WILLIAM SHAWCROSS

This beautiful and perceptive book details the Queens achievements through decades of upheaval and reveals the personal qualities that have made those achievements possible. With an authoritative text and remarkable photographs - most of them in colour - Queen and Country tells anew the story of Queen Elizabeth IIs 50-year reign. From the romantic and tragic beginning, to the tumultuous and eventful present, the BBC along with reporter, author, and broadcaster William Shawcross show how Elizabeth IIs strength of character, acute intelligence, and ingrained reticence have both shaped and been buffeted by a drastically changing world. The story that Shawcross tells focuses on the Queens constancy through 50 years of extraordinary change. From the middle of the twentieth century to the beginning of the twenty-first, the Queen has watched the rise and fall of labour unions, the building and partial dismantling of the welfare state, and the progress by turns of socialism, conservatism, Labour, neo-conservatism, and New Labour. She has been counselor and sometimes friend to ten prime ministers of Britain and to dozens of Commonwealth leaders abroad. The small and mainly respectful band of reporters present when Elizabeth became queen have been replaced by an enormous cohort of technicians operating in a variety of media with a relentless and remorseless hunger, not so much for news as for scandal. But, while members of her family have been embarrassed or disgraced, her own rectitude has never been questioned. Queen Elizabeths real achievement is that she has been true to the promise she made to her subjects in her Christmas broadcast in 1957.

Written with complete access to the Queen Mother''s personal letters and diaries, William Shawcross'' riveting biography is the truly definitive account of this remarkable woman, whose life spanned the twentieth century. Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes Lyon, the youngest daughter of the Earl of Strathmore, was born on 4 August 1900. Drawing on her private correspondence and other unpublished material from the Royal Archives, William Shawcross vividly reveals the witty girl who endeared herself to soldiers convalescing at Glamis in the First World War; the assured young Duchess of York; the Queen, at last feeling able to look the East End in the face at the height of the Blitz; the Queen Mother, representing the nation at home and abroad throughout her long widowhood. ''This splendid biography captures something of the warm glow that she brought to every event and encounter. It also reveals a deeper and more interesting character, forged by good sense, love of country, duty, humour and an instinct for what is right. This is a wonderful book, authoritative, frank and entertaining

Reporting from war zones around the globe, acclaimed journalist William Shawcross gives us an unforgettable portrait of a dangerous world and of the brave men and women, ordinary and extraordinary, who risk their lives to make and keep the peace. The end of the Cold War was followed by a decade of regional and ethnic wars, massacres and forced exiles, and by constant calls for America to lead the international community as chief peace-keeper. The efforts of that community -- identified with the United Nations but often dominated by the worlds wealthy nations -- have had mixed results. In Africa, the West is accused of indifference or too little, too late. In Cambodia, the UN presides over free elections, but the results are overridden. In Iraq, Saddam Hussein continues to defy the UN, and in Bosnia and Kosovo, the West acts hesitantly after terrible slaughter and ethnic cleansing. Shawcross, a veteran of many war zones, has had broad access to global policymakers, including UN secretary general Kofi Annan, high American diplomats, peacekeepers and humanitarian-aid professionals. He has traveled with them to some of the worlds most horrifying killing fields. Deliver Us from Evil is his stark, on-the-ground report on the many crises faced by the international community and its servants as they struggle to respond around the world. He brings home the price many have paid attempting to restore peace and help alleviate terrible suffering. He illuminates the risks we face in a complex and dangerous world. Some critics have concluded that some interventions may prolong conflict and create further casualties. The lesson we learn from ruthless and vengeful warlords the world over is that goodwill without strength can make things worse. Shawcross argues that recent interventions -- in Kosovo and East Timor, for example -- provide reason for concern as well as hope. Still, the unmistakable message of the past decade is that we cannot intervene everywhere, that not every wrong can be righted merely because the international community desires it, or because we wish to remove images of suffering from our television screens. Nor can we necessarily rebuild failed states in our image. When we intervene, we must be certain of our objectives, sure of popular support and willing to expend the necessary resources -- even lives. If our interventions are to be effective and humane, they must last for more than the fifteen minutes of attention that the media accord to each succeeding crisis. That is a tall order. As Shawcross concludes, "In a more religious time it was only God whom we asked to deliver us from evil. Now we call upon our own man-made institutions for such deliverance. That is sometimes to ask for miracles."

