{"title":"Hugo Vickers","description":"\u003cp\u003eWelcome to the collection of books by the esteemed author and royal biographer, \u003cstrong\u003eHugo Vickers\u003c\/strong\u003e. With a profound interest in royal and aristocratic circles, Vickers has earned recognition for his meticulously researched and engaging biographies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDive into the life of \u003cem\u003eAlice, A Royal Life\u003c\/em\u003e, where Vickers unveils the fascinating journey of Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester. In \u003cem\u003eCLARISSA\u003c\/em\u003e, explore the remarkable story of Clarissa Eden, the influential woman who witnessed and shaped British history alongside her husband, Prime Minister Anthony Eden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eVickers' acclaimed work on \u003cem\u003eQueen Elizabeth II\u003c\/em\u003e offers a heartfelt tribute and insightful perspective on the life of Britain's longest-reigning monarch. Additionally, \u003cem\u003eThe Quest for Queen Mary\u003c\/em\u003e presents a unique glimpse into the enigmatic and often surprising personality of Queen Mary, through candid interviews and reflections.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEach title in this collection showcases Vickers' gift for storytelling and his dedication to preserving the intricate histories of notable figures. These biographies and memoirs are certain to captivate readers with their blend of detailed research and engaging narrative style.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"a-royal-life-by-hugo-vickers-9781529389739","title":"A Royal Life","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'A pleasure to read... a timely reminder of the need for service' \u003cem\u003e-- The Daily Telegraph\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'The voices and reminiscence of family and friends merge seamlessly, giving the impression of gathering round the fire on a winter evening' -- \u003cem\u003eThe Oldie\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e'A remarkable memoir penned by the Duke of Kent, whose entire life has been dedicated to Queen and country... an insider's account of what it is like to be a working royal.' -- \u003cem\u003eDaily Mail\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHRH The Duke of Kent has been at the heart of the British Royal Family throughout his life. As a working member of the Royal Family, he supported his cousin The Queen, representing her at home and abroad, until her death in 2022. His royal duties began when, in 1952, at the age of sixteen, he walked in the procession behind King George VI's coffin, later paying homage to The Queen at her Coronation in 1953. Since then he has witnessed and participated in key Royal occasions.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003ci\u003eA Royal Life\u003c\/i\u003e is a unique account based on a series of conversations between the Duke and acclaimed Royal historian Hugo Vickers. It covers the Duke's upbringing, his army life, his royal tours and events and associations with organisations. Here too are recollections of family members including his mother, Princess Marina, his grandmother, Queen Mary, his cousin, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, and his uncle, King George VI.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eOther members of the Royal Family contribute their memories, including his wife, the Duchess of Kent, the Duke's siblings, Princess Alexandra and Prince Michael of Kent, his son, the Earl of St Andrews, his daughter, Lady Helen Taylor as well as his cousins, Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia, Archduchess Helen of Austria and her brother, Hans Veit Toerring.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eContaining never before seen photographs from the Duke's private collection and a new chapter on the Platinum Jubilee and the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, \u003ci\u003eA Royal Life\u003c\/i\u003e is an unprecedented and remarkable insight into Royal history.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46798497415404,"sku":"9781529389739","price":29.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/14319113482732.jpg?v=1757200209"},{"product_id":"clarissa-by-hugo-vickers-9781399736770","title":"CLARISSA","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eA \u003ci\u003eThe Week\u003c\/i\u003e Book of the Week\u003c\/b\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'Hugo Vickers brings tremendous authority to this life of one of the most significant and intriguing political wives of the last century. The integrity of his scholarship and his deep personal knowledge of his subject make this a compelling and definitive work.' - \u003ci\u003eProfessor Simon Heffer\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'A vivid portrayal of a remarkable and unusual woman, her world, and her times. Hugely enjoyable.' - \u003ci\u003eJung Chang\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'An engrossing and intimate biography of a remarkable and fascinating woman. Hugo Vickers deftly captures Clarissa's enigmatic personality and the glamorous world in which she moved.' - \u003ci\u003eRobert Harris\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e-----\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eClarissa\u003c\/i\u003e Eden, Countess of Avon, wife of Prime Minister Anthony Eden, once famously said: 'For the past few weeks I have really felt as if the Suez Canal was flowing through my drawing-room.'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith her impressive intellect and acerbic wit, she was a highly influential muse to many leading figures over several decades.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAt Oxford in the 1940s, she fascinated dons and undergraduates alike. She went on to work in the film world for Alexander Korda and for George Weidenfeld at Contact Magazine. She was a close friend of Cecil Beaton, James Pope-Hennessy, Lucian Freud, Isaiah Berlin, and Lord Goodman. She fascinated Greta Garbo.