Product Description

Princess Margaret was one of the most controversial royal figures of the twentieth century. Widely admired as a young woman, she was famous for her beauty and charisma, but also for her sense of loyalty and duty. The charismatic Princess not only brought colour and sex appeal into an otherwise colourless royal family, but did much to help bring the monarchy and its attitudes into the modern world. In recent years, dogged by accidents and ill-health, much of the Princess's youthful vigour and charm, not to mention her hard work, has been forgotten. Following her death on 9 February, in the Queen's golden jubilee year, and poignantly close to the anniversary of George VI's death, the story of her life is once again front pages news. In this fully updated memorial edition of his acclaimed study, originally undertaken with the co-operation of the Princess and many of those closest to her, her authorized biographer Christopher Warwick looks again at the life and work of this enigmatic and individual royal figure, and brings her story to a close with her funeral in Windsor. Written with authority and insight, Princess Margaret - A Life of Contrasts is a fitting tribute to an exceptional, deeply complex woman.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #972307 in Books
• Published on: 2003-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

From the Publisher
Christopher Warwick is the only biographer to have enjoyed Princess Margaret's personal co-operation and that of her household and friends, in writing the authorized biographies of her life. Having known the Princess for more than 20 years, this study, published in 2000 for the Princess's 70th birthday, has now been totally updated and is the only in depth and complete biography. Writing of Christopher Warwick's Princess Margaret - A Life of Contrasts, the writer, historian and author Sarah Bradford says, it is 'Conscientiously researched, with illuminating first-hand insights ... the most complete and sympathetic life of his contradictory subject yet written.' Historian, writer and journalist Kenneth Rose, himself a friend of the Princess for over 40 years, commented, 'Princess Margaret used to say about her life of mixed fortunes that she had been misunderstood since the age of 17. At least she has been fortunate in her biographer. With her co-operation, Christopher Warwick has written a faithful and illuminating memorial to that mercurial Princess.' Jennie Bond, the senior royal correspondent for the BBC added her voice to the acclaim for this authorized biography, saying, 'In this thoroughly researched and well-written book, Christopher Warwick provides a fascinating insight into Princess Margaret's character and troubled life. It's highly readable and has something for novices and experts alike.'

About the Author
Christopher Warwick is the author of several bestselling biographies, among them the original authorized life of Princess Margaret; King George VI & Queen Elizabeth; George & Marina, Duke & Duchess of Kent; Abdication; and Queen Mary's Photograph Albums, based on the legendary Queen's private photographic collection at Windsor Castle. He subsequently wrote The Universal Ustinov, a popular celebration of the life and work of Sir Peter Ustinov. In addition, he has written widely for newspapers and magazines both at home and abroad, and frequently appears on television and radio. He lives in Ascot, Berkshire.

Customer Reviews

Not Close Enough
Princess Margaret was a complicated character, and I was hoping to really see her "life of contrasts" brought to life by Mr Warwick. That this book was authorized, and the author was a friend of the princess, perhaps worked against us in really gettomg a clear picture of the princess. I think that through years of friendship and loyalty [the only way you become a freind of a member of the royal family] Warwick may have left out some of the most complex and intriguing aspects of her story. Although a good "run down" of all the ups and downs of Margaret's life, there was nothing here that one couldn't get out of any other book about Margaret -- with the exception of the fact that there weren't the salacious rumors that have been in other books recently put out about the princess.
It would have been interesting to get a better picture about what the princess felt about various things in her life and family-- beyond hating her grandmother Queen Mary (the most interesting tidbit of the whole book)-- but perhaps princess Margaret understood that old maxim that "you should never let daylight in on the majic"

Some new photographs but little else not known
I was looking forward to this book because it was publicized as authorized by Princess Margaret. Also the writer has known her personally for twenty years.

I was disappointed and am glad that I borrowed it from my library. I wouldn't buy it, but had been prepared to if I felt it added to my knowledge of the Royal Family. Many repeats of stories I've read before.