The King's Speech by Mark Logue and Peter Conradi. 242 p.This is both a biography of Lionel Logue, the speech coach who helped George VI of England overcome his stutter, and a history of that king's life. "Bertie" was Duke of York when he began treatment with Logue, and they continued their association once he became king. Logue was present for most of the big speeches that the king had to make; they would practice beforehand, but Logue's presence (he would be in the room during radio speeches) gave Bertie confidence. The view the book gives us of Bertie's reign is interesting, because it mostly revolves around major speeches--much of the book is based on Logue's diaries, so of course that affects the viewpoint. We're shown Christmas with the king's family, for instance, because during the war the king always made a radio address on Christmas, so Logue would be present.
As usual, reading about 20th century history always makes me feel like an idiot when I run into stuff I don't know. I knew Wallis Simpson had been divorced twice, but I didn't realize that at the time Edward VIII took the throne, she was still married to her second husband.
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