BREAKING NEWS: Royal Family ousted from Buckingham Palace (The Queen and I - Sue Townsend)

Member Name: Vixstar

Product:	The Queen and I - Sue Townsend
Date:	02/08/09 (100 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Funny; Excellent characterisation; Does not drag

Disadvantages: Quickly finished

I first came across the Queen and I as a radio adaptation in the early 90s, although probably younger than its target audience it did amuse me. Several years later when I came across a copy of the book I had to buy it and it is now a much thumbed resident of my bookshelf.

The novel is a comic what if story. It all starts with the 1992 general election when the Queen's nightmare comes true and the People's Republican Party is elected. The first action of the new Prime Minister, Jack Barker, is to head to Buckingham Palace to order the Queen to abdicate. But he doesn't want simply want her to retire to luxury he wants the whole Royal Family to live like normal people. And within a few days all the Royals are relocated to Hell Close on the Flowers Estate - at the more unpleasant end of the stereotypical estate. How on earth will they manage? Why is there only one bed in the master bedroom? And where does one accommodate the servants in a one bedroom bungalow?

This book moves along very quickly courtesy of the short chapters, which make it all the more unput downable as its easy to persuade yourself just one more chapter. All the characters - Royals and estate residents - are very vividly characterised. Sue Townsend even gives the corgis characters and examines their reactions to normal life. She treats the elder characters with sympathy and dignity highlighting how difficult it can be for the elderly in modern society. She does poke more fun at the younger characters - Charles on the run from prison, Anne in a relationship with a carpet fitter - to name just two of the scenarios without giving too much away. Townsend realistically examines how each Royal may react to the situation they are now in and the way she writes it is easy to both visualise and believe. There are some fairly subtle, socialist digs at the state of public transport, the situation of the elderly and the NHS.

One point to be aware of is that this book was published in 1992 so it obviously relates to the Royal Family at that time. The Queen Mum and Princess Margaret are still alive, Charles and Diana still married, the children very young and a Labour government hasn't been seen since the 70s. Having said that it does not make it a book that can't be enjoyed now.

I really enjoy reading this book, whilst checking facts for this review I found myself engrossed in the first few chapters and could easily have kept on reading. At times whilst reading this book I have found myself laughing out loud, and that was not only the first time I read the book. The book is both humorous and poignant in appropriate amounts. Sue Townsend's style of writing is easy to get into and she keeps the story moving along with various twists and turns without resorting to repeatedly having the Royals struggling with everyday situations (although these situations are scattered through the book). I'm confident that this book will be enjoyed by Royalists and Republicans alike. At just 310 pages long this would be ideal for your summer reading list (and is rapidly moving to the top of mine).

Summary: A what if comic novel