"The Reluctant King" by Sarah Bradford was very touching and sad. Bertie was the second son of King George V and never expected to be king, since he had an older brother. But when their father died and David took the throne, becoming King Edward VIII, it didn't take long for things to fall apart. David was more interested in partying and was determined to marry Wallis Simpson, a twice divorced American. He had to abdicate and turn the throne over to the Duke of York. Bertie reluctantly became King George VI (I really don't know why they change their names, it makes everything so confusing. Why not be King Albert? Oh well). By all account, Bertie was well loved by his people and an excellent king who led the country through the horrors of World War II. The stress of the role took its toll on him, and poor Bertie died very young, leaving twenty-five year old Princess Elizabeth to ascend the throne. It was very lovely and it made me cry. But anything about dads dying makes me cry these days, so there's that.
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