Forum Views () 
Forum Replies ()  
 
 
Read more with google mobile :
Book tells inspiring tale behind King's Speech film  
 
 
 
 
 
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
 
 
 
World
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Book tells inspiring tale behind King's Speech film
 
 
  
 
 Reuters - Thursday, January 13
 
 
Send
 
IM Story
 
Print
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By Mike Collett-White
 
LONDON - Based on a treasure trove of royal letters, appointment cards and photographs, a new book on the remarkable life of Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue fills many of the gaps left by the hit film "The King's Speech." Lionel's grandson Mark Logue was consulted for the script of the movie, starring Colin Firth as the stammering King George VI and Geoffrey Rush as his elocution coach, widely tipped for Oscar glory at the Academy Awards next month.
 
His involvement encouraged him to return to hundreds of documents about his grandfather's inspiring story, resulting in the book "The King's Speech: How One Man Saved the British Monarchy" which he wrote with journalist Peter Conradi.
 
At his home in London, Mark Logue sifted through piles of letters, including several from the king to Lionel which reveal a surprising level of intimacy between the king and, to use Lionel's own words, a "common colonial."
 
An appointment card covered with Lionel's tiny writing shows how the future king visited his Harley Street practice 82 times between October 1926 and December 1927, and describes the royal's "very flabby" waist as well as his speech impediment.
 
A scrapbook of press cuttings, photographs of Lionel and his wife Myrtle at King George VI's coronation, Christmas cards from the royal family and Lionel's own diary attest to his pride at having helped the monarch through his tumultuous reign.
 
But Lionel also had a sense of being someone from another country and another class.
 
"Here we've got a man in his mid-40s, emigrating from Australia with his young family and setting up in the heart of the British medical establishment in Harley Street, very much an outsider," Mark Logue said in an interview.
 
"Within two years he's treating the king's son. Then he's kind of catapulted into the center of the royal family when he becomes king.
 
"All the time I think he's had this sense that he's an outsider, but also proud of it. He says in his diaries, frequently, that the king sought his advice ... as a commoner -- what does a common man on the street think," he added.
 
WAR MADE SPEECHES SPECIAL
 
Lionel, born in 1880 in Adelaide, set up on his own as an elocution teacher before leaving Australia in 1924 for Britain, where he opened a practice in central London.
 
The Duke of York, whose stammer had caused him acute embarrassment as a boy and during public addresses in his role as a royal, came to him to prepare for a speech he was due to give in Australia during a trip there in 1927.
 
Only a few months later, he was writing to Lionel of the "tremendous amount of confidence" the sessions had given him, and the address in Canberra was considered a success.
 
There was occasional contact between the men over the following years, until the abdication crisis of 1936 when the death of King George V, followed by his successor King Edward VIII's decision to abdicate in order to marry divorcee Wallis Simpson, suddenly thrust the duke on to the throne.
 
In April 1937, Lionel was called to see the king and help him prepare for his coronation the following month, where again his services appear to have paid off.
 
So highly were those services regarded, that he and Myrtle attended the ceremony at Westminster Abbey, and Mark Logue produced a photograph showing Myrtle peering through a pair of opera glasses from the balcony above the newly crowned king.
 
The advent of war made the king's speeches more important than ever, and Lionel found himself by the monarch's side regularly during the conflict as he addressed millions of people across the Empire over the radio.
 
The therapist spent several Christmases with the royals for the king's seasonal address, and after George VI's death in 1952, his widow wrote to Lionel on black-rimmed paper saying:
 
"I think that I know perhaps better than anyone just how much you helped the King, not only with his speech, but through that his whole life and outlook on life."
 
After the death, British newspapers ran features about the key role Lionel played in the king's reign, with one headline reading "One Man Saved King's Voice." The article described his relationship with the monarch as "exceptionally intimate."
 
