Sex with the Queen

Finished reading Eleanor Herman's second book "Sex with the Queen". This was just as enjoyable as the first book and a bit more structured. In this book Herman not only described some of the dangers and reasons why a Queen may take a lover (or several), but she also gave a brief biographical look at some of the Queens (and Princesses) who took lovers and what that decision did to their lives and the country they ruled.

I really liked how Herman refused to gloss over some of the more lurid details of these women's and men's lives. Some liberties were taken in regards to how these ladies may have felt, but I think Herman made good assumptions based on primary sources and letters from the Queens themselves.

Only one part of the book made me feel uncomfortable and that was the chapter on Princess Diana. Even though she had been dead for several years before the book was published I still felt it was too soon to be airing her "dirty laundry" so to speak. While some of Diana's affairs were well known about (James Hewitt), some are based on speculation and unproven evidence. Herman also lends credence to statements that Diana was unstable. Too many people have cashed in on the royal family and Diana in particular which makes it hard to believe anything that's printed about them.

The chapter on Princess Diana aside, I really enjoyed reading about these romantic and sometimes deviant Queens. If you are interested in reading "Sex with the Queen" by Eleanor Herman, you can find it at your local library or at Barnes and Noble.