Books on the Hesse Royals

[Kimberly]

Rachel, it is a lovely book, if a bit "flowery" at times. I have had a tattered old copy for about 6 months and have read it twice.

[Ra-Ra-Rasputin]

Great news! Thanks Kimberly!  It does look pretty reliable but you never know!

It's going on my 'to read' pile, which I am slowly working my way through. It's in good company..with 'Princesses' and 'The Last Tsar', and those books I'm supposed to be reading for university...

Rachel
xx

[Marlene]

You've never heard of David Duff ... I would put David in the same league as Theo Aronson.   Hessian Tapestry is a wonderful book.   I am sure he is still alive, but very elderly (b 1912) ... and living in Diss.  I used to be David's researcher (for several books books published in the 70s and 80s.)  I never accepted money, but I got other good things ... like long stays with he and his wife at their home in Diss -- and a beautiful signed photograph of Queen Mary (that hung over a toilet in his house -- his house was filled with royal memorabilia.  This was not his comment about Mary, mind you.

The photo now is on a wall in my entrance hallway.

He also wrote bios on Princess Louise and Princess Beatrice (the Shy Princess) as well as bios on more modern royals such as the queen mother.   His books are what I called secondary reading ... and I would say that Hessian Tapestry is his best book.  

I happened to find this in Oxfam today for £1 so I bought it, obviously.

However, I've never heard of it before or the author, so I thought I'd check that it is reliable before I get stuck in.

It looks really interesting and there are some great photos I've never seen before.  I couldn't believe my luck when I found it!

Rachel
xx

[Eddie_uk]

Diss in Norfolk Marlene?

It is a superb book, one of my favourites. Great find Rachel!!

[Marlene]

Diss in Norfolk Marlene?

It is a superb book, one of my favourites. Great find Rachel!!

yes, in Norfolk.

[Eddie_uk]

Wow, i never knew that one of my favourite authors lives not 20 mins from my house!!

How exciting! Do you think he might be interested to see my collection?? Though is probably not a patch on his!!  

[Marlene]

Wow, i never knew that one of my favourite authors lives not 20 mins from my house!!

How exciting! Do you think he might be interested to see my collection?? Though is probably not a patch on his!!  

He was born in 1912.  I am not sure how well he is ... this was the first year I didn't get a card from he and his wife  in at least 25 years.)  

[Eddie_uk]

Yes, no doubt he wants a peaceful time at his age.

Not good to hear you didn't get an Xmas card, hope he is alright. I love his books.

[Kimberly]

Loved his "Shy Princess" too.

[Marlene]

Yes, no doubt he wants a peaceful time at his age.

Not good to hear you didn't get an Xmas card, hope he is alright. I love his books.

I was always in awe of David  -- he was a good friend too ... and I also had the pleasure of knowing Theo Aronson, who was another delightful person.  

[Eddie_uk]

I loved the Shy Princess to Kimberly! I've not read the Princess Louise book. I think he did one on Queen Alexandra too??

Im sure Theo Aronson was a wonderful man.

[Prince_Lieven]

The Alix one he did is Alexandra, Princess and Queen, I think.

[Marlene]

I loved the Shy Princess to Kimberly! I've not read the Princess Louise book. I think he did one on Queen Alexandra too??

Im sure Theo Aronson was a wonderful man.

The princess louise book is difficult to find ... it was published in the 1940s during the war so the distribution was limited ... even David did not have a spare copy.  

Took me years to find a copy.    Nothing earth shattering or as detailed as Jehanne Wake's book.  Shy princess is lovely, and far better than the ME Sara bio.

[Marlene]

The Alix one he did is Alexandra, Princess and Queen, I think.

Yes -- and that is one of the books I worked on.

[Eddie_uk]

Very interesting! Thank you