The King's Speech: How One Man Saved the British Monarchy

Written by Peter Conradi and Mark Logue

Narrated by Simon Vance

The King's Speech was written by London Sunday Times journalist Peter Conradi and Mark Logue-grandson of Lionel Logue, whose recently discovered diaries and correspondence contain fascinating details about these true events.

At the urging of his wife, Elizabeth, the Duke of York (known to the royal family as "Bertie") began to see speech therapist Lionel Logue in a desperate bid to cure his lifelong stammer. Little did the two men know that this unlikely friendship-between a future monarch and a commoner born in Australia-would ultimately save the House of Windsor from collapse. Through intense locution and breathing lessons, the amiable Logue gave the shy young Duke the skills and the confidence to stand and deliver before a crowd. And when his elder brother, Edward VIII, abdicated the throne to marry for love, Bertie was able to assume the reins of power as King George VI-just in time to help steer the nation through the dark waters of the Second World War.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Feb 28, 2011
• ISBN: 9781452671307

Peter Conradi

Peter Conradi is a British author and journalist and is currently foreign editor of the Sunday Times. He has previously been a foreign correspondent in Belgium, Switzerland, and the Soviet Union. Conradi’s books include The Red Ripper: Inside the Mind of Russia’s Most Brutal Serial Killer, Mad Vlad: Vladimir Zhirinovsky and the New Russian Nationalism, Hitler’s Piano Player: The Rise and Fall of Ernst Hanfstaengl, and, with coauthor Mark Logue, the bestselling The King’s Speech: How One Man Saved the British Monarchy, the inspiration for the Academy Award–winning film of the same name. His forthcoming book, Who Lost Russia?: How East and West Fell In and Out of Love, will be published in December 2016.      

Reviews for The King's Speech

[stuartechambers · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I like history and I loved the film and its sad in a way that I found this particular diamond of a book in a bargain bin at W H Smith. The book is very well written by Lionel Logue's grandson, Mark who obviously has access to hundreds of letters and diary entries relating to the relationship between Lionel Logue and King George VI. As such I enjoyed the book more than the film as it reinforces what an incredibly special relationship the two men had. Very well done!

[bell7_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the dual biography of Lionel Logue and King George VI, a recounting of their friendship and the many speeches they worked on throughout the years. Despite the title and subject matter, this is a very different work than the movie, with a broader focus and greater span of years covered.I watched The King's Speech a few months ago, and was intrigued enough to learn more. Mark Logue, the grandson of speech therapist Lionel Logue, had found his grandfather's diaries and papers soon before the shooting of the movie, and much of what he found informs this book. While some years felt a little bit like a listing of the king's speeches, a broader awareness of history, especially during World War 2 really help fill out the story and give it context. I actually wished for a bit more history, but I'll content myself with writing down a few titles contained in the notes at the end.

[picardyrose · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Real life is kind of dull, isn't it?

[docwalt10 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The author, Mark Logue, is the grandson of Lionel Logue. Through his grandfather's diaries and letter's, rec'd during a life long friendship, with King George VI, we catch a rare grimace into the Royal family, It starts from George V's reign, King Edward VIII's abdication and King George VI reluctant ascension, to the throne. We see how profound the stammer was a problem, for the Duke of York, from his very early childhood to becoming King of England. After all other treatments have failed, Lionel Logue is brought to the attention of the Duke, but it is the Duchess, who finally gets them together. We see two men, of total different social status, work together to over come his debilitating stammer. The Duke's metamorphous takes place before our eyes, from his first laborious speech, as Duke of York, to open the Empire Exhibition in Wembley, to the success of his tour, of Australia, representing his father, King George V, to the throne speech for his cornation as King George VI.

[occasionally_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The book is a documentary, chronicling Lionel Logue's work to help King George VI overcome a stammer and gain the confidence in speaking to help England. The movie was an enobling story. See the movie.

[ei214 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was surprised at how much I loved this book. I had seen the movie previously and had enjoyed it - but this book really enhanced what I saw on the big screen. One of the things I did while reading the book was download the speeches on youtube; this gave me an opportunity to listen to the actual speech and gave the reading experience another whole dimension. I highly recommend doing this.Both Logue and the King were such interesting people. I enjoyed reading about the loving relationships they had with their spouses as well. A really great read!

