The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett

I love discovering an “old” book (nope, not Moby Dick), such as The Uncommon Reader, a novella about Queen Elizabeth II by the British dramatist Alan Bennett.

While walking the corgis, QEII stumbles upon a mobile library parked near the palace kitchen. More out of politeness than any real desire to read, the Queen borrows a book.  Surprisingly she likes it, and borrows a few more titles until she outgrows the mobile library and ventures farther afield.

This would appear to be a good thing, but palace staffers are alarmed. The Queen is developing opinions, making genuine conversation (she completely unnerves the president of France with a question about Jean Genet), and running late! Worse, a lowly kitchen staffer named Norman is her guide to broader reading. Never one to be deterred from a course of action, the Queen keeps reading with surprising consequences. A clever and funny book for royalists and readers.

BTW this is also an excellent BTB.