REVIEW by DENISE

Sue Townsend is an internationally renowned author and also a well known playwrite.  Her creation of Adrian Mole made her Britain’s best selling author of the 1980’s.   You don’t have to be a fan of Adrian Mole or the Royal Family to enjoy the very well written story of the Queen and I.

None of us “know” the Royal Family but most of us I’m sure would agree with Sue Townsend’s portrayal of this hugely dysfunctional family.  They like any other family have their ups and downs, trials and tribulations.  The Queen’s famous quote “Annus Horribilus” takes on a new meaning when the outcome of a General Election has a shock outcome.  A landslide victory goes to Republican Jack Barker who strips the Royal Family of all wealth and titles.  They are made to vacate their Royal Palaces and are shocked to find their new abode on a run down council estate in the North of England is anything but palatial.  The Queen is the strongest character, true to real life, Anne is a “no stuff and nonsense, roll your sleeves up” character, again very true to life.  Charles finds himself communing with nature  and living off the land after doing a runner from the law.  Diana is at her happiest choosing paint for the house, and William and Harry are having the time of their lives running amok with the local kids and quickly pick up new language skills, quite literally.  The Duke takes to his bed, Princess Margaret  refuses to be “normal” and the Queen Mother quite likes her pensioners bungalow and befriends her kindly neighbour.  To me the real hero of the story is Harris, the Queen’s Corgie who runs wild with the estate dogs and eventually becomes leader of the pack.

The group met at Denise’s house and all agreed it was a very good book, humorous and a little bit silly in places, but hey, can’t life be silly at the best of times.  The average mark for The Queen And I was 8/10.