King George VI made his speech to the nation,
Sep 1939
Historic UK
Why did Logue put his practice aside to take a contract job with an engineering company in Western Australia? A better income? At St George's Anglican Cathedral Perth in 1907 he married Myrtle Gruenert and settled there. With his clear powerful voice, Logue taught elocution, public speaking and acting, reciting Shakespeare and Dickens at concerts, staging plays and creating a public-speaking club. Logue taught at the Young Men's Christian Association, at Scotch College and later at Perth Tech.
As a Christian Scientist, Logue wanted to tour the world. In 1911 the couple set off on an international tour to learn more about different methods of public speaking. But it was seeing shell-shocked, speech-impaired returned WW1 soldiers that steered Logue towards the field of speech therapy. Using humour, patience and sympathy, he taught them exercises for the lungs and diaphragm, and to breathe deeply enough to complete a sentence fluently.
Whilst on a family holiday in UK, Logue began teaching elocution at London schools with much success, leading to the creation of his speech therapy practice at 146 Harley St, where he practiced for the next 26 years. From 1924 on, Logue settled in London and practised in Harley St until retiring in 1952; the fees paid by his wealthy clients enabled him to accept poorer patients without charge. Logue was a founder 1935 of the British Society of Speech Therapists and a founding fellow of the College of Speech Therapists. He retained his love of music, theatre and gardening.
In 1926 Prince Albert Duke of York/later King George VI (1895–1952) consulted Logue about his severe stammer. The therapist diagnosed tension-induced muscle spasms between the larynx and thoracic diaphragm; and he recommended an hour per day of verbal rigorous exercises for the Duke to perform, helping him rehearse for his major speeches. In restoring the Prince’s confidence by relaxing the tension that caused muscle spasms, Logue helped The Prince to reduce his stammer so well that he could open Australia’s Old Parliament House Canberra in 1927.
At Westminster Abbey in May 1937, wearing his Royal Victorian Order medal, Logue sat closely to the Prince in the coronation ceremony. And before the King's radio broadcast that evening, Logue quietly offered more confidence.
George VI (left)'s letter to speech therapist Lionel Logue (right), 1937
Just Collecting
The measured pace which he had afforded the King's diction proved valuable in His Majesty's wartime broadcasts. In fact Fleet St called Logue the Therapist who Saved the King; even sillier, some reporters questioned whether the British monarchy would have survived the 1936 Abdication Crisis without the intervention of the ex-pat Australia. They even speculated whether the famed spirit of the 1940-1 Blitz would have been so resolute, had King George VI not made his calming radio broadcasts to a nation at war.
Elevated with honours in 1944, Logue was with the King for the VE-Day broadcast in May 1945. Post-war the ex-Australian’s speech therapy practice regained its popularity, as did Logue’s friendship with the Duke.
Survived by his 3 sons, the ex-Australian died in April 1953 in London and was cremated there. At Logue's funeral, representatives of Queen Elizabeth II were in attendance.
A book came out in 2010 called The King's Speech: How One Man Saved the British Monarchy, written by Peter Logue and Mark Conrad. I had not heard of the book so this review is from Petrona. The book covered a longer period of time than the film, being a biography of Logue from birth to death. The book was most successful in its portrait of the relationship between the therapist and the Prince, which conveyed the touching trust between them. Yet the account is not exactly compelling, partially because of the silly sub-title. Later the potted story of WW2, told via the speeches the king gave during the war, was also of interest for readers who lacked this history.
Logue’s relationship with the King and his method for treating his stammer also became the subject of a recommended film, The King’s Speech (2010) with Colin Firth as King George VI and Geoffrey Rush as Lionel Logue in a believable remake of life.
Recently historians learnt of a special artefact, a moving letter from King George to Logue which was rediscovered after 83 years. In case modern readers and film-watchers didn’t quite the story, the King’s hand written letter thanked Logue for helping him before his 1937 coronation speech. The note verified the therapist’s years of expert supervision and unfailing patience, important given the newly crowned monarch’s concerns prior to the speech.
Elevated with honours in 1944, Logue was with the King for the VE-Day broadcast in May 1945. Post-war the ex-Australian’s speech therapy practice regained its popularity, as did Logue’s friendship with the Duke.
Survived by his 3 sons, the ex-Australian died in April 1953 in London and was cremated there. At Logue's funeral, representatives of Queen Elizabeth II were in attendance.
The King's Speech
book published by Sterling, 2010
A book came out in 2010 called The King's Speech: How One Man Saved the British Monarchy, written by Peter Logue and Mark Conrad. I had not heard of the book so this review is from Petrona. The book covered a longer period of time than the film, being a biography of Logue from birth to death. The book was most successful in its portrait of the relationship between the therapist and the Prince, which conveyed the touching trust between them. Yet the account is not exactly compelling, partially because of the silly sub-title. Later the potted story of WW2, told via the speeches the king gave during the war, was also of interest for readers who lacked this history.
