cover image Royal Trains

Royal Trains

Patrick Kingston. David & Charles Publishers, $0 (192pp) ISBN 978-0-7153-8594-4

American readers may find that much ado is made about nothing in this tiresome import on royal train trivia. Kingston, a British freelance writer, covers the regal journeys by rail from Queen Victoria's 1842 debut trip to the honeymoon of Prince Charles and Princess Diana but fails to convey the mystique and magic of the royal train ritual, in part because he waxes long and enthusiastic about the inane: train breakdowns, food and decor, security measures, railway stations, timetables and Queen Victoria's retirement gifts to a railwaysuperintendent. The author's showmanship is intrusive: ""Your author invites the reader to step back in time, nearly 90 years, and become one of the crowd gathered outside the Great Western station at Windsor several days before the Queen's Victoria Diamond Jubilee celebrations take place in London.'' There are lackluster photographs of train exteriors, interiors and royal personages. (September)