Before the Crown by Flora Harding: A Book Review

Before the Crown
Author: Flora Harding
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: One More Chapter
Release Date: 2020
Pages: 401
Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: Before the crown there was a love story.

Windsor Castle, 1943

As war rages across the world, Princess Elizabeth comes face to face with the dashing naval officer she first met in London nine years before.

One of the youngest first lieutenants in the Royal Navy, Philip represents everything she has always been taught to avoid. Instability. Audacity. Adventure.

But when the king learns of their relationship, the suitability of the foreign prince is questioned by all at court.

He is the risk she has never been allowed to take. The risk not even the shadow of the crown will stop her from taking…

Step through the palace gates and discover a captivating historical novel of royal secrets and forbidden love exploring the tempestuous courtship between Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip in the wake of WWII.

My Review: Before the Crown tells the courtship story between Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip. Princess Elizabeth has been in love with Phillip, a Greek prince and a Navy officer, since she was a little girl. Since their first meeting, she has been writing letters to Phillip. However, Phillip does not notice her until she performs in the play, Aladdin. This novel chronicles their enduring romance that would be their foundation to a successful marriage that would last decades.

Through many non-fiction books and documentaries, I have learned about Queen Elizabeth’s relationship with her husband Prince Phillip. As a fan of the tv show, The Crown, I was disappointed that they did not show the Queen’s courtship with Phillip. Thus, I was delighted when this historical fiction novel was released because it would focus on the Queen’s courtship. This novel did not disappoint. I admired Princess Elizabeth’s tenacity. She was a woman who fought for what she wanted. She was also a mature woman and knew the weight of the responsibility that comes from being the heir to a kingdom. Therefore, Elizabeth is truly an admirable woman. I also found Prince Phillip to be the most suitable match for Elizabeth. It is not easy to marry the heir of a kingdom. While Phillip was struggling with the responsibility of marrying the future queen of England, he nevertheless supported and loved Elizabeth. Thus, their romance was very sweet.

Overall, this novel gives an in-depth look at Queen Elizabeth’s early life. The characters seem very complex. The story is very well-written and meticulously researched! There were some scenes that I thought were unnecessary. Still, Before the Crown was a very short and simple story! I recommend this novel not only for fans of the tv show but also fans of the Royals! Fans of The Queen’s Secret, A Most English Princess, and The Other Windsor Girl will enjoy this novel! Before the Crown is the perfect novel to read during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee!

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Theodora: Actress, Empress, Saint (Women in Antiquity) by David Potter: A Book Review

Theodora: Actress, Empress, Saint (Women in Antiquity) Author: David Potter Genre: Nonfiction, Biography, History Publisher: Oxford University Press Release Date: November 4, 2015 Pages: 288 Source: Publisher/Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: Two of the most famous mosaics from the ancient world, in the church of San Vitale in Ravenna, depict the sixth-century emperor Justinian and, on the wall facing him, his wife, Theodora (497-548). This majestic portrait gives no inkling of Theodora's very humble beginnings or her improbable rise to fame and power. Raised in a family of circus performers near Constantinople's Hippodrome, she abandoned a successful acting career in her late teens to follow a lover whom she was legally forbidden to marry. When he left her, she was a single mother who built a new life for herself as a secret agent, in which role she met the heir to the throne. To the shock of the ruling elite, the two were married, and when Justinian...

Guest Post: The Ladies-in-Waiting: Lady Isabel Baynton by Alexandra Walsh

Today's guest writer is Alexandra Walsh. She is the author of The Catherine Howard Conspiracy , which is a historical thriller surrounding the infamous Tudor queen. In this guest post, Mrs. Walsh discusses the life of Catherine's lady-in-waiting, Isabel Baynton. This post will be sure to fascinate fans of Tudor era. If you enjoy her post, please pick up a copy of The Catherine Howard Conspiracy ! Thank you, Mrs. Walsh! The Ladies-in-Waiting – Lady Isabel Baynton by Alexandra Walsh One of the most enjoyable things about writing an historical novel is discovering the tiny details that make the period real on the page. While I was researching The Catherine Howard Conspiracy , I spent a great deal of time hunting out the life stories of the women who surrounded the young queen in order to create a group of realistic friends and confidants. There are some well-known names linked with Catherine and her downfall: Lady Jane Boleyn,...

Guest Post by Cheryl Anne Stapp: Sacramento Women in the Pioneer Era

Today's guest writer is Cheryl Anne Stapp. She is the author of Before The Gold Rush - The Sinclairs of Rancho del Paso 1840-1849 , and Disaster & Triumph: Sacramento Women, Gold Rush Through the Civil War . I am currently reading Before the Gold Rush , and I find it fascinating! In this guest post, she writes about stories of pioneer women that settled in Sacramento. I hope you find these stories captivating and that it will give you some insight into her novel. Thank you, Mrs. Stapp! Sacramento Women in the Pioneer Era I don’t write fiction. I tried, but soon found that I have no talent for plotting. My first and only attempt at a historical romance was actually pretty far along when an editor friend pointed out there was more historical matter than romance in the manuscript…and as far as a well-constructed storyline with surprising plot twists, well… But in 2009 I found my niche, largely inspire...

History from a Woman's Perspective- A Book Blog

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