Cultural depictions of Edward VII

King Edward VII of the United Kingdom has been depicted a number of times in different media and popular culture.

Edward VII caricatured by Puck magazine, 1901

Literature
  • King Edward is a character in George MacDonald Fraser's novel Mr. American, and also appears in Flashman and the Tiger by the same author.
  • Edward appears as the narrator and detective protagonist in three period mysteries by Peter Lovesey, Bertie and the Tinman, Bertie and the Seven Bodies,[1] and Bertie and the Crime of Passion.
  • King Edward appears in The Question and The Dream Kingdom, Volumes 25 and 26 respectively of The Morland Dynasty, a series of historical novels by author Cynthia Harrod-Eagles. These two novels are set during his reign and some of the characters in the series are part of his 'set' during his wild young days; others assist him on diplomatic missions when he is King.
  • Appears, when still Prince of Wales, as a minor character in the historical-mystery novel Stone's Fall, by Iain Pears.

Film

On film, Edward has been portrayed by:

Harry Smith stated of his film Heaven and Earth Magic: "The first part depicts the heroine's toothache consequent to the loss of a valuable watermelon, her dentistry and transportation to heaven. Next follows an elaborate exposition of the heavenly land in terms of Israel, Montreal and the second part depicts the return to earth from being eaten by Max Müller on the day Edward the Seventh dedicated the Great Sewer of London."[2]

Statues
The famous Kala Ghoda (Black Horse) statue of Bombay

Edward was commemorated in many public statues for the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Indian subcontinent. Notable amongst those sent to India were the colossal bronze statue by Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm (1879) for Bombay's Esplanade which became known as the Kala Ghoda (Black Horse). The figure originally stood on a 16 ft. plinth with relief panels celebrating the Prince's first visit to Bombay. The total cost of the work was £12,500.[3] On August 15, 1965, the statue was moved to the Zoological Gardens in Mumbai without its plinth and reliefs.[3] Others such as Francis Derwent Wood's bronze statue was commissioned for Patiala. The confident standing figure wears the costume of the Field Marshall consisting of an open overcoat, thigh-high riding boots, embroidered jacket with medals along with a Field-Marshal's hat and a short staff.[3]

One of the most magnificent statues to Edward VII was completed by Sir Thomas Brock RA for Delhi. Despite Brock going to work immediately, the statue was not shipped to Delhi until 1919 when it was erected in King Edward Park (Netaji Subhash Park). The figure stands 14 ft. tall and weights 5 tonnes, the king riding his favorite, Kildare. Once again the king is portrayed in his Field Marshall's uniform, braids and honours across his chest. The statue was taken down in 1967 and in 1968 Canadian authorities negotiated for it to be moved to Queen's Park in Toronto for a payment of £10,000 where it currently stands.[3] Other extant statues of Edward VII in India is the Cubbon Park Statue by Leonard Jennings and a bronze equestrian statue at Victoria Memorial by Bertram Mackennal.[4]

The King Edward VII Memorial by Albert Toft is located in Centenary Square, Birmingham.[5] Other numerous statues stand currently all over United Kingdom, India, South Africa, Australia and Canada.

Television

Portrayals of Edward on television include:

References
  1. The Encyclopedia of Murder and Mystery. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. 2001. p. 39. ISBN 978-0-230-10735-9.
  2. "No. 12: Heaven and Earth Magic | Film Studies Center | University of Chicago". Archived from the original on 12 June 2010.
  3. Steggles, Mary Ann; Barnes, Richard (2011). British Sculpture in India: New Views and Old Memories. Norfolk, UK: Frontier Publishing. pp. 200–201, 253, 281. ISBN 978-1-872914-41-1.
  4. Making their mark in stone - Allan Moses Rodricks The Hindu
  5. Public Sculpture of Birmingham: Including Sutton Coldfield, George Thomas Noszlopy, 1998, Liverpool University Press (ISBN 0853236925)
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