[The Great Survivors 01] • The Great Survivors

From the coauthor of "The King's Speech" comes an uncompromising portrayal of Europe's royals In this riveting and extensively researched account of the royals, Peter Conradi--the celebrated coauthor of "The""King's Speech," on which the Academy Award-winning film of the same name was based--reveals the scandals, excesses, conflicts, and interests hidden behind the pomp of the ceremonial garb and the grandeur of official functions. Taking the reader on a journey between past and present into a world populated by great celebrities such as Wallis Simpson, Grace Kelly, and Princess Diana, as well as lesser-known and slightly murkier aristocratic figures, this book analyzes the reasons behind this anachronistic paradox by looking at the history of the main European dynasties and providing a keyhole glimpse into their world, their lives, and their secrets. At a time when Western society appears to be demanding more equality and democracy, people's fascination with monarchies shows no signs of waning.