Sally Bedell Smith
Author of Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch
About the Author
Sally Bedell Smith is a historian and bestselling author of biographies of William S. Paley, Pamela Harriman, Diana Princess of Wales, John and Jacqueline Kennedy, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles. Smith is a contributing editor at Vanity Fair. She has worked at Time show more and The New York Times, where she was a cultural news reporter. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: Sally Bedell Smith at the 2012 National Book Festival By Slowking4 - Own work, GFDL 1.2, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21582343
Works by Sally Bedell Smith
In All His Glory: The Life of William S. Paley : The Legendary Tycoon and His Brilliant Circle (1990) 145 copies, 4 reviews
Christmas secret 1 copy
Associated Works
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 1948
- Gender
- female
- Education
- Wheaton College
Columbia University - Occupations
- journalist
- Organizations
- Time
TV Guide
The New York Times
Vanity Fair - Awards and honors
- Sigma Delta Chi Distinguished Service Award, 1982
Freedom Forum Media Studies Center, Fellow, 1986
Radnor High School's Hall of Fame, November 2008 - Short biography
- Sally Bedell Smith (born 1948) is an American historian and best selling author specializing in the history of American broadcasting and American political figures. She is married to former U.S. News & World Report editor Stephen G. Smith. Sally Bedell Smith spent her early career working at Time magazine, TV Guide, and The New York Times. She won the Sigma Delta Chi Distinguished Service Award in 1982, and became a fellow at the Freedom Forum Media Studies Center in 1986. In 1996, Smith joined Vanity Fair as contributing editor, where she remains as of October 2007.
She graduated from Radnor High School in 1966, and was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in November 2008. - Nationality
- USA
- Places of residence
- New York, New York, USA
Washington, D.C., USA - Associated Place (for map)
- USA
Members
Reviews
I'll admit I'm fascinated with all things English Royal Family, so I began reading already knowing I'd rate it 5 stars. What a fantastic, well written book. The private Prince Of Wales is vastly different from the public Prince Of Wales (duh) but what I really liked about this book is while the author strips off the veneer she doesn't judge. She lays everything out, warts and all, but doesn't offer any opinion as to how we should view or treat the Prince. Some things aren't pretty, but show more Bedell-Smith doesn't pass any judgement on character. I knew I liked the Prince, but after reading this book I really like him. He's so quaint, traditional, and formal I want to be like him. I admire his refusal to adapt despite his views, lifestyle, and attitude being stuck in the past. Good for him. It does cause him to be petty, pedantic, inflexible, and even mean, but at the same time he sticks to his ideals and doesn't waver. He has a vision of what a Prince Of Wales and king should be, and if it causes him to be unpopular so be it. On a simpler level I've re-committed to keeping up on my written correspondence, and I'm inspired to take up drawing and possibly watercolor painting. And long walks in the garden. You go, Charles. show less
A fabulous biography-to-date of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. Although the author says in her acknowledgements "This is not an authorized account of her reign; the royal family will not choose an official biographer until after she dies," they would be well-advised to keep Sally Bedell Smith in the running. This is a comprehensive and thoroughly-researched story of Queen Elizabeth, from the notification of her uncle's abdication to the wedding of her grandson Prince William. It's obvious show more that the author has great respect for the queen, but that doesn't keep her from presenting an even-handed approach. The detail is amazing, the pictures are great fun, and the writing is comfortable and easy to read. At over 500 pages, that is important!
Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in the life of this fascinating woman! show less
Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in the life of this fascinating woman! show less
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.throne. Some reviewers have described the book as an authorized unauthorized biography, likely because Bedell Smith writes with sympathy and admiration for the Queen's dedication and the sacrifices that the Queen has made and makes on a daily basis.
