by Mark Logue
First published 2019
King George VI stands before the microphone in September 1939, preparing to address his nation as Britain enters World War II. His stammering voice, once a source of private agony, has become a symbol of national resolve through years of work with Lionel Logue, his unconventional Australian speech therapist. But their partnership extends far beyond that famous broadcast. As German bombs fall on London and British forces face defeat at Dunkirk, the King relies on Logue's steady presence and unorthodox methods. Through the darkest moments of the Blitz and the tense preparations for D-Day, these two unlikely allies forge a bond that transcends their vastly different backgrounds. The story follows both families, the Windsors and the Logues, as they weather personal struggles alongside national crisis. At its heart, this is the story of friendship tested by history's greatest challenges.
Genres: biography, historical-fiction, 20th-century, world-war-ii
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, unlikely-allies
Setting: Britain, Dunkirk, London
Period: 1939, World War II
302 pages · Paperback · Quercus Publishing