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Sir Alan Lascelles

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King's Counsellor: Abdication and War - The Diaries of Sir Alan Lascelles Hardcover – 30 Oct. 2006

by Duff Hart-Davis (Editor)

446

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King's Counsellor: Abdication and War: the Diaries of Sir Alan Lascelles edited by Duff Hart-Davis
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Tommy Lascelles's diaries begin with Edward VIII's abdication and end with George VI's death and his daughter Elizabeth's Coronation. In between we see George VI at work and play, a portrait more intimate than any other previously published. The early part about Edward VIII is a damning profile; the bulk of the book is WWII as seen from a key courtier - Lascelles is first assistant and soon private secretary to the King and Queen. The last part, which Duff Hart-Davis, the editor, has headed 'Royal Crises', is post-war. Here is Queen Mary's concern over the marriage of her grandson George Harewood (Lascelles' 2nd cousin) and Princess Margaret's relationship with the equerry, Peter Townsend. There is one additional element: Winston Churchill. Just as the Alanbrooke Diaries, published with such success in 2000, showed the PM as seen from the top soldier's viewpoint, so here Lascelles shows the PM and the King and how they worked together. Nor did Churchill always get his own way. Lascelles was a fine writer - like most of the best diaries his are a delight to read as well as being invaluable history.

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Reading age

1 year and up
Print length

488 pages
Language

English
Dimensions

15.24 x 4.83 x 22.86 cm
Publisher

Weidenfeld & Nicolson
Publication date

30 Oct. 2006
ISBN-10

0297851551
ISBN-13

978-0297851554
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Alan Lascelles
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Product description

Review

"This fascinating volume is as much a contribution to royal legend as to the history of the war." (KENNETH ROSE DAILY TELEGRAPH )

"Most - though by no means all - of the facts we know already: it is the angle from which they are viewed and the humour and intelligence of the observer which make these diaries both brilliantly entertaining and historically priceless." (PHILIP ZIEGLER THE SPECTATOR )

"Lascelles' diary - now expertly edited by Duff Hart-Davis - offers fascinating and hitherto unseen glimpses of some of the most significant figures of our age... however, none emerges more engagingly than the diarist himself." (JOHN ADAMSON SUNDAY TELEGRAPH )

"a biography of Sir Alan Lascelles, crafty manipulator, and clandestine homosexual, would be a fascinating book." (LITERARY REVIEW )

"sharply written diaries" (PAUL JOHNSON THE SPECTATOR )

"an elegant and precise diary... a revealing glimpse into the drawing rooms of the great during the years of crisis and victory... Lascelles was an excellent judge of character and posterity has almost always proved him right." (DOMINIC SANDBROOK EVENING STANDARD )

"offer genuine insights into the role of the King's adviser." (THE INDEPENDENT )

"What he has written might upset many of the royal inner circle, but is undeniably riveting reading." (THE RESIDENT )

"A great read, written with humour and elegance." (BELFAST TELEGRAPH )

About the Author

Duff Hart-Davis is a writer and journalist. His books include Fauna Britannica and Audubon's Elephant. He was Literary Editor and Assistant Editor of the Sunday Telegraph and was been country columnist for The Independent 1986-2001. He lives and farms in Gloucestershire.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Weidenfeld & Nicolson; First Edition (30 Oct. 2006)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 488 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0297851551
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0297851554
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 1 year and up
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.24 x 4.83 x 22.86 cm

Best Sellers Rank: 574,902 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 2,335 in Royal Historical Biographies
- 2,884 in World War II Biographies (Books)
- 3,092 in British Historical Military Biographies

Customer reviews:
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4.5 out of 5

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Cllr Chris Burke MBA

A Brilliant Insight into The Workings of the Royal Family and the World at War.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 December 2023

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This is a no holds barred commentary on the great and the not so good at the heart of the world of WW2 from a leading and powerful Principle Private Secretary. Central to the semifictional Crown TV series is the very real "Tommy" Alan Lascelles who writes his innermost thoughts here in his published diaries. This is a not to missed opportunity to understand a world of literally lost empires. Tommy also lifts the veil on the Abdication crisis and charts the unravelling of the King-Emporer Edward the 8th now suspected of treason. The post war journey to Nuremberg is here too. Throughout Tommy let's every player speak and they are so many including Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin and of course King George the 6th, his boss. We also see the emerging Princess Elizabeth soon to be queen working with the King in a world changing forever as the nuclear bombs descend on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

One person found this helpful

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Dickie Arbiter

The Consummate Courtier

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 September 2020

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Sir Alan 'Tommy' Lascelles is one courtier I would have loved to have met and to read his diary entries so well compiled by Rupert Hart Davis was perhaps the next best. Lascelles called a spade a spade, didn't mince his words and above all was a man with a sense of humour. He advised King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II. He was a tremendous networked amongst successive Prime Ministers, politicians, journalists, writers and diplomats. He had his finger on the pulse of the real world so much so that when he was asked for advice it was well thought through and graciously accepted. Lascelles was of his time the likes of which don't exist anymore in this electronic age. If dear reader you'd like to know more about working with four sovereigns from George V to our present Queen as well as the philandering of Edward, Prince of Wales - King Edward VIII for less than a year and his subsequent abdication, then I commend this book.

