Product Description

Explosive and timely critique of a monarchy in meltdown. Johann Hari argues that the tragicomic soap opera that is the monarchy devalues the Windsors themselves and 21st century Britain as a whole, He suggests cogent and often surprising alternatives and finally concludes - it's time to wave goodbye.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #119889 in Books
• Published on: 2002-06-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Christopher Hitchens
"Here is the plain proof of the child-sacrifice that underlies our most absurd and sinister institution."

Julie Burchill
"I love this book! It's like eating a whole box of chocolates in one go."

Independent on Sunday, June 16th 2002
"fantastically gripping and provocative...one of the most
convincing books on the monarchy you'll ever read."

Customer Reviews

The Windsors are just so appallingly vulgar!
This book exposes what dreadful people the Windsors are. Not only do we, the wretched taxpayers, support their lavish lifestyles, houses, holidays and servants but we are expected to acknowledge them as being paragons of intellect and wisdom, despite it being common knowledge that they are, without exception, very severely academically challenged.

If the Windsors had any sense of shame they would leave quietly now. Alternatively, if Liz Windsor or her idiot offspring, Charlie, really believe that they are the best qualified candidates for head of state then they should offer themselves for a public vote. Or is there a danger that the voters of this country might make the wrong choice? Personally, I'd like to see Michael Caine as UK President, or possibly Richard Ingrams, John Noakes, Tony Benn or Ken Clarke. Although even Basil Brush would be a more suitable, and popular, candidate than Charlie "Tampon" Windsor.

Surely, the UK in the 21st Century deserves a better head of state than a member of a family of inbred halfwits who are happy to cheat and lie just to maintain their undeserved and unwarranted (but extremely profitable) position in our so-called democracy?

This book is invaluable reading for all right thinking people everywhere. Those people who are undecided on the Republic-v-Monarchy question will find it an interesting and amusing read, whilst supporters of the Windsors will find it an eye-opening book - although they will first have to find someone who is willing to read it slowly and aloud to them.

An accomplished polemic
Let me start by saying that I'm a monarchist. So why did I buy this book? Well, it's extremely well-written for starters and is hugely accessible. Unlike most lefties, Hari does not cloud his beliefs in pretentious sociology-speak. And secondly, because as other reviewers have pointed out, it contains plenty of juicy gossip about the HRH's themselves. And after all, it's the monarchists who keep the royal family media frenzy going, isn't it?

Hari's thesis - that the monarchy should be abolished because of its ill effects on the family and that the dysfunctional family is a result of the pressures of the monarchy - is well argued but far from watertight. After all, by Hari's argument, if the family were happy, then the monarchy would be OK. So what about foreign monarchies? Are we supposed to believe that every royal family in the world is dysfunctional? His book can be construed as much as an argument for reform and modernisation of the institution, rather than for its total abolition. Make the monarchy more family-friendly and flexible, perhaps, then the monarchs would be happier.

In addition, he takes a very dim view of duty and seems to elevate the idea of personal freedom above all other virtues. Why should William, he argues, have to devote his life to duty? Shouldn't he be free to do as he pleases? And yet duty is an underrated virtue. Unfortunately, most of us find as we get older that we are all a great deal less free than we thought. Those with children lose much of their freedom and - if they have any conscience - accept their duty of bringing them up. Hari appears to think that it is wrong to expect anyone to accept a burden of duty and believes that William will not want to take up that burden. But what teenager doesn't want to rebel?

By failing to cover the usual dry republican bases of democracy and constitutional issues and opting for a personality-focused argument, Hari makes this book an engaging and thought-provoking read. It will appeal to many, but does it ultimately convince?

This book is soooo cool!
I read this guy's stuff on ...[the New Statesman website]... (one of the UK's best politics sites) all the time and he's great there, but this book beats even that stuff! It's so witty and well-written, and obviously based on very close sources. There's stuff here for intellectuals and people who just love to hear dirt on the royals. I can't recommend it strongly enough!