Lionel died the following year aged 73.
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Recommend
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Send
 
IM Story
 
Print
 
 
 
 
 
 
Related Articles
 
 
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary Reuters - 1 hour 7 minutes ago
 
David Nelson of "Ozzie and Harriet" TV family dies Reuters - 1 hour 26 minutes ago
 
John Travolta and Kelly Preston show off new baby Reuters - 1 hour 27 minutes ago
 
Russia bans Cinderella over 'political message': report AFP - Thursday, January 13
 
Divided you will fail, Loach warns Palestinians AFP - Thursday, January 13
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
News Search
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Top Stories
 
 
 
 
Portugal claims success in bond sale
EU launches new era of tighter economic governance
Lebanon's unity government collapses
EU divided over debt crisis fund boost
Haitians grieve on quake anniversary
 
 
 
 More Top Stories »
 
 
 
ADVERTISEMENT
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
Most Popular
 
 
 
 
Most Viewed
 
 
 
 
Falling blackbirds baffle Arkansas officials
 
Hasta la Vista: Arnie quits as California governor
 
Goldman deal 'values Facebook at $50 billion'
 
Spain lotto winner nearly loses millions by tossing tickets
 
Brazil's 2010 trade surplus lowest in 8 years: official
 
 
 More Most Viewed »
 
 
 
 
 
 
 More Most Recommended »
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
 
 
 
 
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
 
 
Stars and latest movies
 
 
Best travel destinations
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
More on Yahoo! News
 
 
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
 
Also on Yahoo!
 
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
 
Site Highlights
 
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Entertainment
Photos
Yahoo! News Network 
 
 
 
 Copyright © 2011 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
 
 
    
  
   
 
 
    
   
