Audiobooks by Andrew Morton

Winston and the Windsors: How Churchill Shaped a Royal Dynasty

"Few figures in British history have been so deeply and so consequentially involved with the British royal family as Winston Spencer Churchill. While numerous men of stature have advised kings and queens during their reigns, Churchill is unique in his role: helping to shape not only a single reign but an entire royal dynasty. However, it was by no means a seamless relationship. At times, the royal family treated him with suspicion and contempt; at others, their relations were avuncular, competitive and cheering. Yet whether he was playing the role of antagonist to the royal family or that of trusted confidante, Churchill’s influence was central to the twentieth-century history of the British monarchy. The attitudes of the royal family towards him, whether warm or icy, were also crucial in creating the legend of Winston Churchill. The House of Windsor helped shape his career and his legacy: from his young days receiving paternal advice from Edward VII; his middle years of diehard loyalty to King Edward VIII during the abdication crisis; his initially grudging but ultimately fruitful partnership with George VI during the Second World War; to his enduring fondness for young Elizabeth II, the last sovereign he served. While there have been many biographies of Winston Churchill, and many volumes on members of the royal family, none of these has yet charted the relationship between Churchill and the royal family itself, even though these partnerships shaped and defined the House of Windsor and modern Britain. The history of the monarchy in the twentieth century cannot be fully understood without reference to Winston Churchill, and Churchill’s life and legacy cannot be adequately appreciated without accounting for his relationship with the royal family. Having unearthed much under-appreciated material relating to Churchill held in the Churchill Archives at Cambridge University – including diary entries, postcards and letters to and from kings, queens and princes – Andrew Morton presents a meticulously researched dual biography of Winston Churchill and the House of Windsor. It is a drama of the first order. At times thrilling and always compelling: this is the saga of a man, a family, a beloved institution and a regal dynasty."

Andrew Morton (Author), Jonathan Keeble (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Queen: Her Life

"Perfect for fans of The Crown, legendary New York Times bestselling biographer Andrew Morton provides the definitive story of Queen Elizabeth II's life and legacy. Painfully shy, Elizabeth Windsor's personality was well suited to her youthful ambition of living quietly in the country, raising a family, and caring for her dogs and horses. But when her uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated, she became heir to the throne-embarking on a journey that would test her as a woman and as a queen. Ascending to the throne at only 25, this self-effacing monarch navigated endless setbacks, family conflict, and occasional triumphs throughout her 70 years as the Queen of England. As her mettle was tested, she endeavored to keep the monarchy relevant culturally, socially, and politically, often in the face of resistance from inside the institution itself. And yet the greatest challenges she faced were often inside her own family, forever under intense scrutiny; from rumors about her husband's infidelity, her sister's marital breakdown, Princess Diana's tragic death, to the recent departure of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Now in The Queen, renowned biographer Andrew Morton takes an in-depth look at Britain's longest reigning monarch, exploring the influence Queen Elizabeth has had on both Britain and the rest of the world for much of the last century. From leading a nation struggling to restore itself after the devastation of the second World War to navigating the divisive political landscape of the present day, Queen Elizabeth has been a reluctant but resolute queen. This is the story of a woman of unflagging self-discipline who will long be remembered as mother and grandmother to Great Britain, and one of the greatest sovereigns of the modern era."

Andrew Morton (Author), Andrew Morton, Judy Bennett (Narrator)

Audiobook

[Italian] - Diana. Tutta la storia

"Andrew Morton, biografo reale vicinissimo a Lady D, racconta gli anni più complicati nella vita della principessa, quelli che hanno preceduto la sua tragica scomparsa. Lo fa ricostruendo tutti i retroscena della realizzazione del primo libro, 'Diana. La sua vera storia', che ha rivelato al mondo la Diana oppressa dalla farsa coniugale, la principessa triste che sfogava nei disturbi alimentari la propria impotenza, la ragazza ingiustamente sacrificata alle ragioni di un protocollo algido e arcaico, lontano dal mondo nuovo in cui lei voleva vivere. Dopo lo scandalo che la investì a seguito della pubblicazione, Diana intraprese finalmente il suo viaggio alla riconquista di sé, trasformandosi da burattino della famiglia reale in una giovane bellissima donna, capace di muovere il mondo a ogni causa che abbracciava. Questo nonostante la continua azione di discredito da parte di molte forze intorno a lei. Tra queste i famigerati servizi segreti, la paura dei quali ha quasi condotto Diana alla follia. Di certo, nella ricostruzione di Morton, abilissimo investigatore, furono questa e le scaltre manipolazioni di Martin Bashir a convincere la principessa ad accettare la famosa intervista alla BBC su cui ora si torna a fare luce. © 2021 Giunti Editore S.p.A./Giunti"

Andrew Morton (Author), Patrizio Cigliano (Narrator)

