Q is aptly subtitled “A Voyage Around the Queen” as it provides a non-linear account of Queen Elizabeth II’s life as seen from those who believe they knew her, either directly as in the case of family and servants, or indirectly, as in the case of the average British citizen or the many celebrities she encountered. As someone who grew up in one of the Commonwealth countries, the Queen was a constant, daily presence in my life, and she did embody a maternal presence for me, as she did for millions of others, and like then, I felt as though she had always been there and would always be there, which of course, she wasn’t. Craig Brown’s portrayal of the UK’s longest reigning monarch is both slightly irreverent and overwhelmingly positive, while still recognizing her foibles and faults. (Side note: I especially enjoyed the chapter focusing on one of my favourite poets, Philip Larkin.)