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAfter an early Bohemian life, she became a politically active wife to Eden when he was Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister, particularly during the Suez Crisis in 1956.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHer death at 101 in 2021 has opened the way for this enthralling and revealing biography by the widely admired biographer Hugo Vickers. He knew her well for over 40 years and consigned her revealing private papers and sharply written diaries to him.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHere also are first-hand contributions from friends such as Antonia Fraser. Clarissa Eden's story sheds invaluable light on a rapidly vanishing age and an extraordinary woman.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette New Zealand Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46800382460140,"sku":"9781399736770","price":80.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9735763482686.jpg?v=1757285521"},{"product_id":"the-quest-for-queen-mary-by-hugo-vickers-9781529330618","title":"The Quest for Queen Mary","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e'A scary portrait of put-upon servants and potty aristos ... this is arguably the most riotously funny volume published this year'\u003c\/b\u003e  \nMax Hastings, \u003ci\u003eSunday Times\u003c\/i\u003e  \n\n\u003cb\u003e'One of the funniest, most eccentric books of the year'\u003c\/b\u003e  \nCraig Brown, \u003ci\u003eMail on Sunday\u003c\/i\u003e  \n\n\u003cb\u003eWhen James Pope-Hennessy began his work on Queen Mary's official biography,\u003c\/b\u003e it opened the door to meetings with royalty, court members, and retainers around Europe. The series of candid observations, secrets, and indiscretions contained in his notes were to be kept private for 50 years. Now published in full for the first time and edited by the highly admired royal biographer Hugo Vickers, this is a riveting, often hilarious portrait of the eccentric aristocracy of a bygone age.  \n\nGiving much greater insight into Queen Mary than the official version, and including sharply observed encounters with, among others, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, the Duke of Gloucester, and a young Queen Elizabeth, \u003ci\u003eThe Quest for Queen Mary\u003c\/i\u003e is set to be a classic of royal publishing.\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46846596546796,"sku":"9781529330618","price":29.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/13727903482732.jpg?v=1758914148"},{"product_id":"queen-elizabeth-ii-by-hugo-vickers-9781529355208","title":"Queen Elizabeth II","description":"Queen Elizabeth II occupies a unique place in the hearts of her people. She was elegant, self-contained, and enigmatic.  After a supremely happy childhood, gravitas descended with the death of her beloved grandfather and after the Abdication she accepted her destiny. When she was 21 in 1947, she made a promise to serve and kept it for a remarkable 75 years. She was steadfast and conciliatory and presided calmly over decades of change, political upheaval and family tragedy. Tommy Lascelles described her as 'the most remarkable woman' he had ever met.\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eHugo Vickers has been described by the \u003ci\u003eFinancial Times \u003c\/i\u003eas 'the most knowledgeable royal biographer on the planet.' This major new biography is based on sixty years of close observation and research, and uses never-before-seen sources and personal recollections to illuminate her life as never before.","brand":"Hachette New Zealand Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47105258356972,"sku":"9781529355208","price":33.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/83d302f3019e3ca48e39296a2278c846.jpg?v=1765789101"},{"product_id":"alice-by-hugo-vickers-9781399730112","title":"Alice","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAlice\u003c\/em\u003e by Hugo Vickers offers a fascinating exploration of an enigmatic royal figure. 'In 1953, at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Alice was dressed from head to foot in a long grey dress and a grey cloak, and a nun's veil. Amidst all the jewels, and velvet and coronets, and the fine uniforms, she exuded an unworldly simplicity. Seated with the royal family, she was a part of them, yet somehow distanced from them. Inasmuch as she is remembered at all today, it is as this shadowy figure in grey nun's clothes...'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePrincess Alice, mother of Prince Phillip, was something of a mysterious figure even within her own family. She was born deaf, at Windsor Castle, in the presence of her grandmother, Queen Victoria, and was brought up in England, Darmstadt, and Malta.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1903, she married Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark, and from then on, her life was overshadowed by wars, revolutions, and enforced periods of exile. By the time she was thirty-five, virtually every point of stability was overthrown. Although the British royal family remained in the ascendant, her German family ceased to be ruling princes. Her two aunts who had married Russian royalty met savage ends, and soon afterwards, Alice's own husband was nearly executed as a political scapegoat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe middle years of her life, which should have followed a conventional and fulfilling path, did the opposite. She suffered from a serious religious crisis and, at the age of forty-five, was removed from her family and placed in a sanatorium in Switzerland, where she was pronounced a paranoid schizophrenic. As her stay in the clinic became prolonged, there was a time when it seemed she might never walk free again. How she achieved her recovery is just one of the remarkable aspects of her story.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47288345231596,"sku":"9781399730112","price":39.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/07354fa8b9e3aa639592ed72890c94a9.jpg?v=1770634473"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/hugo-vickers.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}