Reflecting on the book “Wiwill”

Yesterday I finished reading the book about prince Willem IV, Alexander’s older brother.

To me it seems the prince’s governor, De Casembroot, really didn’t like the Queen, Sophie from Württemberg, King Willem III’s first wife, and gave a very coloured impression of her. The other way around is true too; the Queen didn’t like him much either, which might have influenced her behaviour towards De Casembroot. The book is not a very good basis to build a judgement on. Yet, I don’t like her much.

According to other sources, like the book about the Queen, to her friends she was a warm, intelligent, developed and sharp person. She might well have been, but it’s also known she found it easy to dislike people or thought them beneath her. She would behave according to her opinion on someone; not necessarily pleasant and all the above.

Another thing that bothers me a bit is how’s written about Alexander. Yes, he was somewhat nervous and sickly, but there was a person there. An interesting person, even. Unfortunately, the book “Wiwill” talks only about the period in which De Casembroot was with Willem/Wiwill. That means, since Alexander is eleven years younger than Willem, there’s not much to say about him yet. It was a bit disappointing, but I could have expected that.

The only standard, in no way different view to others, is the view on the King. As is well known, the King was unpredictable, mean and unreasonable, but could also be jovial, generous and friendly. He even managed a few times to say something wise. Most of the time, however, he was the ogre we all know and love.

There were things said about Maurits, but it was so little and so insignificant, I can’t even remember it. The poor child never got a fair chance to make an impression on his own instead of being compared to his brothers who did live to be grownups.


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