ELIZABETH THE QUEEN The Life of a Modern Monarch

Just in time for the Diamond Jubilee, this entertaining biography traces Queen Elizabeth II’s life and reign. Rosalyn Landor’s posh British voice lends a perfect aristocratic tone to this respectful account of the graceful queen’s politics and personality, especially her delightful wit, political savvy, and remarkable commitment to the constitutional limits of the monarchy. Landor lends a subtle twinkle to amusing details such as what the queen carries in her ubiquitous handbags and what frozen food fascinated her during her spontaneous stop at a suburban grocery store during a mid-1950s visit to the U.S. Landor’s straight reading is exceptionally effective—but a bit distracting for some famous voices: It’s odd to hear the words of George W. Bush in a posh British accent. N.M.C. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2012]