'Stanley Martin combines the fruit of considerable research with a light touch and, with the benefit of hindsight, he is not afraid to discuss whether the right people were appointed and who he thinks might have been better candidates. His anecdotes help to bring to life many of its members, particularly those whose names talents may be better known than their personalities. This is certainly a very special Order and I believe that it fully deserves this illuminating history' Philip Ziegler DAILY MAIL 'The 647-page tome, a labour of love by retired civil servant Stanley Martin, have already been read by the monarch, who takes a keen interest in the honour, which was established by her great-grandfather King Edward VII.' DAILY TELEGRAPH 'Stanley Martin, a former diplomat and authority on protocol, has brought immense industry and erudition to his well-illustrated centenary history.' SPECTATOR 'Stanley Martin has studied the Order of Merit with passionate attention for many years and his enthusiasm marks this history. The need to provide potted biographies for so wide a range of figures - some only too well known, others barely worth remembering - makes his task difficult, but he is always intelligent and perceptive and never afraid to lighten his text with lively anecdotes. This is a thoroughly credible book about one of the greatest of British institutions.' - Philip Ziegler COUNTRY LIFE 'The book's particular value is that it gathers together in one volume the most fascinating figures of the 20th century... The book is wholly successful in its aims' - Hugo Vickers THE TIMES, Sat 24th March 'Where Martin's book steals a march on the others is that it examines the careers of the disparate men and woman who have been awarded the Order of Merit...he produced not only a good history of the order, but also mini-biographies of some of the most fascinating men and woman in the 20th century' -Hugo Vickers''The Order of Merit is not only scholarly and informative; it is also a pleasure to read. Stanley Martin enlivens his text with witty observations and fascinating anecdotes, not only about the achievements of the members of the Order but about their personal lives - and quirks. This is a warm, human story about some of the world's most eminent people and at the same time provides a micro social and political history of the United Kingdom in the 20th century.' Canadian Monarchist NewsCANADIAN MONARCHIST NEWSThe story is indeed worth telling, and well told in this fascinating book published to mark the centennial of the Order in 2002.
