The Queen of England, nearing the age of 80, and bored with the routine of the Royal Wave, Royal Art opening, and Royal Ship inauguration discovers reading when a gay scullery employee delivers a book from the traveling library cart. As the queen devours one book after another, she learns about a world outside the Royal Bubble, about feelings and compassion, and her tolerance for Royal Drivel diminishes much to the chagrin of those that depend on the Queen for their authority. Alan Bennett, a British dramatist, captures British upper crust society with piercing accuracy in this short novella that made me laugh aloud.