Princess Mary

The First Modern Princess

By: Elisabeth Basford, Hugo Vickers - foreword

Narrated by: Jennifer M. Dixon

Princess Diana is seen as the first member of the British royal family to tear up the rulebook, and the duchess of Cambridge is modernizing the monarchy in strides. But before them was another who paved the way.

Princess Mary was born in 1897. Despite her Victorian beginnings, she strove to make a princess' life meaningful, using her position to help those less fortunate and defying gender conventions in the process. As the only daughter of King George V and Queen Mary, she would live to see not only two of her brothers ascend the throne, but also her niece Queen Elizabeth II.

She was one of the hardest-working members of the royal family, known for her no-nonsense approach and determination in the face of adversity. During the First World War she came into her own, launching an appeal to furnish every British troop and sailor with a Christmas gift, and training as a nurse at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

From her dedication to the war effort, to her role as the family peacemaker during the Abdication Crisis, Mary was the princess who redefined the title for the modern age. In the first biography in decades, Elisabeth Basford offers a fresh appraisal of Mary's full and fascinating life.

©2021 Elisabeth Basford (P)2021 Tantor

the Princess' love of Yorkshire

It was an affectionate biography. I learned a great deal about Princess Mary. I also learned about the King and Queen as well.

Main Character Absent

Princess Mary was obviously a dedicated, hard-working member of the royal family, but since this book includes almost no material from her letters or a diary and little that was anecdotal, the entire narrative is very dry and appears to be based upon the subject’s calendar. The author explains that Mary’s diaries were not personal reflections, and perhaps her letters were not available, but the reader will not know much more about the life of George V’s only daughter than before reading the book.

Historical facts includrf

I read about British history a great deal. This story included lots of actual figures about how death taxes were implemented and applied. How the economy shifted after each Wad. Googles pics. Fantastic information. You an follow along architecture botany maps fashions uniforms conveyances and get a feel for the characters from peoples pictures👠🎩

So many things I didn't know

The life of Princess Mary is one I knew nothing about. Her service to crown and country is often overlooked. As a life long Girl Scout, I was particularly interested in Mary's pivotal role in the Girl Guide movement in Britain. She was a feminist before her time in the true sense of the word while maintaining her dignity and propriety. Before Diana assumed the title, Mary was The People's Princess.

Depth of subject.

Great listen for those interested in the extended British Monarchy. It filled out more history for me on that family.