New York Times bestselling author Sally Bedell Smith will visit Books & Books on Saturday, 21 January at 7pm for a discussion and signing of her latest book, Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch.
“There are other monarchs around the world but only one Queen,” Sally tells Weekender.
“She is the most public but also the most private person, and I wanted not only to explain what she does and how she has been such a successful constitutional monarch, but also what she is really like, and take the reader as close as possible to the Queen as wife, mother and friend.
“Three years ago as I began my research, I knew that she would be celebrating her Diamond Jubilee this year, so it was a historic moment to write about her life.”
Private life
During the process, the author found many surprises about the Queen of England’s private life, such as character and personality traits that were well known to friends but seldom seen in her public role.
“She possesses the traits that you would expect: dignity, duty, diligence and stoicism,” explains the biographer, “But I now understand in greater depth how she lives by these traits.
“I also discovered the more surprising aspects of her personality: that she is humble, down to earth, funny, expressive, lively, compassionate, shrewd, intelligent, tolerant, courageous, wise, caring, and inquisitive.” Of course, as the Queen has not granted interviews for 60 years it was not possible for the author to speak to her first hand on an official basis.
“I did observe her in a variety of settings, including an overseas royal tour to Bermuda and Trinidad, and I met her at three private social engagements when I saw glimpses of her lively private side,” Sally tells us.
Continuity and tradition
Sections of the world remain fascinated by the pomp and circumstances of the monarchy, with others bemused by what they see as an anti-democratic anachronism. The author explains the tradition of it all.
“The Queen has been part of our lives for four generations. We have watched her and her family go through turbulent times, and she has remained a symbol of continuity and tradition that people value today more than ever.
“People are also captivated by the rituals and the colorful ceremonies of the British monarchy, all of which were on display last year during the wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton, and will be again for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in May and June.” The author has visited Cayman once before – nearly 40 years ago, when things were somewhat different.
“I was so excited to see Grand Cayman – a British Overseas Territory – on my tour schedule! I visited once before in the mid-1970s, when it wasn’t as well known as a tourist destination.
“I wish I could remember where I stayed, but I enjoyed the island, especially the snorkeling. I’ll be eager to see how the island has changed.”
Sally Bedell Smith is the author of bestselling biographies of William S. Paley; Pamela Harriman; Diana, Princess of Wales; John and Jacqueline Kennedy; and Bill and Hillary Clinton. A contributing editor at Vanity Fair since 1996, she previously worked at Time and The New York Times, where she was a cultural news reporter. She is the mother of three children and lives in Washington, D.C., with her husband, Stephen G. Smith.
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