[berthacummins · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

read in 2014, history, england, non-fiction

[soniaandree_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In a way, reading this book was like reading a chronological narrative, starting with the young Lionel Logue and reading until his death, sharing his fortunes and misfortunes, centering on his relationship with the Duke and the work done to cure his stammer. The style was good, but a bit cold, as if the author was trying to decide between a formal, historical, perspective, and a more intimate & friendly one. The care brought to historical sources and the storyline only proved that Mr Logue had to be available 24/7 for the Duke/King, leaving his personal life behind, and at the end, I just wished he had spent more time with his family, as he didn't even spend Christmas with them for many years.Reading about the Duke made me think about how people from a certain privileged background do not actually know how common people try to survive, as some letters from Logue were, most of the time, indirect appeals for funding or, at least, patients from the Duke's entourage. It must have been tough to be an Australian immigrant in London, to be accepted by the English community and, at the same time, to get enough money to feed your family. I suspect the book underplays this side of the Logue family life.This is a good book, although unequal in terms of narrator, as it tries to keep at a distance from the reader while trying to be friendly, but also because it has been avoiding the discussion of private matters to the extreme (Mrs Logue is not given much apart from the end, his sons went from birth to marriage and work in quick succession, etc.). It is a good book, and I heartily recommend it for reading about a specific time in British history.

[ladyofthelodge · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent historical work, as well as the basis for the film. I love books about royalty and Britain, and this lived up to the mark for excellence. The book describes the relationship between King George VI and his speech coach. Very intricate, and also an informative and captivating overview of WW2.

[khiemstra631 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is sort of a companion piece to the movie and was written by speech therapist Lionel Logue's son, Mark Logue. He has written an interesting biography of his father's life from his early years in Australia to its conclusion in England. Included in this account are details of his relationship with his most famous patient, King George VI of England. I listened to the audio version of the book, and it surely far surpasses the print version because it includes a couple of excerpts from actual speeches that the king gave. Numerous insights into royal life are also part of this book. I found the book fascinating and highly recommend it. Very enjoyable listening while driving.

[bodagirl · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked how the book didn't focus on one man over the other; it was really the story of their relationship: ruler and subject, student and teacher, and finally friends. The book was well written and had a nice steady pace, never dwelling on the less eventful phases of life and giving more attention to more important periods. It was also well-documented aided by the meticulous diaries scrapbooks kept by Logue.One of the more interesting aspects of the book were comparing it to the recent movie. Mostly changed the sequence of events (WWII doesn't occur right after George VI's coronation and the Prince sought out Logue three years after the Wembley speech), take "based on" to another level (the Duke and Duchess were never under the impression that Logue was a doctor and Logue's methods focused more on the physical aspects of stammering than the psychological causes).Snack lit rating: veggies

[phyllis01_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The full story of Lionel Logue and King George VI, lovingly recounted by Logue's grandson.

[mickyfine · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In 1926, Lionel Logue, one of the founders in Britain of the fledgling field of speech therapy, met with the second son of the reigning monarch. This encounter would begin a breakthrough for the Duke of York who had stammered from a young age. Logue would end up helping the unexpected King find a voice that would guide a nation through the second world war.This book is deftly written non-fiction. Although not a definitive biography of either Lionel Logue or George VI, it neatly covers the lives of both men and the unique relationship that existed between an expat Australian speech therapist and the King of England against the backdrop of the historical period. A fascinating read and definitely one of interest for anyone who enjoyed the film.

[liscarey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In 1926, the future King George VI, still merely the Duke of York and with no expectation of ever being King, found his lifelong stammer an increasing obstacle to his increasing public duties. With recommendations from friends, he sought the assistance of Lionel Logue, an Australian-born speech therapist who had emigrated to London with his family. The movie The King's Speech tells the story of their relationship from 1926 until 1939, when the King delivered the speech of the title, when Britain declared war on Germany.

This book, in part a result of the movie and the interest sparked in Lionel's grandson Mark by the filmmaker's requests for information about his grandfather, has a wider scope, chronicling Logue's full life from his childhood in Australia, the world tour that ultimately led to the decision to move to Britain, and the relationship with George VI that, while reduced when the King no longer needed the active assistance of a speech therapist, continued through the remainder of the two men's lives. It's a fascinating look at both an improbable friendship in the very class-ridden British society of the first half of the 20th century, and the development of speech therapy as a recognized and serious part of the medical field. Also included is Mark's search for the papers, letters, and records of his grandfather, which is a tale in itself. It's an engaging story, and Simon Vance reads it well, making all the players distinct and interesting.

Recommended.

I bought this book.