 
Other News on Thursday, 13 January 2011 Hezbollah, allies quit Lebanese goverment  
UK confidence in online shopping rattled by snow: poll  
Hezbollah forces Lebanon government collapse  
Portugal claims success in bond sale  
EU launches new era of tighter economic governance  
Fujitsu unveils 'world's first' glasses-free 3D PC  
Lebanon's unity government collapses  
Attacks in Afghanistan kill 5 NATO troops  
EU divided over debt crisis fund boost  
NATO: 5 service members killed in Afghanistan  
Haitians grieve on quake anniversary  
At least 127 dead as rains pummel Brazil regions
|  
Gaza militants say to halt rocket fire at Israel
|  
Qatar restore pride with China victory  
Five more killed in Tunisia clashes: witnesses
|  
China bans German pork, egg imports  
China says stealth jet test flight not a threat
|  
Biden tells Pakistan: 'We are not the enemy of Islam'  
Djeparov fires Uzbeks towards Asian Cup quarters  
Divided you will fail, Loach warns Palestinians  
Crew under pressure to land Kaczynski plane: Russia
|  
Two Thais in Cambodia court on spying charges  
Russian spy Anna Chapman to host TV show  
U.N. says Gbagbo-backers loot food convoy in Abidjan
|  
N. Korea reopens border hotline with S. Korea  
Book tells inspiring tale behind King's Speech film  
U.S. Vice President Biden warns against Pakistan extremism  
England win thriller to set T20 record  
Geithner urges China reform ahead of Hu visit  
Nvidia shares surge 12 percent, extend rally
|  
Pakistani stocks end up; rupee firms; o/n rates flat  
IBM, Samsung to jointly develop chip technology
|  
Clearwire shares rise on hopes of funding deal
|  
Activist manager sells Cisco shares on rights concerns
|  
Wikipedia, 10 years old, targets India for growth
|  
Demand Media moves ahead with $112.5 million IPO
|  
Toyota to make lithium batteries for hybrids: Nikkei
|  
John Travolta and Kelly Preston show off new baby
|  
Seth Rogen, Jay Chou dish on new Green Hornet
|  
German firm develops Internet eraser for photos  
David Nelson of Ozzie and Harriet TV family dies
|  
Ten years on, Wikipedia eyes a better world  
US-TECH Summary  
Clearwire shares rise on hopes of funding deal  
News Corp., Apple to unveil 'The Daily' next week  
Demand Media moves ahead with $112.5 million IPO  
Lebanon plunged into uncertainty as government falls  
Spain faces first big debt test of 2011  
Brisbane avoids worst in floods but sees years of rebuilding
|  
YouTube mobile video viewing tops 200 mln a day  
Hezbollah and allies resign, toppling Lebanon government  
Lebanon plunged into uncertainty as government falls
|  
Prince Harry eyes North Pole trek  
PC sales growth slows in fourth quarter: Gartner  
Afghan police: Explosion reported in Jalalabad  
Hezbollah forces Lebanon govt collapse  
Ivory Coast army seals off pro-Ouattara area, bars U.N.
|  
Russia blames Polish pressure for Kaczynski crash  
Investors bet on Nvidia's new mobile chips  
U.S. agencies believe Iran's nuclear efforts have slowed  
Haitians recall 2010 quake hell as death toll upped
|  
PC shipment growth lackluster in Q4  
World Bank sees 2008 risks for global economy  
Taylor Swift Scores Lowest-Selling #1 Album On The Billboard Albums Chart With "Speak Now"  
2010 ties 2005 for warmest year on record: US  
Egypt Christians clash with police over shooting  
Google turns Android smartphones into interpreters  
U.S. agencies believe Iran's nuclear efforts have slowed
|  
Global economy to slow in 2011: World Bank  
Philippine floods, landslides kill 42
|  
Citing rights failings, firm divests Cisco holdings  
Gaza militants say to halt rocket fire at Israel  
Blackpool pile on agony for Liverpool in Premier League  
Mobile airwaves seen key to U.S. competitiveness  
Special Report: Vietnam capitalist roaders follow China's trail
|  
Palestinian fails in bid to win control of settlement  
Ultimate Software looks at selling itself: sources  
A Kuwaiti PM in first Iraq visit since war  
Winter brings fiery killer into Afghan homes
|  
Wikipedia, 10 years old, targets India  
At least 270 dead in Brazil floods
|  
IBM, Samsung to jointly develop chip technology  
Japan PM to tap fiscal hawk in new line-up: report
|  
N. Korea must act to defuse tensions: Gates  
Bob Geldof is keynote speaker at South by Southwest  
Brisbane a 'war zone' as huge flood smashes city  
Edward Furlong scraps trip after latest arrest  
Japan PM to tap fiscal hawk in new line-up  
Imam criticised for NY mosque embarks on U.S. speaking tour  
N. Korea's uranium for making bombs: South  
Obama leads mourning of Arizona shooting victims  
Factbox  
Brisbane avoids worst in floods, sees years of rebuilding  
Obama visits wounded U.S. Congresswoman Giffords  
Hard times make way for fuller-figured lingerie  
China says shares U.S. goals on Korea as hotline reopens  
Texan builds artful, green homes out of trash  
News Corp says looking at spinout or sale of MySpace
|  
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary  
Biden in Baghdad to meet Maliki: WHouse  
Brisbane flood peaks well below expected high: officials  
Minimum and maximum temperatures in Celsius  
Investors bet on Nvidia's new mobile chips
|  
Showtime cable network passes on "Kennedys"  
Australia rebuilding task 'of postwar proportions'  
Disruptive Arizona suspect axed from online group  
Bob Geldof is keynote speaker at South by Southwest  
Mobile airwaves seen key to U.S. competitiveness
|  
US 'not the enemy of Islam' says Biden  
Edward Furlong scraps trip after latest arrest  