Logue’s relationship with the King and his method for treating his stammer also became the subject of a recommended film, The King’s Speech (2010) with Colin Firth as King George VI and Geoffrey Rush as Lionel Logue in a believable remake of life.
Recently historians learnt of a special artefact, a moving letter from King George to Logue which was rediscovered after 83 years. In case modern readers and film-watchers didn’t quite the story, the King’s hand written letter thanked Logue for helping him before his 1937 coronation speech. The note verified the therapist’s years of expert supervision and unfailing patience, important given the newly crowned monarch’s concerns prior to the speech.
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28 comments:
Hello Hels, This is a captivating story of how Logue's dedication and expertise helped many, from ordinary servicemen to George VI. You brought up the notion of "whether the British monarchy would have survived the 1936 Abdication Crisis," but a better question is "Would England have survived if Edward had not abdicated?"
--Jim
p.s. Logue's story was even at the time Old News. G.B. Shaw in Pygmalion showed how proper English elocution lessons were the entrée to royalty, and highlighted the importance (via Henry Higgins*) of speech teachers who were able to effect such transformations.
*I can never see this name without remembering the notable late 19th century cornet player Henry Higgins, some of whose performances were luckily recorded.
Lionel Logue performed a valuable service in protecting the King from potential ridicule.
George VI was naturally left-handed, but forced to use his right, a common practice even into the 1950s and 1960s in Britain. May such left-handers became stammerers.
This interpreter thanks you for the interesting post. I have seen the movie and read Orwell's meanderings abt the "crisis." I must, however, nominate Janet Werker of UBC for the most important contributor to breakthroughs in linguistics benefiting all of humanity. In "Becoming a Native Listener" Dr Werker explained why my students could not repeat simple English words while standing there with a thumb on my larynx. Her experiments demonstrated beyond peradventure that all babies acquire "deaf spots" rejecting sounds the parents do not use to convey information--before learning to speak. This acquired impairment is difficult to overcome even when one knows it exists. Now I urge students to listen to foreign songs they like, write down the lyrics, check them against the original, then Karaoke the result for starters. This works better than grammar rules and hickory sticks.
p.s. Did Logue manage to quit saying "voting must be done at gunpoint"?
Parnassus
good to see you :)
I like the idea that proper English elocution lessons were the entrée to royalty, and highlighted the importance (via Henry Higgins) of speech teachers who were able to effect such transformations. Could you imagine how brave King George must have been to allow a very ordinary colonial bloke to touch the royal face and correct the royal speech mistakes?
Henry Higgins? Nah!
jabblog
I agree that forcing a natural left-hander into being a right-hander might have caused all sorts of physical or mental issues. My dad had no stuttering but he NEVER spoke again to the teacher that hit him whenever he forgot to use his right hand.
Other possible causes of the king's stuttering: constant verbal abuse from when George was a small child; fear of pompous royal events; or a cruel and controlling governess.
Hank
thank you for a very thoughtful response. I believe you are correct that Janet Werker might have been a very important contributor to breakthroughs in linguistics. But Dr Werker could not have influenced Lionel Logue because he died too early (1953). Logue was a bit of a revolutionary, rather than a follower.
I cannot imagine any Australian being angry about voluntary voting. Or guns in public hands, for that matter. Nations who ban certain voters or make voting voluntary or difficult for some citizens are considered anti-democratic countries here.
Hello, Helen! It's a wonderful story about Lionel Logue and King George VI. If I am not mistaken Giorge VI was a father of Queen Elizabeth II.
Irina
King George VI was much loved by his two daughters, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. The trouble was that when he passed away in 1952, the young princess was married with babies, and hadn't had enough time to concentrate on her own family.
Good reading, enjoyed by me. Such a talented man was Logue.
Margaret
Have you read "The King's Speech: How One Man Saved the British Monarchy, by Logue's grandson? Or seen "The King's Speech" film (2010). Both are well worth locating. Logue was uber talented and the king was very brave.
You never know how accurate a story might be, once a film is made decades after the real events.
I had no idea about a special historical object, a letter from King George to Logue, which has only reappeared recently. The king thanked Logue, with whom he'd worked since 1926, for helping him re his May 1937 coronation speech. Clearly the king had been very anxious before his speech, and was very relieved after the speech went very well, thanks entirely to Logue.
Bom dia e uma excelente terça-feira com muita paz e saúde minha querida amiga. Obrigado pela matéria e explicações interessantes.
I found this interesting, I have seen the movie The Kings Speech but the movie wouldn't be as interesting as the book.
What a fascinating story. I saw the Kings Speech many years ago when it first came out, but I did not realise the extent to which it was based on reality. I don't know if you are aware that I wrote a biography of Lewis Carroll and I do know that his stammer was an absolute misery to him, and he tried very hard to deal with it. I think perhaps the emotional support from a therapist might have helped him. I always had a great admiration for George VI who was rather thrown in at the deep end by his ghastly brother.
