Queen Anne: The Politics of Passion
by Anne Somerset
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
An excellent biography of a monarch often written off as
'too dull' by fans of the more popular icons, such as Tudors, etc.
In fact, as we see in this well documented account, Queen Anne had her
idiosyncrasies, increasingly apparent throughout her life. Anne Somerset
painstakingly draws out for us a studied portrait of a woman of distinct
character.
Stolid, at times timid and withdrawn, at others formidably strident, Anne had a
good heart and a wise head on her shoulders. Usually kept well cordoned off from
her succinct 'constitutional' instinct, she had a closely guarded impetuosity,
particularly around close relationships with female favourites. (Crass
sensationalism has even seen her tagged a closet case. Whether or not she was,
this biography transcends such silliness.)
Important diplomatic and nationalistic milestones were laid under Anne's watch.
She left more than her predecessors to her government, adopting the tendency to
'sign off' more than dictate. This was the hallmark of constitutional monarchy,
notably reviewed under Anne's Restoration uncle Charles II's succession, after
the decade long Interregnum that followed Charles I's execution for being too
high and mighty.
Anne's gender eased along this sensitive process, the woman often leaving big
business to the men who did her bidding. Even so, she had her limits, would not
always be pushed around and inconsistently put her foot down when her
convictions demanded.
Her personal spending choices on select favourites drew harsh criticism from
jealous insiders and other agenda driven detractors. She nevertheless usually
stuck to her guns, displaying a strong personal loyalty which some dismissed as
a weakness. This view of her as weak was compounded by her ever-ailing health.
Her less dictatorial, more constitutional ruling style, merged with these other
features, sometimes left her seeming indecisive. This was a falsehood: had she
been of intrinsically indecisive character she would never have so virulently
fuelled the flames of the Glorious Revolution that saw her father removed from
the throne.
Rather than being weak and indecisive, Anne was shrewd, wise and cautious,
having seen what could happen to high-handed monarchs whose undoing was their
rash and outlandish mistakes. In this feature, along with her stubborn side,
she perhaps resembled Elizabeth I, but Anne had no such heart of fire,
retreating into the shadows of her solitude more than the great Gloriana ever
would have. Anne was immeasurably more contained, more modest, as dictated by
these times where royalty itself walked a tightrope and republicanism still
loomed large.
Stone statues and such iconography of her adorn great British heritage sites,
confirming her importance in the long royal line linking today's royals to
William the Conqueror. Though not every monarch has enjoyed Anne's acclamation,
many were more greatly revered.
Anne Somerset breaths air into this frail and obese woman's lungs, bringing to
us live and in person this great-great-granddaughter of romantic tragedienne
Mary, Queen of Scots.
Enjoyed this biography very much, about the last ruler of what was not my
favourite dynasty to read on.
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