Audiobook

Elizabeth & Margaret: The Intimate World of the Windsor Sisters

"Perfect for fans of The Crown, this captivating biography from a New York Times bestselling author follows Queen Elizabeth II and her sister Margaret as they navigate life in the royal spotlight. They were the closest of sisters and the best of friends. But when, in a quixotic twist of fate, their uncle Edward Vlll decided to abdicate the throne, the dynamic between Elizabeth and Margaret was dramatically altered. Forever more Margaret would have to curtsey to the sister she called 'Lillibet.' And bow to her wishes. Elizabeth would always look upon her younger sister's antics with a kind of stoical amusement, but Margaret's struggle to find a place and position inside the royal system-and her fraught relationship with its expectations-was often a source of tension. Famously, the Queen had to inform Margaret that the Church and government would not countenance her marrying a divorcee, Group Captain Peter Townsend, forcing Margaret to choose between keeping her title and royal allowances or her divorcee lover. From the idyll of their cloistered early life, through their hidden war-time lives, into the divergent paths they took following their father's death and Elizabeth's ascension to the throne, this book explores their relationship over the years. Andrew Morton's latest biography offers unique insight into these two drastically different sisters-one resigned to duty and responsibility, the other resistant to it-and the lasting impact they have had on the Crown, the royal family, and the ways it adapted to the changing mores of the 20th century."

Andrew Morton (Author), Marisa Calin (Narrator)

Audiobook

Elizabeth and Margaret: The Intimate World of the Windsor Sisters

"For fans of the Netflix series The Crown and from the New York Times bestselling author of 17 Carnations comes a captivating biography of Queen Elizabeth II and her sister Margaret. They were the closest of sisters and the best of friends. But when, in a quixotic twist of fate, their uncle Edward Vlll decided to abdicate the throne, the dynamic between Elizabeth and Margaret was dramatically altered. Forever more Margaret would have to curtsey to the sister she called 'Lillibet.' And bow to her wishes. Elizabeth would always look upon her younger sister's antics with a kind of stoical amusement, but Margaret's struggle to find a place and position inside the royal system-and her fraught relationship with its expectations-was often a source of tension. Famously, the Queen had to inform Margaret that the Church and government would not countenance her marrying a divorcee, Group Captain Peter Townsend, forcing Margaret to choose between keeping her title and royal allowances or her divorcee lover. From the idyll of their cloistered early life, through their hidden war-time lives, into the divergent paths they took following their father's death and Elizabeth's ascension to the throne, this book explores their relationship over the years. Andrew Morton's latest biography offers unique insight into these two drastically different sisters-one resigned to duty and responsibility, the other resistant to it-and the lasting impact they have had on the Crown, the royal family, and the ways it adapted to the changing mores of the 20th century."

Andrew Morton (Author), Marisa Calin (Narrator)

Audiobook

Meghan: A Hollywood Princess

"CONTAINS AN EXCLUSIVE Q&A WITH THE AUTHOR, ANDREW MORTON.The first in-depth biography of the American actress and humanitarian campaigner who will marry Prince Harry in May 2018, written by the world's best-known royal biographer.When Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were set up by a mutual friend on a blind date in June 2016, little could they know that just sixteen months later the resulting whirlwind romance would lead to their engagement in November 2017 and marriage in May 2018.Since then, our fascination with the woman who has smashed the royal mould has rocketed. So different to those coy brides of recent history, Meghan is confident, charismatic and poised, her warm and affectionate engagement interview a stark contrast to the stilted and cold exchange between Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer.In this first-ever biography of the duchess-to-be, acclaimed royal biographer Andrew Morton goes back to Meghan's roots, interviewing those closest to her to uncover the story of her childhood: growing up in The Valley in LA, studying at an all-girls Catholic school and her breakout into acting. We also delve into her previous marriage and divorce in 2013, her struggles in Hollywood, as her mixed heritage was time and again used against her, and her work as a humanitarian ambassador - so redolent of Princess Diana's passions. Finishing with an account of her romance with Prince Harry, Morton reflects on the impact that Meghan has already made on the rigid traditions of the House of Windsor - not even Kate Middleton was invited to Christmas with the Queen before she had married her prince - and what the future might hold."

Andrew Morton (Author), Andrew Morton, Charles Armstrong (Narrator)

Audiobook

Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography

"In 2006 Forbes magazine ranked Tom Cruise as the most powerful celebrity in the world. With three Golden Globe awards, three Academy Award nominations, and 27 films with an average box office gross of nearly $100 million, People Magazine's choice for the 'Sexest Man Alive' in 1990 is unquestionably one of the biggest movie stars of our time. He has also become one of the most controversial, for his outspoken championship of Scientology, for his criticism of Brooke Shields for turning to the 'Nazi science' of psychiatry for help with postpartum depression, and for the time in 2005 when he jumped on Oprah Winfrey's couch proclaiming his love for Katie Holmes. But for all the headlines and the rumors swirling around him, the real Tom Cruise has remained surprisingly hidden—until now. For two years, acclaimed investigative journalist Andrew Morton has been uncovering the true story of Tom Cruise—from his days as bullied 'little Tommy Mapother,' to his early stardom, to his romances and his increasingly public involvement in the world of Scientology. With new sources and exclusive interviews, Morton brings us never-seen photos and never-heard revelations about the private, sometimes shocking world of Tom Cruise."

Andrew Morton (Author), John Hinch (Narrator)

Audiobook