Joe
that is true... it is often too simple for a film to dramatise a story by changing the politics, sex, family life, social relationships, and even world history. Even the grandson had to imagine the life his grandfather lived.
So finding documents hand written by the original stars of the story gives historians and modern readers a sense of confidence.
Luiz
If you haven't seen the film, I do recommend it to you.
Jo-Anne
If it is possible, I would read a particular book before seeing the film made about the same story. I am afraid that seeing the film version first might spoil the book for me. But read the book and let me know what you think.
Jenny
I wonder whether professionals knew how to deal with stammering when Lewis Carroll (1832-98) was working, and in any case who might have referred Carroll with his embarrassing dilemma? Even King George VI (1895–1952) was a bit too early for sufferers to trust therapists to treat their speech defects.
George VI never wanted to take the crown. He particularly didn't want to follow his horrible brother, his worse sister in law and the couple's relationship with Nazi Germany. No wonder the coronation speech threatened the new king's confidence in public.
Its very interesting to contemplate how his interventions actually worked for the King . I suspect that it was kindness and allowing the poor man to relax and vent about how hard his life was . By all accounts he had a pretty miserable childhood with his father being a fairly harsh person . His compulsive need to smoke was his undoing as it was for his father .
Logue seems to have been a man of compassion and insight and maybe his Australian background helped him to be able to be more "real" with the king than a Brit would have been able be . I think it is interesting how so much of the cure of physical and emotional ailments is actually pretty low tech and that we are starting to realize this and use exercise and good nutrition as well as caring for our mental health to cure many chronic and common complaints . This is so empowering to people and it is such a good thing for the total health budget as well . Pills and high tech scans are so often a disappointment and not so helpful to so many of our modern maladies , whereas exercise , kindness , company for good people and a good diet can achieve a great deal especially on a background of a good affordable health sytem
mem
I knew nothing whatsoever about speech defects, so I could only guess that the King's stammer came via his tongue and lips in particular, and his anxiety in general.
Logue was smarter. He used man-to-man social support and fear reduction to end anxiety, and diaphragmatic retraining and mouth control to improve breathing and speaking. Wifely support was also critical. Not only did Elizabeth make the original referral to Logue; she was very helpful encouraging George's exercises at night.
However good diet, plenty of exercise and enjoying company will help every condition. What exercises will end stammers in particular?
apparently slowing speech and very deliberate enunciation of letters ,then syllables coordinated with breathing is required and then over time it is sped up to approximate normal speech patterns . the process is different in children and adults but both take a lot of mental energy and concentration . This has been thought to be one of the issues for Joe Biden in his speeches where things went pear shaped . in all those situations he was not well or Jet lagged or both . I Do think though that he made the right decision and certainly has more intellectual fire power than the other bloke !!!
mem
the problem must be very different in children and adults, and the impact must get worse with age, agreed. But imagine how embarrassing it must be for adults to endlessly invest mental energy and concentration under professional orders. Especially important adults (eg royals, US presidents and AFL football stars).
The other bloke seems to have vindictive incoherence, mental illness, childlike language, and possibly psychosis. But probably not a stammer.
Its interesting that as we age we often have to use more mental energy for even simple things like walking and talking at the same time or even walking while carrying something . As for the other bloke I recon that a case of a malignant Narcissistic personality disorder and we are watching him come undone as he realizes he cant use his usual tactics as effectively as before . Its very disturbing that these tactics actually ever worked on so many millions of people.
"to breathe deeply enough to be able to complete a sentence fluently"
I know people who can talk for hours seemingly without needing to stop and take a breath. I'm the complete opposite, I can't talk without needing to stop and breathe and if I am walking too then I can't talk much without beginning to cough. I make excuses and blame asthma, though I know many people with asthma don't have this problem. It's a good thing I'm a good listener I suppose.
Well as someone who received elocution lessons as a child to get rid of any trace of a 'Black Country' (The dark industrial Midlands) accent, I am probably grateful for the experience. But maybe the North of England has a different view to changing accents. Received Pronunciation, as used by the BBC was very class orientated.
"the standard form of British English pronunciation, based on educated speech in southern England, widely accepted as a standard elsewhere."
mem
mental energy is a complex issue in older age. I have never had a stammer or any other verbal dilemma, but after 70 years my short term memory started failing. Lecture notes that had data I knew off by heart since 1990 needed lots of rereading; people I saw every week at the coffee shop had names that escaped me.
I know exactly how humiliated Joe Biden must have felt :(
River
I only knew contemporaries who talked way too much or too loudly, in classes or in social situations. Perhaps the quieter, less confident speakers left school early or found other social groups to mix in.
It would have required a very quiet person to offer the advice "breathe deeply enough to be able to complete a sentence fluently". Very wise, sister.
Thelma,
that is so true! I saw a film about Yorkshire tonight and commented that most of the commentators did not have local accents. But I assumed that was because the cleverest historians were from other counties, NOT because as children they had received elocution lessons to rid themselves of Yorkshire accents.
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