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Book Review By John Van der Kiste
George III: a Personal History by Christopher Hibbert

George III: a Personal History
Christopher Hibbert
Penguin, 1999
ISBN: 0140257373

Prince George of Wales was born in June 1738, two months prematurely, and at first he was not expected to survive. Ironically, he lived to be 81, the oldest King of England at his death to date.

This biography paints a detailed, sympathetic portrait of his personal life and character. The boy who was left fatherless at the age of 14, dominated largely by his mother and tutor became the father of fifteen children, the eldest being a Prince of Wales (the future Prince Regent and King George IV) whom he disliked intensely, the youngest being a princess (Amelia) whom he adored intensely, and whose death from consumption at the age of 27 left him distraught.

To many, George III was the mad monarch, 'the King who lost America'. Yet though his political judgment was often unsound and his latter years clouded by mental illness, he was at heart a kindly, gentle man, whose enduring achievements were the expansion of Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace. He was also a passionate collector of books, paintings and scientific instruments, and a generous patron of musicians, writers and artists. All these aspects of his life are well covered in this biography.


Plot & Themes
Royalty bio Yes
Period of greatest activity? - 1600-1899 -

Subject of Biography
Gender - Male
Profession/status:
Ethnicity - White
Nationality - British
Unusual characteristics:

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 4 ()
Misc setting - Fancy Mansion
Century: - 18th century

Writing Style
Book makes you feel? - thoughtful
Pictures/Illustrations? - A ton 16-20 B&W
How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life? - 76%-100% of book
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