THE MAGIC OF THE BRITISH MONARCHY

by Kingsley Martin ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 13, 1962

First published in England as The Crown and The Establishment, this book by the editorial director of The New Statesman presents an informed critical study of the British Monarchy from Victoria to Elizabeth II, and the backstage influence of ""The Establishment"" on the relations between the Crown and the people. Not always has the British public treated the Sovereign with the respect it displays toward it today. Under Victoria a strong Republican movement swept England, the Monarchy being saved only by of his difficult Queen; today, largely through the unofficial power of ""The Establishment"", the Crown has turned into a ""TV Monarchy"" wearing a "" "" and looked on as and above criticism. ""The Establishment"" consists of ""those persons connected with the Government who are not subject to democratic control, who cannot be dismissed ... and who are not usually affected by changes in Government"". By nature of the office the Sovereign is head of ""The Establishment"", other members are such persons as permanent secretaries, church dignitaries, influential editors, the head of the BBC, and the like. In the eyes of the author, a known critic of both Monarchy and ""The Establishment"", this powerful group is responsible for the fact that the Monarchy today ""represents a social class rather than the nation"" and is cumbersome, outmoded, and outrageously . by glorifying it ""The Establishment"" damages it, ""seeking to disguise the power that private persons still exercise over the nation's affairs"". A book requiring a certain knowledge of the subject and therefore one for British rather th Americ readers, this pungently written study will appeal to students and historians of the British political scene during the past century and to those Interested in the changing attitudes toward the Monarchy as such.

Pub Date: Sept. 13, 1962

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Little, Brown-A.M.P.

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1962

Categories: NONFICTION