[pondlife_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I'd not seen the film before reading this book. Reading through the other comments it seems that I'm in a minority, and most people read this book after seeing the film as it apparently fills in some gaps.What I enjoyed most about this book was the background of the British royal family in the early 20th century, especially George V, Edward VIII and George VI. The speech therapy was almost an aside for me, but perhaps that's because I've not watched the film.A couple of things struck me when reading this: one was the way that George V's death was "helped along" by his doctor; and the other was how right George V was about Edward VIII when he said he'd "ruin himself in a year". It seems the country were very lucky that he did abdicate, or he could have been quite a liability during the war.

[phillund · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a remarkable piece of history. I am glad that the therapist esperience and skills was based on WWI. Very little good came out of this terrible war and the soldiers who paid a horric price. I especially liked the relationship between Lionel Logue and the King. I am glad his notes were recovered.

[bookconcierge · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Book on CD read by Simon Vance
3.5***

Subtitled: How One Man Saved the British Monarchy
That may be a bit of an exaggeration, but Lionel Logue certainly seemed to have saved at least one monarch. At the urging of his wife Elizabeth, the Duke of York (known to the royal family as “Bertie”) began to see speech therapist Lionel Logue for help in overcoming a lifelong stammer. His father, King George V, insisted that his sons begin to take on more royal responsibilities, and the introduction of radio meant that their subjects would not have to wait to read the text in a news article, but could hear the broadcast live. Bertie’s older brother Edward, who was Prince of Wales and heir to the throne, took on most of the engagements, but the Duke of York still had his share – and they terrified him. And so he began to see Logue, an amiable Australian with a gift for instilling confidence in his patients. What began as a strictly professional relationship evolved into an unlikely friendship. Logue’s services were never so clearly needed and valued as when Edward abdicated the throne, thrusting Bertie into the limelight and a position of responsibility he never sought and was not prepared to take on.

This is a very fine biography / history written by Logue’s grandson and based on the extensive records, letters, and news clippings that Logue amassed during his life. It covers far more than the movie of the same name. The book follows Logue until his death, giving details of his early years in Australia, his extensive travels with his wife, his relationship with his children, and his professional accomplishments, as well a much more information about his close relationship with King George VI.

The audio book is narrated by Simon Vance who is simply perfect for this book. As an added bonus the audio begins with a broadcast of the famous speech delivered by King George VI announcing that Britain was now at war with Germany (this scene was the culmination of the movie). Knowing the story already, and hearing the King’s own halting delivery gave it a much greater impact. On the other hand, the text version has numerous photos and reproductions of speeches and letters, which the audio cannot include.

[krizia_lazaro_3 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It's a story that is very inspiring for stutterers and speech therapists. If you're a speech pathologist then you need to read this. I just want to be like Logue. Helping the King and other people with speech defects is not just a job for him but something that makes him happy. Being a speech pathologist is fulfulling. You'll also fall in love with the characters especially the King. He's not like the stereotypical king (maybe because of his stammer) and I felt sad when he died. However, I find some parts of the story boring and dragging. It was a good book but it can make you a bit sleepy.

[kblinn_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is sort of a companion piece to the movie and was written by speech therapist Lionel Logue's son, Mark Logue. He has written an interesting biography of his father's life from his early years in Australia to its conclusion in England. Included in this account are details of his relationship with his most famous patient, King George VI of England. I listened to the audio version of the book, and it surely far surpasses the print version because it includes a couple of excerpts from actual speeches that the king gave. Numerous insights into royal life are also part of this book. I found the book fascinating and highly recommend it. Very enjoyable listening while driving.

[lynnb_64 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book and the movie are not based on each other. The difference is one of emphasis: the book looks at the life of Lionel Logue, speech therapist to King George VI, while the movies focuses on the relationship between Mr. Logue and his most famous client. They book also provides an interesting look into the early days of speech therapy. They make nice companion pieces. As I neared the end of the book, I became dissatisfied with the focus on the King's speech and speeches. The broader context of what the king had to contend with was far more interesting. This suggests to me that the book may have been a bit long for its scope....maybe?

[sasham-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a well written biography of Lionel Logue - speech therapist to King George VI father of the current Queen Elizabeth II. While the king was clearly Logue's most famous client the advances (and recognition of speech therapy) that Logue made are achievements that many people still benefit from today. It was also very much an insider's view of the life on a king during WWII.