17 people found this helpful

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brian marlow

Cometh the hour........

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 February 2021

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Understated but measured entries :dry mostly with sometimes an emotional outburst . A matter of factness in the telling and descriptive too relating to carnage in Europe that brought misery to millions and the British establishment personalities charged with fighting back.They are compelling in their straightforwardness and his penetrating assessment of the Duke of Windsor is stark and unforgiving. Lascelles,a man of his time and class with a shrewd, naked unadorned view of situations and the personalities who he met as secretary and advisor to the King.

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Cat

An excellent read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 February 2011

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This is a truly excellent book. Although it only covers in detail the period 1942-1946 'Tommy' Lascelles gives great inside into what went on behind thhe scenes during this period of history. His diary is written with a dry humour which even though his style is now dated, makes excellent reading; the diary has also been edited brilliantly by Duff Hart-Davis with footnotes giving brief details of the many names 'dropped' in the diary. Although the abdication crisis is only covered in retrospect Lascelles describes cogently why Edward VIII could not continue as King - and gives a revealing personal view of the man who gave up the crown. If only he had continued the diary later - and started it earlier! His style reveal a man with a true aptitude for writing - and I loved the little details, such as the difficulty in obtaining sock suspenders (when did they cease to be a vital accessory for a man about town?) and the demise of his much handed-down undergarment! I can thoroughly recommend the book, which is more readable than many novels.

7 people found this helpful

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Dry Fly Man

Sadly, a bit boring !

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 September 2019

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I bought this book after watching the series ' The Crown' on Netflix. I thought it may be more of a biography than it is but it is mainly just a diary of Tommy's ( in fairness as the title suggests) service to three Monarchs, or should I say two plus an Abdicator !! It is very interesting, but not in the same way as a novel or biography.

3 people found this helpful

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Oregano

Good read, interesting character, though he can't do sums!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 November 2019

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Good read, interesting, gives an excellent background on people and events before and during World War 2. He's tactful about everyone but the Duke of Windsor who he really didn't like. It's about events before 'The Crown'. Sir Alan Lascelles, known as 'Tommy', writes well, but can't do sums. He said 4% death rate for bombing raids wasn't too bad considering the circumstances. What he didn't consider was that this figure was for each individual raid, so if 100 planes started and lost 4, then the remaining 96 went on next raid and lost 4 and a little bit, then 91 went again and lost 4 and a bit more, then 86 planes went and lost …. Over several raids lost half the aeroplanes and sadly the crew

6 people found this helpful

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Stephen Bentley

Discreet

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 August 2020

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I got this because it is described as a new edition. Which implied new material. He is very discreet, which is what might be expected from the Monarch's private secretary. This makes for dull reading, though he does loosen his stays about halfway through 1944. Shortly before D Day in fact. A lot of time appears to be spent catching and not catching fish at Balmoral. The most entertaining part of the book is his private correspondence with his wife about the state visit to South Africa in 1947 and the snippets of correspondence with friends at the end of the book.

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Kindle Customer

Extraordinary

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 January 2021

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I couldn't put this down. What a man. His decency and warmth spring from the pages. And I laughed aloud constantly. This is not the stuffed shirt portrayed so superbly by Pip Torrens in The Crown, as entertaining as that is. This is a collection of priceless vignettes borne from a fine old fashioned gentleman.

They don't make men like Tommy Lascelles anymore. He should have ruled the world.

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Stacie Morris

A Wonderful Read

Reviewed in the United States on 9 January 2024

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This book is very enjoyable to anyone who is interested in The Royal Family. This book gives you a better insight into the character that is portrayed in The Crown. His insights into the abdication of Edward VIII are very interesting and shed a greater light on what was happening at the time. It was fascinating reading first hand his accounts of his family with his wife and children as well. This man was very dedicated to The Royal Family but to his own family as well.

Anne

disappointing

Reviewed in Canada on 17 May 2023

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I love anything Royal and thought this book would be interesting. It let me down.Can not recommend

bony

Un témoignage historique remarquable

Reviewed in France on 16 January 2018

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Remarquable témoignage sur l'Angleterre en temps de guerre par le secrétaire du roi.
Lascelles dont on retrouve le caractère dans "the crown" est une excellente surprise. Il écrit certes fort bien (on ne va pas à Eton pour rien), mais il démontre surtout un esprit fort indépendant et étrangement non conformiste tout en respectant les institutions qu'il sert.
En plus le livre possède un appareil de notes fort bien nourries.

3 people found this helpful

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Christine costello

Fascinating history of war.time.

Reviewed in Australia on 20 August 2021

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Well edited diaries of person close to the decision makers during and before WW 2 Of great historical interest to those of us alive at the time who were too young to know all the details. Highly recommended

Marie Burns

fascinating insight into the free World War II, Era, the chime during the war, and the time immediately there after

Reviewed in the United States on 15 January 2024

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Excellent narrative of behind-the-scenes during one of the most pivotal times in British and world history. Succinctly told, with a level of detail of personalities that it is hard to imagine finding elsewhere.

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King's Counsellor: Abdication and War - The Diaries of Sir Alan Lascelles Hardcover – 30 Oct. 2006

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