Before I read this biography of George III, I knew very little about him. I knew he liked Handel because we were told when we stood up for the Alleluia chorus of the Messiah that we did it because George III set the precendent way back when. Some of us still stand.
I knew that George III had been depicted as a tyrant by the framers of the Declaration of Independance.
I knew that George III had suffered from an hereditary disease that caused his urine to run purple, hence it's name
I wanted to know more about George III because I am fascinated with the history of the French Revolution and the defeat of Napoleon. I wanted to know why George wasn't rousted from his throne like the French King and the monarchy done away with.
What I discovered about George III was that he was a good man, a loving father, and a beloved king. I learned he was religious, loved Handel to excess, and was opposed to slavery. I learned that he had all kinds of charities, cared about the poor and the sick, and lived relatively frugally all his life. He admired the Methodists because of their "simple" ways, even though he was High Church Anglican. He lived until he was in his 80's and his madness did not finally put him under until he was 72. He had many children, most of whom disappointed him. He and his wife spoke German behind closed doors, and he owned lands in Hanover in Germany.
I learned a lot more, and I enjoyed reading this book even though I wasn't sure I would. Hibbert writes well, his text is interesting and his research thorough. The story is about the private life of George III, so not a lot of political or economic history is discussed although it is always in the background. This is the story of the "upstairs" at Windsor, Buckingham, and Weymouth.