[susiesharp_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The author right at the beginning tells us that the movie (which I haven’t seen yet) The King’s Speech is a snapshot into the relationship between Lionel Logue and the King, so this book gives a great background on both of these men. I really enjoyed the inside look at the Queen who my generation knows as the Queen Mum, she was so sweet to her husband and they had so much love between them. This was such an intimate look into the lives of the Royals and showed them as such down to earth likable people I really found this book fascinating and lovely. Also the little glimpse at the future Queen Elizabeth & Phillip’s courtship was interesting. I think it is a good thing that I haven’t watched the movie yet and now looking even more forward to watching it. I think because I haven’t seen the film I may have been even more enthralled with the book which is never a bad thing! I listened to this on audio narrated by, Simon Vance who did a wonderful job and there is an original speech by the King which adds wonderful authenticity to the reading. Highly recommend listening to this on audio for that extra touch!4 Stars

[berthashaver · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

read in 2014, history, england, non-fiction

[literatehousewife · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

BackgroundIt has been a very long time since I’ve consistently gone to a movie theater to see movies that I think I would enjoy. It’s been long enough that I pay very little attention to the current movies. It’s not until the Oscars are mentioned that I catch even a glimpse of what had been out there over the previous year. The truth of the matter is that anymore these days I’m more likely to see a movie dealing with a princess than one featuring a king. The King’s Speech bucked that trend. I suppose because I have loved all things British monarchy for the past four or five years, when this movie came out, I paid attention. Still, I didn’t make it to the theater before it left. Then the Oscar nominations were announced and Tantor Audio announced that Simon Vance would be narrating the book Mark Logue wrote about his father Lionel and his work with King George VI. At that point I knew that I had to both watch the movie and listen to the audiobook.Luckily Oscar nominees are brought back to theaters, so I planned to go see The King’s Speech on a work holiday. This is usually a day to myself and I was excited to be seeing the movie without having to worry about my kids. As luck would have it, I stayed home with an adorable but sick little girl. I considered starting the audiobook instead, because I was equally interested in both. First, I asked those in the know if the order mattered. I was cautioned to watch the movie first. As is usually true of movies, dramatic license was taken and those licenses are much easier enjoyed when you don’t know that they are being employed. I’m glad I followed that advice. By seeing the movie first, my interest in all things Lionel Logue and King George VI was high and I was eager to learn the whole story.My ReviewPrior to Charles and Diana, one might have easily assumed that a royal life was a happy and stress-free life. That was most definitely not the case with Prince Albert, son of King George V. The young man who was to become King George VI had a terrible speech impediment that brought him ridicule as a child and caused him much distress into adulthood. Prince Albert, being the second son of King George V, was never intended to ascend to the throne. Still, as a member of the royal family, he was expected to make public appearances and speeches. With new technology making it possible to capture the spoken word and transmit it via radio across the British empire fast becoming popular, Prince Albert’s stuttering became increasingly difficult to work around. For years the royal family tried every possible thing that might bring a cure for Prince Albert’s stuttering without success.It wasn’t until Lionel Logue entered the picture that Prince Albert found hope of progress, let alone a cure. Logue, an Australian man with a love of theater, happened upon speech therapy. He was not a medical doctor. He trained under another man who had some success working with people who had speech impediments. The training took a more behavioral approach to addressing speech impediments. At that time, doctors believed that there was a mechanical problem causing the problems. Logue soon found success with his own using this approach and his reputation in Australia grew. Eventually, he and his family emigrated to England, where he began seeing patients in his own practice. It was his reputation that caught royal notice. After so many failures in the past, it would be natural for Prince Albert to have begun working with Lionel Logue with some reluctance. In the end this meeting turned into a life-long association, one that impacted both men a great deal.Simon Vance did a masterful job narrating The King's Speech. Just as in the fiction, he brought the right tone and pacing to this book. I'm not a huge consumer of non-fiction. Just as with Columbine and Zeitoun, this is an example of how non-fiction can read much like fiction. It can keep you listening and wanting to know more. No matter what the genre, combining a book with just the right narrator can make for some of the best reading experiences you'll ever have.From the moment began with the actual recording of the speech made by King George VI, I was keenly interested in The King's Speech. Presented are two men from very different backgrounds, continents and life experiences. Although the monarchy was no longer a governing body, the British people needed a strong monarch to guide them through the violence, fear and chaos of World War II. Had it not been for an enterprising man from their own ranks, that might never have happened. When Lionel Logue served his King, he served his country that much more. As much as I loved watching Colin Firth blustering about Logue's office cussing a blue streak (and you know I did very much), the truer portrait of both Logue and George VI was so much more interesting.I give The King's Speech my Seal of Approval. No other book has made me notice let alone buy old coins from an antique shop (it didn't hurt that they weren't expensive). My eyes were drawn to George VI.

