Bertie

Book excerpt: Edward VII, who gave his name to the Edwardian Age but was always known as Bertie, was fifty-nine when he finally came to power. The eldest son of Victoria and Albert, Bertie was bullied by both his parents. Denied any proper responsibilities, the heir to the throne spent his time eating (which earned him the nickname 'Tum Tum'), pursuing women (which Queen Victoria held to be the reason for Albert's early demise), gambling, going to house parties and race meetings, and shooting pheasants. His arranged marriage to the stunning Danish princess Alexandra gave him access to the European dynastic network; but his name was linked with many beauties, including Lillie Langtry and Winston Churchill's mother. But contrary to popular belief, the playboy prince was also an instinctive diplomat: when he eventually became king he did a good job, especially in foreign policy. He further confounded his critics by reinventing the monarchy and giving it a new role for the twentieth century. This magnificent and exhaustively researched book -- which draws on numerous new discoveries and primary sources -- gives Bertie due credit while painting a vivid portrait of the age in all its excess and eccentricity.