Much like with “The Social Network,” when I saw “The King’s Speech” I wanted to know more about the story. I did not know that the current queen’s father had been a second son who was thrown into the position of king, a position he never aspired to and was hesitant to take.
If you liked the film, I think you will really enjoy the book. The film took liberties that were not true (while the king’s father was not the easiest man and father, Bertie seems to have been his favorite child; it does not seem that the king ever thought Logue was a doctor, etc.). The book was written by Logue’s grandson who is custodian of Lionel Logue’s archives. It is amazing the amount of notes and correspondence Logue retained over the years and it serves the story well, both in explaining the plot and the humility of the man. The book does focus more on Logue’s story – his empathy for his students and desire to see them healed of their affliction is powerful and sweet – he wanted to help “bring them the relief of the sung word from the torture of the spoken one” (p 44). But unlike a lot of biographies about people in the background of very famous people, this book does not focus entirely or even mostly on Logue. His story is almost all interwoven with the king’s story – how Logue got to England from his native Australia, how he learned his skill, his other patients and accolades for his work with the king. The book also gives a history lesson in what surrounded the king and World War II. I knew very little about the bombings of London (almost daily bombings for 76 nights during The Blitz) and how devastating it was. The king was an amazing man whose lack of desire for the crown made him a better ruler – he took his position out of duty and love for his country, not out want to rule.
The story explains the various childhood circumstances that led to his stutter, but also show that he was completely curable – with the right help. The story continues to show his great care and determination to be healed as he served as his father’s mouthpiece as a prince of the realm. It shows him as the second to the throne for the 327 days his brother served as king before he abdicated to marry an American woman because Parliament would not continue to serve if she became the king’s wife. Bertie – as he was known to his family, King George VI to his country and the world – became king and shouldered up his country through the second World War. His strength and determination seems evident in his daughter, Queen Elizabeth II, who celebrates her 60th year on the English throne this year. Throughout this story, Logue’s own story is interwoven through his family life, the life of his practice and his consistent presence as teacher and encourager of the king.
What I found most amazing about the book (and in the film) were these two men. We rarely see a relationship between men that is not based on conflict, competition, good cop/bad cop, or opposites attract. This is an unpretentious, at first professional and then personal, relationship. It is rare to see two men who have great humility regarding their positions and their professions, especially when one is the king of England. The king never outgrew his desire to improve; he did not see their relationship as sovereign/peasant. As the years went on and both men aged and matured, Logue was unable to be at the king’s speeches, but the king asked him to call him following his hearing of every speech on the wireless and give him his notes. This man is the king of England! What humility. He was honored to be a student and friend of Logue and honored him in return with various titles and multiple letters with beautiful thanks. And none of these actions were to assert power, force loyalty or flatter. They were truly from the heart and the appreciation never lagged. Logue, for his part, was a great empowerer and sincerely wanted to see his student, his friend and his king be the best he could be, whatever that meant – “He is such a good chap – and I do want him to be a marvelous King” (p128). Logue’s position is one that could have never gained him notoriety. It certainly wasn’t an era of complete disclosure (more or less) that we feel we are living in now. I found the story sweet, encouraging, stunning in that it is a true story, and I am glad we know these two men existed.
I give it a 4 – I recommend both the film and book. I will reread this book again and again. It gives hope.
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