I hadn't read any of biographies of the royal family and have had a mild fascination with Princess Diana (like most of the world). I'd enjoyed the movie The Queen with Helen Mirren. I'd requested Elizabeth the Queen through the Amazon Vine program show more with a general curiosity of the second longest reigning monarch and was delightfully surprised to learn the details of her life as queen. The book begins with ten-year old Elizabeth and her sister discuss the abdication by King Edward VIII and their father's ascension to the throne. Elizabeth suddenly becomes next in line to the throne and she is prepared accordingly. Drastic changes are made to her education, training, and treatment - she, her family, and those around her take care to prepare her for her role. In contrast, her father Prince Albert ("Bertie") had not been raised as the heir and his sudden ascension when King Edward VIII abdicated to be with Wallace Simpson had not only created a constitutional crisis but had imposed an incredible burden for which he -- at least from Hollywood's depictions -- had not felt well prepared. But as Prince Albert took on the role of George VI, history (and again, the movies) reveal that he met unexpected and unparalleled challenges with great grace, dedication and success -- he steered England through World War II and the challenges afterward. The royal family made sure that Elizabeth was prepared, insofar as one can be, for her future role as monarch. "I have a feeling that in the end probably that training is the answer to a great many things. You can do a lot if you are properly trained, and I hope I have been." said the Queen on the eve of her 40th year. But as the book reveals, preparation is not so much intellectual education but also a deeper devotion to, understanding of, and commitment to the responsibilities, obligations, and limitations of her position as queen. Her role as constitutional monarch - and the restrictions that are imposed on her - and her larger role as diplomat, role model, and queen that brings together the Commonwealth nations and her subjects the world over.
I was fascinated by the conversations, anecdotes, and details that Sally Bedell Smith revealed. Having only known Queen Elizabeth as the older monarch, mother of the rather old Prince Charles and presumably an unsympathetic mother-in-law to the lively Princess Diana, it was lovely to read about her early years, of her own youth, glowing beauty, the personal and diplomatic triumphs of the young queen. Sally Bedell Smith gives us a fuller story of Queen Elizabeth II with careful research and meticulous details. We learn of her love affair and marriage to Prince Philip as well as the ways in which she has sought to give him greater importance. The relationship between Elizabeth II and Prince Philip is similar in some ways to that of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, Prince Consort - except that Prince Albert was given a greater role in governmental affairs. However, Bedell Smith recounts the romance in much the same way: the fabulously wealthy heir presumptive is attracted to a handsome, well educated, young man of similarly royal birth. Prince Philip is a descendant of Queen Victoria and a third cousin of Queen Elizabeth which Prince Albert was first cousin to Queen Victoria. Both queens sought to give their husbands primacy in their family life and to give them a larger role and importance in public life. Sally Bedell Smith devotes considerable time on Prince Philip, his background, his interests, his adjustment to his role as Prince, his treatment of their children, his wisecracking ways that are supposedly done to provide comic relief and ease tension. Bedell Smith makes Prince Philip out to be a sympathetic character. I'll admit though that while she makes him a more sympathetic character, there are things that stick out in her description of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth that make one curious as to what other people would say about incidents and these royal personages. For instance, Bedell Smith writes "Always vigilant about his own weight, he helped his wife return to trim form by encouraging her to give up potatoes, wine and sweets."