[librarycin · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

3.5 starsMark Logue is the grandson of Lionel Logue, who left Australia with his wife to move to England in the early 20th century. This was after he’d started helping people with their public speaking. When he arrived in England, he continued his business there, and ended up with the future King of England as one of the people he was helping. “Bertie” had a stutter and was terrified of public speaking (not so good when you are royalty!). Initially, he was not meant to become king, but when his older brother abdicated, Bertie (now King George VI) was next in line. Lionel was a lifeline for the king, as Lionel helped Bertie before every speech he had to make for a very long time. They became friends, as much as the king and a commoner could. This was good. I have seen the movie, but I don’t think much time was spent on Lionel’s life. The book actually did spend more time on Lionel than the movie did. In addition to Bertie/King George’s life. Mark used many letters between the two men to write this biography. There was a section in the middle, describing events during WWII that I lost a bit of interest in, but I quite enjoyed it before and after (and it wasn’t all the events of the war where I lost interest, so it may just have been that I was tired when I read that part!). We also get small glimpses into (now) Queen Elizabeth’s young life, as well. The book also follows both men to their deaths – though Logue was 15 years King George’s senior, Logue outlasted the king, but not by very long.

[cbl_tn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Although this book has the same title as the film, the film is not based on the book, nor is the book based on the film. They both tell the story of the relationship of two men – King George VI of the United Kingdom and speech therapist Lionel Logue. Their relationship spanned a quarter century, beginning when the future king was the Duke of York with official duties befitting the second son of a monarch. One of the author's is Logue's grandson and he had access to Logue's personal papers, including diaries and scrapbooks. As a young man in Australia, Logue developed an interest in elocution and public speaking. His career took a turn into speech therapy when he recognized a need among veterans returning from World War I with voices damaged from the chemicals they were exposed to in trench warfare. The profession was in its infancy then, and there was no organization setting professional standards. Later on in his career, Logue was instrumental in founding a professional society for speech therapists.Although Logue did insist that the then Duke keep his appointments at Logue's office or at Logue's home, he didn't have the irreverent attitude suggested by his film portrayal. Logue needed to establish authority in their working relationship. His letters and diary reveal his deep respect for the monarchy.In spite of their differences in background and status, the men developed a warm friendship. They exchanged letters and gifts over the years. Logue helped the king prepare important speeches for occasions such as his coronation and the State Opening of Parliament, and Logue was by the king's side during radio addresses such as the annual Christmas address and several speeches to the nation during World War II.The audio version of the book has an advantage over the print. Two archival recordings of George VI's speeches are incorporated into the audio production. Since the success of Logue's treatment in helping George VI overcome his speech impediment is at the heart of the book, the book's audience needs to hear the king's voice. Highly recommended for fans of the movie, royal watchers, and anyone with an interest in speech therapy or public speaking.

[akblanchard_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The Academy Award winning film The Kings Speech depicts the relationship between Britain's shy, stuttering monarch George VI and his pioneering Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue. This friendship went a long way towards helping the king build his confidence and effectively lead his country through WWII. As a movie tie-in, this book promises to divulge the inside story of this unusual relationship between king and commoner and the development of speech therapy as a profession. Unfortunately the text, written by Logue's grandson and a collaborator, does not succeed in making any of its intriguing characters come alive. Furthermore, the narrative is padded with extraneous details about the war--needless to say, this material has been better discussed elsewhere. This is history at its most skimmable.

[doingdewey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

As the Duke of York a stammer was difficult to live with so a speech therapist was essential. However, many were consulted without results until Lionel Logue, who attributed his progress to the Duke’s hard work and the rapport they established. In fact, the two became not only patient and therapist, but friends. This friendship lasted when the Duke’s older brother unexpectedly abdicated and he became King George VI. Logue’s help was invaluable in allowing the King to perform his duties and both men treasured their friendship throughout their lives.Although the movie version of this story made the King’s seemingly small difficulty moving and dramatic, I was worried the book wouldn’t be able to do the same. Logue’s life was fairly ordinary except for his time with the king and a stammer seems like a very mundane problem. Fortunately, the book proved me wrong. The first hand accounts of Logue’s regard for the king’s friendship and the king’s gratitude gave the story the emotional punch it needed. It also turned out that many of the best lines from the movie were the real ones and so were included in the book.The extra details of Logue’s life were also better than I anticipated. Although Logue is primarily remembered for his work with the king, the rest of his life made for interesting reading. Alive during WWI and WWII, Lionel Logue witnessed some fascinating historical moments and I enjoyed learning about these events through Logue’s first hand accounts. In terms of both historical interest and emotional impact, the use of primary sources made this book a great read.This review first published on Doing Dewey.