Book 122: The King's Speech: How one man saved the British monarchy by Mark Logue and Peter Conradi (Audiobook)

Even if you didn't love the movie starring Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush, the story of the speech therapist and his relationship with King George VI is a poignant one.

This book was written by Lionel Logue's grandson, who drew from his family's most precious possessions - the letters between his grandson and the king - to piece together the history of their relationship.

Although I loved the movie and saw it shortly after it was released, I found myself wondering more about this quiet nugget of history. Logue's book fills in many of the gaps - such as how Lionel Logue established himself as a notable speech therapist first in his home country of Australia, then in Great Britain. The book also describes quite differently the persona of King George VI - a.k.a. "Bertie" - and his willingness to not only cooperate but his drive to exceed everyone's expectations. In his journals and correspondence, Lionel Logue describes the king as one of the hardest working students he'd ever had.

The audio version - read by expect narrator and linguist Simon Vance - vividly brings the fantastic story to life. He effortlessly aces British, French, American, and Australian linguistics, lending to the story's credibility and impact on multiple cultures.

If you don't borrow this from your local library, you're missing out. I was impressed on so many levels.