GEORGE NICOLAS AND WILHELM by Miranda Carter (non-fic)

In the end, what a nasty lot the House of Hanover, the Saxe Coburg Gotha group and European royals in general turned out to be.  All descendants of Victoria and Albert, all began their reigns with such hope and glory.  The royal families of Europe and Russia in the late 19th century and the early 20th were all interrelated and intermarried.  Victoria and Albert's grand idea was that by intermarrying and being related, the royals could keep balance and peace in the world.  Empire building was blatantly and crassly at its height as the triple biography unfolds.  This alone ensured economic rivalries would spell doom for the Victoria's grand plan.  As industrialization and population growth took on a demanding role in Europe, monarchies began to lose control and royals began turning into figureheads without their being aware it was happening.
Victoria was like a fat black beetle, controlling and bullying her numerous descendants into sad marriages of convenience. 
George, Nicholas and Wilhelm all had dominant father figures who marginalized their independence and maturity.  In the case of Wilhelm, it was a domineering mother and grandfather.  Wilhelm was an insecure martinet, strutting and blustering his way through the intricacies of German politics.  He was a loose cannon, whom his minders tried and failed to keep under control.  Nicholas was a frightened, weak ruler, dominated first by his father then by his wife.  George never lived up to the promise of his father, Edward VII or his grandparents.  He was thrust into a life he disliked by the the death of his brother Eddy, heir to the throne.
The most interesting character in the book was the most successful on the world stage, Edward VII, and aging roue, who was everyone's favorite uncle.  He seemed to be the only royal who was diplomatically able to charm all world leaders and smooth over gaffes made by the other family members.
Carter's account of the lives of the three Emperors is fascinating and well written.  By following her account of the events leading to World War I, one begins to understand the complexity of the causes of the Great War. The reader sees how lack of communication, one-upmanship, rivalry and even hatred amongst the royals added to the race for world dominance in England, Russia and Germany.  It is miraculous that the period of peace which began with Victoria lasted into the 20th century as over and over these countries stepped to the abyss.  If you are interested in the history of this period of time in Europe, this is an excellent book to further your understanding.  It is recommended reading.