In this landmark short book, William Shawcross examines the state of the Western alliance after the Iraqi War and makes - powerfully, persuasively, controversially - his case for the removal of Saddam Hussein's government. The U.S.-European relationship has been profoundly shaken by the disagreement over whether to invade Iraq and remove Saddam Hussein. Virtually the entire intellectual elite in Britain and on the Continent disagrees with the position taken by Tony Blair. But not William Shawcross, one of Britian's most admired commentators, who makes a brilliant case for the U.S.-British operation and lays out why Europeans are making a serious blunder in their actions.

Since the Nuremberg Trials of 1945, lawful nations have struggled to impose justice around the world, especially when confronted by tyrannical and genocidal regimes. But in Cambodia, the USSR, China, Bosnia, Rwanda, and beyond, justice has been served haltingly if at all in the face of colossal inhumanity. International Courts are not recognized worldwide. There is not a global consensus on how to punish transgressors. The war against Al Qaeda is a war like no other. Osama bin Laden, Al Qaedas founder, was killed in Pakistan by Navy Seals. Few people in America felt anything other than that justice had been served. But what about the man who conceived and executed the 9/11 attacks on the US, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed? What kind of justice does he deserve? The U.S. has tried to find the high ground by offering KSM a trial -- albeit in the form of military tribunal. But is this hypocritical? Indecisive? Half-hearted? Or merely the best application of justice possible for a man who is implacably opposed to the civilization that the justice system supports and is derived from? In this book, William Shawcross explores the visceral debate that these questions have provoked over the proper application of democratic values in a time of war, and the enduring dilemma posed to all victors in war: how to treat the worst of your enemies.

The Cold War certainties that had seemed so fixed in the 20th Century were overturned by the war in Iraq. Saddam Husseins Republican Guards were the battlefield victims of a brutally quick war of shock and awe. No less shocked and awed were some of Americas former allies: "old" Europe, large blocks of the UN, and half the G8 nations suddenly found themselves outside the chain of command and influence. Bush, Blair, and their allies were driven by a new global vision. Their mission, expressed with great moral certainty, has been called imperialist. In fact, it was simply inevitable after 9/11: that terrible event ushered in a new era with new rules. Shawcross shows what the future will hold for Iraq, Israel, and the Middle East, how Western alliances will be changed forever, and demonstrates that the war was the definitive proof that a new era of 21st Century international politics has begun.

Although there are many books and films dealing with the Vietnam War, Sideshow tells the truth about Americas secret and illegal war with Cambodia from 1969 to 1973. William Shawcross interviewed hundreds of people of all nationalities, including cabinet ministers, military men, and civil servants, and extensively researched U.S. Government documents. This full-scale investigationwith material new to this editionexposes how Kissinger and Nixon treated Cambodia as a sideshow. Although the president and his assistant claimed that a secret bombing campaign in Cambodia was necessary to eliminate North Vietnamese soldiers who were attacking American troops across the border, Shawcross maintains that the bombings only spread the conflict, but led to the rise of the Khmer Rouge and the subsequent massacre of a third of Cambodias population.

Enchanting, often moving and sometimes hilarious Daily MailFull of wit, hilarity, acute observation and a deeply held sense of duty, the Queen Mothers letters give readers a vivid insight into the person behind the public face.Edited by WIlliam Shawcross, Elizabeth: Counting Ones Blessings Part 1 reveals, in the Queen Mothers own words, the much-loved little girl writing teasing letters to her many siblings and friends; here, too, is the young woman who, after a long courtship and two refusals, accepted the Duke of Yorks proposal.The warm personality and humour of the late, much-loved Queen Mother shines through in her letters, as does her affection for all, whether below or above stairs ScotsmanRecaptures her effervescent charm, and the simple fact that she was a good egg SpectatorHow one warms to her! Evening Standard

