are interested in learning about the later Stuarts, Anne is always a good subject because she lived during the reigns of all post-restoration Stuarts. Elements of Charles II, James II, Mary II, and William III's reigns are touched upon in some capacity, at least insofar as they pertain to Anne.Gregg does an excellent job providing readers with both political information as well as insight into Anne's character. Of course, politics and emotions were often intertwined and the results are always interesting. Most monarchs have defining aspects of their reign, and Anne was no exception. This book could reasonably be called "Whigs vs Tories" because the rivalry between those political factions overshadowed the entire 12 years of Anne's reign. An ongoing theme in the book is Anne's personal dedication not to be controlled by one party, and the ups-and-downs that resulted from that determination. Gregg shows that on numerous occasions, personal decisions led to political outcomes and vice-versa.You will certainly find an interesting story in this book. However, be warned: this book is not a "popular history" - it is purely scholarly. That means lots and lots of names, dates, and tiny details. The intriguing story is all there, but it is not a fast-paced or exhilirating read. It is definitely meant to be read slowly and carefully. If you are looking for a "popular history" version of this story, I recommend "Ungrateful Daughters" by Maureen Waller, which provides a broader discussion of the Glorious Revolution. However, for a full and complete work on Anne, Gregg's book is the best, in my opinion. I highly recommend taking your time with it and absorbing the history of the final years of the House of Stuart.

This is an intensely personal biography. No prior monarch had the personal letters available that the historian has available with Anne. Much of the action of her life is through the lens of her friendship with Sarah Churchill and portions of those letters are spread liberally throughout the book. Edward Gregg's biography lets the reader into the mind of Anne in a way that is unique. Considering her often tragic and frequently traumatic upbringing and the almost constant pain and distress that her health and 17 pregnancies created, Anne is a remarkable human being. Except for her son William, the Duke of Gloucester, who made it to age 11, all her pregnancies ended with miscarriages or the very early death of her children. This must have taken an appalling psychological toll on her, not to mention the sheer physical debilitation. Adding her severe gout, it is amazing that Anne lived until 49. But, not only did she physically and psychologically survive, she was nobody's fool when it came to politics. She stood her ground in the battle between the Tories and the Whigs, insisting on a "moderate" government. This book will change (or should change) the way the public thinks of Anne.The letters to and from Mrs. Morley (Anne) and Mrs. Freeman (Sarah) are remarkable. The women share their personal hopes and fears and the reader has a real insight into the personal life of the British aristocracy in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. In the end Sarah Churchill does not come out looking very positive and Gregg spells out both the changes in her perspective of Anne and why it happened. The letters document this change. Gregg makes a strong case that it was Sarah, not Anne, who was most responsible for the bitter break-up of the friendship. Good friends gone bad often make the most bitter enemies and the friendship of Anne and Sarah is a great example. The portrait Gregg draws of John Churchill, the Duke of Marlborough, is also extremely well done. Likewise, the relationship of Anne to Godolphin and Harley, her main ministers during her reign, is clear and well-written.My only problem with the book is that the larger context is often not explained much, if at all. For example, the Battle of Blenheim, so important for England's future and for the fortunes of Marlborough, is never explained. What happened there? There is a great deal about the effects of the Battle but I would hope for at least a paragraph or two to explain a few details of the battle itself instead of four general sentences about it. I realize this is not a biography of Churchill but this was a watershed event in Anne's reign. Also, Gregg has a very good chapter on the role of the monarch between 1702 and 1714 but it is almost all dealing with the historical and political context of Anne's reign. It would have added rich context to have a similar chapter, or at least a section of this chapter, on the people of England in this time period. Finally, it would seem worth mentioning some details about the British acquisition of the Spanish American slave trade during Anne's reign. Gregg alludes to it a couple times as part of the treaties or agreements signed but this incredibly inhumane but highly lucrative and historically critical event would seem to deserve some explanation for the reader. The point would not be to act as judge but to give a bit of background as to what this contributed to the Crown and some mention of its historical importance.So, while I have a few issues with the book, this should not detract from what is an excellent, well-written and very personal biography of Anne. Anne deserves a new, much more positive reputation as a monarch in extremely difficult times and Gregg does a fine job of explaining why.

I bought this as a Christmas present for my sister. She has enjoyed the previous volumes in the series so I am sure she will be happy with this one as well.

This is not a review. It is just to state that worldofbooks.de was very competent and all transactions were just perfect (there was no button left to judge the transaction in itself, so I choose to write it down here.)Achim Güssgen-Ackva

I liked the depth of research, although much (perhaps necessarily) was derived from Anne's correspondence with Sarah Churchill and it got a bit heavy. I disliked the absence of any clear expression of the author's views on Anne's alleged lesbian relationships, the evidence for which seems to me very weak.

This book is quite long but the narrative proceeds at a good pace and so is eminently readable. Queen Anne has had a bad press which is completely undeserved. She was a great queen who handled the affairs of state with great skill.

Arrived in excellent condition and very well priced.