- Published: 5 January 2022
- ISBN: 9780241413333
- Imprint: Allen Lane
- Format: Hardback
- Pages: 784
- RRP: $75.00
George III
The Life and Reign of Britain's Most Misunderstood Monarch
- Published: 5 January 2022
- ISBN: 9780241413333
- Imprint: Allen Lane
- Format: Hardback
- Pages: 784
- RRP: $75.00
a deeply textured portrait of George III [and] a capacious, prodigiously researched biography from a top-shelf historian.
Kirkus
meticulously researched ... an eye-opening portrait of the man and his times
Publishers Weekly
George, Roberts writes, "more than filled the role of King of Great Britain worthily; he filled it nobly". After reading this mammoth, elegant and splendidly researched biography, no open-minded reader could possibly disagree - not even an American.
Dominic Sandbrook, Sunday Times
'Andrew Roberts is our most prodigious biographer ... His demolition of the authors of the Declaration's case against George III is elegant and comprehensive.
Dominic Lawson, Daily Mail
Magisterial ... George III is notorious for two reasons: losing America and going mad. Roberts provides a fresh and spirited account of both occurrences ... Roberts's fundamentally humane approach to his biographical subjects ... treats George III with as much respect and compassion when sick, blind and deaf as when powerful at the promising start of his reign. The result is a lengthy book that remains engaging throughout.
Ruth Scurr, The Times
If not for such fierce competition (in the form of such works as Salisbury: Victorian Titan, Churchill: Walking with Destiny and Masters & Commanders) one might be able to unequivocally say that George III is the author's masterpiece. This biography teems with detail, ideas and elegance. Roberts is a great writer - and this is one of his greatest achievements. Roberts sets himself a goal, that of challenging or overturning certain misconceptions that we might harbour about his subject. That George III was a tyrant, unintelligent and a victim of porphyria. Suffice to say, Roberts achieves his goal: mission impossible turns into mission accomplished. Roberts convinces through both persuasive prose and hard evidence (as opposed to just supposition). ... magnificent
Richard Foreman, Aspects of History
George may become Britain's best-understood monarch, thanks to this impressive new biography. It is unashamedly revisionist. ... Roberts's account is masterly, combining a compelling narrative - one has to keep turning the pages even though one knows the outcome - with analysis that is both cogent and incisive. He appears to have read everything that is in the mainstream and much that isn't, including a wide range of archival sources. ... [George III] has had to wait two centuries for rehabilitation, but it has come at last. Roberts has got deep inside George and his world and has found a man of many sterling qualities. ... tremendous
Tim Blanning, Literary Review
The strength of this generous new biography is that it correctly portrays George III as a dedicated, benevolent ruler , scrupulous in his constitutional role as head of government and head of state.
John Martin Robinson, Country Life