Totally absorbing and highly readable account of a remarkable life . . . genuinely revelatoryThe TimesA colossal book about a colossal life, a spectacular journey across the entire twentieth centuryDaily MailWritten with complete access to the Queen Mothers personal letters and diaries, William Shawcrosss riveting biography is the truly definitive account of this remarkable woman, whose life spanned the twentieth century. Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes Lyon, the youngest daughter of the Earl of Strathmore, was born on 4 August 1900. Drawing on her private correspondence and other unpublished material from the Royal Archives, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother vividly reveals the witty girl who endeared herself to soldiers convalescing at Glamis in the First World War; the assured young Duchess of York; the Queen, at last feeling able to look the East End in the face at the height of the Blitz; the Queen Mother, representing the nation at home and abroad throughout her long widowhood.This splendid biograpy captures something of the warm glow that she brought to every event and encounter. It also reveals a deeper and more interesting character, forged by good sense, love of country, duty, humour and an instinct for what is right. This is a wonderful book, authoritative, frank and entertaining - Daily Telegraph

One of the revelations of William Shawcrosss official biography of the Queen Mother was her private correspondence. Indeed the Sunday Times described her letters as wonderful ... brimful of liveliness and irreverence, steeliness and sweetness.Queen Elizabeth was a prolific correspondent from her earliest childhood and her letters offer readers a vivid insight into the person behind the public face. They reveal - in her own words - the little girl writing to her family; the young woman who, eventually, accepted Prince Alberts proposal; the Duchess of York, embracing the public role demanded of her, on royal tours both at home and abroad. They reveal, too, her shock when she and her husband realized that he would become King, the dreadful toll exacted by the Second World War, culminating in the Kings tragically early death, and her determination to find a role for herself during her long widowhood. Full of wit, acute observation and a deeply held sense of duty, Queen Elizabeths letters offer a chronicle not only of her long life, but of the twentieth century.

Enchanting, often moving and sometimes hilarious Daily MailFull of wit, hilarity, acute observation and a deeply held sense of duty, the Queen Mothers letters give readers a vivid insight into the person behind the public face.Edited by William Shawcross, Queen Mother: Counting Ones Blessings Part 4, reveals in the Queen Mothers own words, her grief at the tragically early death of the King in 1952 and her determination to rise above that terrible blow and, despite her sadness, to find a new role for herself during the long years of widowhood.The warm personality and humour of the late, much-loved Queen Mother shines through in her letters, as does her affection for all, whether below or above stairs ScotsmanRecaptures her effervescent charm, and the simple fact that she was a good egg SpectatorHow one warms to her! Evening Standard

Enchanting, often moving and sometimes hilarious Daily MailFull of wit, hilarity, acute observation and a deeply held sense of duty, the Queen Mothers letters give readers a vivid insight into the person behind the public face.In Duchess of York: Counting Ones Blessings Part 2, WIlliam Shawcross reveals, in the Queen Mothers own words, the young woman who, after a long courtship and two refusals, accepted the Duke of Yorks proposal and, as his Duchess, brought a sense of ease and fun into the public and private lives of the Royal Family. We see her delight in her beloved daughters and her real anguish when she and her husband realized that he would become King because his brother Edward VIII was determined to abdicate.The warm personality and humour of the late, much-loved Queen Mother shines through in her letters, as does her affection for all, whether below or above stairs ScotsmanRecaptures her effervescent charm, and the simple fact that she was a good egg SpectatorHow one warms to her! Evening Standard

Enchanting, often moving and sometimes hilarious Daily MailFull of wit, hilarity, acute observation and a deeply held sense of duty, the Queen Mothers letters give readers a vivid insight into the person behind the public face.Edited by William Shawcross, Queen: Counting Ones Blessings Part 3 reveals, in the Queen Mothers own words, the woman who brought a sense of ease and fun into the public and private lives of the Royal Family. We see her delight in her beloved daughters and her real anguish when she and her husband realized that he would become King because his brother Edward VIII was determined to abdicate. We read of her work during the Second World War, and her horror at the suffering it caused, her joy in the marriage of her daughter Elizabeth, and her grief at the tragically early death of the King in 1952.The warm personality and humour of the late, much-loved Queen Mother shines through in her letters, as does her affection for all, whether below or above stairs ScotsmanRecaptures her effervescent charm, and the simple fact that she was a good egg SpectatorHow one warms to her! Evening Standard