Do let's have another drink! The dry wit and fizzy life of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother

This little bit of gin-soaked nostalgia is a perfect antidote to all of the momentous adulation recently devoted to the passing of her Majesty, H.R.H. Queen Elizabeth II of England. This current offering is about another Elizabeth--Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, affectionately known as the Queen Mum. Rather than being a strict biography, the book takes shape through 101 carefully documented "anecdotes, short stories, and punch lines." Some pieces are pages long and read like gossipy history, others highlight familiar events from behind-the-scenes perspectives, and others consist of just a few paragraphs (many involving Elizabeth's beloved "drinky-poos"). Coverage ends with the Queen Mother's death in 2002 at the age of 101, leaving this benevolent offering untouched by current events. Public opinion, often polarized, changed over the decades: was Elizabeth an unassuming little Scottish grandmother, nicknamed "Cake," or was she a strict traditionalist and a cold-blooded, scheming royal, aka "Smiling Liz"? Author Russell (The Ship of Dreams, 2019) includes the good with some bad, harpooning misconceptions, but mostly letting the reader decide. Royalists, especially fans of the Edwardians, will be enthralled.

Historian Russell (The Ship of Dreams) balances titillating gossip and heartfelt poignancy in this sparkling snapshot of Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (1900--2002), the wife of King George VI and mother of Queen Elizabeth II. One hundred and one stories, one for each year of her life, showcase the Queen Mother's wicked wit: scolded by her daughter for not dressing properly for a visit to Cheltenham Racecourse in bad weather, Elizabeth replied, "Don't worry, darling. I've got my pearls to keep me warm." Finding the word cocktail too harsh, Elizabeth preferred "drinky-poo"; she also did impressions of characters from the sitcom Blackadder and learned some of Sacha Baron Cohen's catchphrases. Elizabeth's wisdom shines in her handling of such crises as her brother-in-law King Edward VIII's abdication and in her urging of several "Appeasers" (as she once had been) to read the unexpurgated edition of Mein Kampf to understand that Hitler wasn't just "bluffing and posturing to get what he wanted." The Elizabeth that emerges is a warmhearted practical joker and "Olympian" grudge-holder whose loyalty (to friends including Noël Coward) and sense of humor remained strong to the end. Throughout, Russell interweaves brisk and informative history lessons with royal family intrigue. Fans of The Crown will lap this up. (Nov.)

Historian Russell's (The Ship of Dreams) collection of 101 short vignettes isn't the usual biography about the mother of the late Queen Elizabeth II. It starts with her early days and the 1920s when she was an aristocratic, London debutante with a few suitors. The book shows the evolution of how she became Princess Elizabeth/Duchess of York when she wed Albert. Elizabeth as Queen Consort and later the Queen Mother could be salty and sarcastic as indicated by the book's subtitle, though the main title doesn't do her justice. The one memorable mention of alcohol was when she referred to a cocktail as a "drinky-poo." The book also discusses her brothers, who were killed or held as prisoners of war and traumatized. The well-written book doesn't dwell on details known through history and popular culture, such as The Crown, The King's Speech, and media coverage. Stories about a king marrying an American divorcée and the rocky relationship of Diana and Charles are briefly told only as Elizabeth saw them. VERDICT Russell portrays the Queen Mother in a positive light and dispels rumors, but leaves out some unflattering facts; an enjoyable companion to the many other books about the British crown.--Sherri Crawford

Chapter I: East or West, Home is Best (1900-1910) Excerpted from Do Let's Have Another Drink!: The Dry Wit and Fizzy Life of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother by Gareth Russell All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.