Most of the anecdotes are enlightening and I came away with great respect and affection for Queen Elizabeth II. Her dedication to her work -- she dedicates hours each day to official correspondence and briefings, taking time out only on Easter and Christmas, her strict adherence to her role under the constitution, and the physical demands of her position are all revelations and evoke my greatest admiration. I very much enjoyed reading Elizabeth the Queen and highly recommend it for those with an interest in modern history. Queen Elizabeth II is much more than a royal figure, she is one of the most important leaders of the last century. show less
I hadn't read any of biographies of the royal family and have had a mild fascination with Princess Diana (like most of the world). I'd enjoyed the movie The Queen with Helen Mirren. I'd requested Elizabeth the Queen through the Amazon Vine program show more with a general curiosity of the second longest reigning monarch and was delightfully surprised to learn the details of her life as queen. The book begins with ten-year old Elizabeth and her sister discuss the abdication by King Edward VIII and their father's ascension to the throne. Elizabeth suddenly becomes next in line to the throne and she is prepared accordingly. Drastic changes are made to her education, training, and treatment - she, her family, and those around her take care to prepare her for her role. In contrast, her father Prince Albert ("Bertie") had not been raised as the heir and his sudden ascension when King Edward VIII abdicated to be with Wallace Simpson had not only created a constitutional crisis but had imposed an incredible burden for which he -- at least from Hollywood's depictions -- had not felt well prepared. But as Prince Albert took on the role of George VI, history (and again, the movies) reveal that he met unexpected and unparalleled challenges with great grace, dedication and success -- he steered England through World War II and the challenges afterward. The royal family made sure that Elizabeth was prepared, insofar as one can be, for her future role as monarch. "I have a feeling that in the end probably that training is the answer to a great many things. You can do a lot if you are properly trained, and I hope I have been." said the Queen on the eve of her 40th year. But as the book reveals, preparation is not so much intellectual education but also a deeper devotion to, understanding of, and commitment to the responsibilities, obligations, and limitations of her position as queen. Her role as constitutional monarch - and the restrictions that are imposed on her - and her larger role as diplomat, role model, and queen that brings together the Commonwealth nations and her subjects the world over.
I was fascinated by the conversations, anecdotes, and details that Sally Bedell Smith revealed. Having only known Queen Elizabeth as the older monarch, mother of the rather old Prince Charles and presumably an unsympathetic mother-in-law to the lively Princess Diana, it was lovely to read about her early years, of her own youth, glowing beauty, the personal and diplomatic triumphs of the young queen. Sally Bedell Smith gives us a fuller story of Queen Elizabeth II with careful research and meticulous details. We learn of her love affair and marriage to Prince Philip as well as the ways in which she has sought to give him greater importance. The relationship between Elizabeth II and Prince Philip is similar in some ways to that of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, Prince Consort - except that Prince Albert was given a greater role in governmental affairs. However, Bedell Smith recounts the romance in much the same way: the fabulously wealthy heir presumptive is attracted to a handsome, well educated, young man of similarly royal birth. Prince Philip is a descendant of Queen Victoria and a third cousin of Queen Elizabeth which Prince Albert was first cousin to Queen Victoria. Both queens sought to give their husbands primacy in their family life and to give them a larger role and importance in public life. Sally Bedell Smith devotes considerable time on Prince Philip, his background, his interests, his adjustment to his role as Prince, his treatment of their children, his wisecracking ways that are supposedly done to provide comic relief and ease tension. Bedell Smith makes Prince Philip out to be a sympathetic character. I'll admit though that while she makes him a more sympathetic character, there are things that stick out in her description of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth that make one curious as to what other people would say about incidents and these royal personages. For instance, Bedell Smith writes "Always vigilant about his own weight, he helped his wife return to trim form by encouraging her to give up potatoes, wine and sweets."
Most of the anecdotes are enlightening and I came away with great respect and affection for Queen Elizabeth II. Her dedication to her work -- she dedicates hours each day to official correspondence and briefings, taking time out only on Easter and Christmas, her strict adherence to her role under the constitution, and the physical demands of her position are all revelations and evoke my greatest admiration. I very much enjoyed reading Elizabeth the Queen and highly recommend it for those with an interest in modern history. Queen Elizabeth II is much more than a royal figure, she is one of the most important leaders of the last century. show less
So Prince Charles turns out to be a complicated man. By turns sad, morose, furious, lashing out, unsure of himself, taking on causes and doing good work, foisting ill-informed opinions on everything you can think of, etc., etc. He nearly wore me out in this book alone, which makes as good a story out of all those bits as possible. But I stand by my long-held conviction that there are quite a few people in the royal family who sure as heck need a JOB.
Lists
Awards
You May Also Like
Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 11
- Also by
- 1
- Members
- 2,359
- Popularity
- #10,878
- Rating
- 3.7
- Reviews
- 75
- ISBNs
- 82
- Languages
- 5
- Favorited
- 2