World Bank says China has room for more rate hikes  
PC shipment growth lackluster in Q4
|  
S. Korea raises key rate, moves against inflation  
Taiwan capital to levy 'luxury residence' tax  
Ultimate Software looks at selling itself: sources
|  
Carmakers target inland China to maintain growth  
Seoul shares end down amid options expiry  
HIGHLIGHTS-Bank of Korea chief's comments at news conference  
Japan PM taps fiscal hawk in cabinet shake-up  
India's Infosys reports 14.1% net profit rise  
Tyler Perry nabs 19 NAACP Image Award nominations  
WRAPUP 1-S.Korea steps up inflation battle, raises rates  
"Green Hornet" never reaches top speed  
Pakistan  
Obama Visits Hospital, Meets With Injured And Families  
Conan feels liberated after year of tumult  
The Game Scores Huge Ratings For BET  
Katie Holmes new face of Ann Taylor clothing  
"The Big Bang Theory" Renewed For Three More Years  
The need of the hour is return of sanity, remembering that we are one"  
Chinas stealth jet fighter sends signal about its military power  
Facebook paid $8.5 million for fb.com domain  
Somber mood as Tucson prepares to welcome President Obama  
Study: Energy drinks don't lessen effects of alcohol  
AP, Fairey copyright case involving Obama's image dismissed  
Principal at NYC prep school fired over affair with 18-year-old ex-student  
Conan feels liberated after year of tumult
|  
Edward Furlong scraps trip after latest arrest
|  
Green Hornet never reaches top speed
|  
Tyler Perry nabs 19 NAACP Image Award nominations
|  
Showtime cable network passes on Kennedys
|  
Bob Geldof is keynote speaker at South by Southwest
|  
Three actors exit Law & Order: Los Angeles series
|  
Book tells inspiring tale behind King's Speech film
|  
David Nelson of Ozzie and Harriet TV family dies
|  
British health tech startups seek US foothold  
Lebanon in political turmoil as govt collapses  
Spotify, Shazam tie up on finding and buying music  
Ship carrying acid overturns in Germany: police  
Analysis: a year after China retreat, Google plots new growth  
RIM gives India access but not to secure e-mails  
Violent clashes spread to centre of Tunisian capital
|  
Prize-winning Korean director shoots iPhone film  
Iran's nuclear sites tour proposal flounders
|  
News Corp says looking at spinout or sale of MySpace  
Gates warns on North Korea, eyes Japan ties
|  
U.S. and European officials warn Belarus after crackdown
|  
In France, far right seizes on Muslim street prayers
|  
Iran's nuclear sites tour proposal flounders  
Japan boss: Asian Cup like Champions League  
Cambodian court grants bail to 2 Thais  
More foreign film shooting in Thailand expected  
ANALYSIS: Leadership a vexing issue for Thailand's opposition party  
Analysis: A year after China retreat, Google plots new growth
|  
US envoy blasts China, India on WTO talks progress  
Rain washes out tennis at Kooyong Classic  
Pakistani stocks end on 31-mth high; rupee flat  
AT&T to take Q4 $2.7 billion charge on accounting change
|  
RIM gives India access but not to secure e-mails
|  
Pakistan's forex reserves fall to $17.09 bln  
Ultimate Software says no current plans for sale
|  
BlackBerry announces answer to India security fear  
MTS estimates 2010 Russia handset sales rose 25 percent
|  
POSCO posts sharp drop in profit  
Prize-winning Korean director shoots iPhone film
|  
Police halt body recovery at N. Zealand mine  
South Korea steps up inflation battle, raises rates  
Frenchman held in Indonesia over drugs: official  
Prize-winning Korean director shoots iPhone film  
China's Li into Sydney tennis final  
Troubled Indonesia budget airline halts operations  
Lady Gaga, Miranda Lambert, Eminem To Perform On The Grammys  
Judge says Homeland Security can keep scanned image secrets  
Study: Antibiotics best treatment for toddlers with ear infections  
Snow covers 71 percent of U.S.  
AIG to sell Taiwan business for $2.16 billion  
California man charged with threatening Washington congressman  
Prize-winning Korean director shoots iPhone film
|  
Nude housekeeper on trial for stabbing client to death  
Space observatory finds smallest Earth-like planet outside solar system  
Japan firm launches mirror thermometer for detecting flu  
Laos opens first stock exchange  
Cuba registering first lung cancer vaccine in South America  
Seattle 'superhero' attacked over the weekend, thugs break his nose  
Its a Bird, Its a Shark, Its a Mossad Spy  
Saudi court sentences woman to 3 years for torturing, mutilating Indonesian maid  
Forget gossip: Facebook will not shut down March 15  
'Butt dial' sends SWAT team to school  
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro  
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found  
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever  
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production  
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time  
AMD to Start Production of piledriver  
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs  
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia  
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air  
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch  
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent  
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up  
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform  
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis  
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets  
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights