20 Terrace Review — Wednesday, August 6, 1986 Her Majesty the Queen

The royal scene

- Royal celebrations are always a cause for

book publication.

by Andrea Deakin Terrace Book Reviewer

Her Majesty's 60th birthday will no doubt be the cause of more. Two of these will be of interest because of their authors and their handsome produc- tion. Hugh Montgomery-Massingberd is a freelance writer, lecturer and broadcaster specializing in royal, social and family history. For 15 years he was associated with Burke’s Peerage and he has had con- siderable experience in reporting the royal scene.

He is the author of ‘‘Her Majesty The Queen’’ published by Collins at $29.95. The book traces the Queen’s life from her birth on April 21, 1926 to the present, looking at her not only as monarch but also as a private individual. The Queen’s experience and influence is often underrated. She is an intelligent and astute observer of world affairs, the most ex- perienced political figure in the United Kingdom and a desperately hard worker, showing the highest responsibility towards her function as monarch.

The Commonwealth is very dear to her and she takes her position as its head very seriously, trying to be the link between nations of such disparate peoples. Hugh Montgomery-Massingberd’s book brings this aspect of the monarch very much to the fore, but it also conveys the warmth of family and the sense of teamwork within that family which car- ries through a heavy burden of public functions. The book has been handsomely produced and it is packed with black and white and color photographs.

Christopher Warwick’s book ‘Queen Elizabeth 11: Sixty Glorious Years’’ (Methuen: $19.95) also of- fers an appraisal of the Queen’s life as monarch and individual. Like the previous book it is a lively, at times humorous, assessment which similarly rein- forces the dedication, sincerity and goodness of Queen Elizabeth.

In each case it is interesting to. look back and see how Her Majesty has influenced the position of the throne, bringing the royal family very much into the 20th century, retaining some of the necessary mysticism of the monarchy as an institution, while making the monarch better appreciated as a woman. Both of these books have been handsomely presented, fully illustrated — there is more color photography in ‘‘Her Majesty the Queen’’ — with well-written, well-balanced and interesting texts.

Penelope Mortimer, the novelist, has written a biography of the Queen Mother, ‘‘Queen Elizabeth: A Life of the Queen Mother’? (Viking/Penguin: $24.95). I enjoyed this book. Here Elizabeth is not the gentle smiling waving figure we are used to see- ing. What emerges from these pages is a much more vibrant and strong-minded figure.

Why did she keep refusing to marry Bertie? Why did she finally agree? Penelope Mortimer’s theories on this and other issues may raise some eyebrows, but all in all, the person she draws for us is a more complex, understandable, and in many ways ad- mirable — though human, woman. There is little doubt that she embued George VI with the deter- mination to overcome handicaps, she brought out the natural courage of the man, and she, with him, train- ed her daughter admirably for the heavy duties to come.

She also harbored a long-standing grudge against Wallis, Duchess of Windsor, which helped to keep the Windors forever on the edge of society and away from court. The book is a very enjoyable ‘‘read’’ as well. Ms. Mortimer’s text is witty, yet cool and balanced. Her theories enliven every area of the Queen Mother’s life.

Soccer schedule

Under 12 at Skeena No. 1 Fisid

Saturday, Aug. 9 - @ a.m. Bavarian Inn vs Sight and Sound Saturday, Aug. ] ° 11 am.

Buds vs Northern Drugs Saturday, Aug. 18 . 9 am, Bavarian inn vs Northern Drugs Saturday, Aug. 16 - 11 a.m. Sight and Sound vs Buds Saturday, Aug. 23 - 9 a.m. Bavarian Inn vs Buds

Saturday, Aug. 23 - 11 a.m. Northern Drugs vs Sight and Sound .

Lively spirits were refiected by some equally lively faces at the recent Riverboat Days celebrations. Danlete Berquist photos

RCMP officals Jolned in the Rivarboat Days events staged in Terrace last week.

Faces in the crowd

Some not so enthusiastic participants were part of the -

Riverboat Days troop seen tromping around town.

Books for _ young people A collection of nursery

rhymes and lullabies .

_ “Qver The Moon’? (Charlotte Voake: Methuen: $14.95) is a collection of nursery rhymes, tongue- twisters, counting rhymes and lullabies that are part of the childhood of English-speaking children everywhere.

by Andrea Deakin- Terrace Book Reviewer

There are a few unfamiliar rhymes, but most of them are the loved old favorites ‘attractively presented and illustrated by whimsical spirited delicate watercolor paintings and pen and ink draw- ings. The illustrator, Charlotte Voake, has a lively at- tractive style, reminiscent of the early work of Ray- mond Briggs. _

“Nicholas Tickle Us’? (Sol Mandlsohn: PMA: $14.95) has unfortunately neither fluency of verse hor vitality and charm of illustration to recommend it. Some of the author’s work has been used in the Ontario school system, and, looking through the an- . thology, there are some poems which could stand on their own, but much of the verse is didactic and the nonsense verse is heavy-handed. The illustrations have the same stolid character.

“The Magic Tree’? (chosen David Woolger; Ox- ford: $13.95) is a rich and stimulating collection of fantasy and mystery poetry. Tucked in here was an old friend, ‘‘Sir Eglamour’’, and near him Brian Pat- ten’s little dragon who he finds coiled in a nest of coal. Isabel meets the bear and Elizabeth Barrett Browning finds Pan playing his pipes in the reeds. The collection is wide-ranging and includes a goodly amount of contemporary work by poets like Jack Prelusky, Ted Hughes, Charles Causley and J.R.R. Tolkein, The collection has been effectively and at- tractively illustrated in black and white by a variety of artists, and includes over 100 poems. ,

There are countless new editions of favorite stories on the market each year. One of the most attractive of recent editions is a new version of ‘‘The Ugly Duckling’. The text has been abridged from the Andersen original, but it has been done with care and the result does not affect the strength of the story.

The illustrations are lovely, delicate detailed paint- ings in soft clear color, and the book is very well designed and handsomely produced. What makes this edition even more attractive is the price; a well- designed, beautifully illustrated hardback edition for $5.95. ‘“‘The Ugly Duckling” illustrated by Gerda Muller is published by Doubleday.

Greg Hildebrandt has turned his talents to the story of Peter Cottontail. Again the book is hand- somely produced, the story clearly and effectively told. I find Hildebrandt’s illustrations perhaps a little solid, more effective with gods ad heroes than the delicacy of a rabbit family and the countryside, but they have their own effectiveness. He is particularly skilful at suggesting qualities of light and texture, a strength which gives the pictures a vivid reality. ‘Peter Cottontail’s Surprise’ is published by Doubleday at $14.95.

One of the most successful of Byrd Baylor and Peter Parnell’s collaborations was ‘‘The Way To Start a Day’’. Collier Macmillan has just published this beautiful celebration of dawn in paperback for $5.95. Byrd Baylor gives examples of the various ways that different peoples have celebrated the com- ing of dawn — with bells and drums and gifts of flowers. Peter Parnell’s glowing paintings swirl with color or are disciplined within formal designs which suggest each culture. The result is an exceptional pic- ture book which was both an ALA Notable Book and a Caldecott Honor Book when it was first published in 1977,

Under 7 Soccer at ET. Kenney School

Saturday, August 9 - 11 a.m. Canons vs Terrace Chrysler McAlpine vs Dairy Queen Ken's Photo vs Doc's United Saturday, August 16 - 11 a.m. Dalry Queen vs Canons Ken's Photo vs Terrace Chrysler Doc’s United vs McAlpine Saturday, Auguat 23 - 11 a.m. Doc's United vs Canons Dalry Queen vs Terrace Chrysler McAlpine vs Ken's Photo