Charles - Softcover

Whether or not the Prince of Wales is the Renaissance man his biographer paints, his self-assessment of his function as a role model is amply borne out in this respectful study. Junor, author of a biography of Richard Burton, describes the man who may one day be king of England as a "compendium of ideas and philosophies taken from a wide range of people." A pivotal influence was his much-loved great-uncle, Lord Mountbatten, a surrogate father whose death by an IRA bomb left Charles emotionally dazed. From a lengthy heritage of pomp and circumstance, Charles has developed an alternative personal lifestyle, following the quieter pursuits of farming and gardening, espousing environmental concerns and developing an interest in the spiritual. The well-known facts of Charles the husband, father and heir apparent are counterbalanced by the author's sensitive interviews with him, the basis for an evaluation of the Prince as "one of the saddest people I have ever encountered."
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Juror presents a complete picture of the heir to the British throne in one of the best written and most objective and informative biographies of the royal family to appear in many years. Charles's mistakes and weaknesses aren't minimized, but the Prince emerges as a complex, thoughtful, and compassionate man, as well as a spirited champion of practical, humane solutions to national and global problems, e.g., youthful unemployment, conservation, and racial and religious prejudice. The reader is left with a better understanding of the United Kingdom, the continued importance of its monarch, and confidence in Charles's ability to reign. Recommended. Jeanne Gelinas, Hennepin Cty. Lib., Mound, Minn.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.