Edward VII: The Cosmopolitan King (Penguin Monarchs)

Like his mother Queen Victoria, Edward VII defined an era. Both reflected the personalties of their central figures: hers grand, imperial, and stiff; his no less grand, but more relaxed and enjoyable. To the despair of his parents, he rebelled as a young man, conducting many affairs and living a life of pleasure. But as king he made a distinct contribution to European diplomacy and—which is little known—to London, laying out the Mall and Admiralty Arch. This overview is as enjoyable as its subject and the age he made.