King George V reigned over the British Empire from 1910 to 1936. As a young man George seemed uninspired, but his reign was immensely consequential. He faced a constitutional crisis, the First World War, the fall of thirteen European monarchies and the rise of Bolshevism. He reinvented the British monarchy, allowing it to survive and thrive when its very existence seemed doomed. The status of the British monarchy today, Ridley argues, is due in large part to him. She shows how George V managed to steer the crown through so many perils, and that Queen Mary played a pivotal role in the reign as well as being an important figure in her own right.

"Originally published in the United Kingdom in 2021 by Chatto & Windus, an imprint of Vintage." --title page verso. Publication date from publisher's Web site.

Preface :In search of George -- Part one : Second son 1865-1892 -- Part two : Duke of York 1893-1901 -- Part three : Prince of Wales 1901-1910 -- Part four : Pre-war 1910-1914 -- Part five : War 1914-1918 -- Part six : Post-war 1919-1927 -- Part seven : Home straight 1928-1936 -- Conclusion.