Mountbatten. Philip Ziegler. 1985.

A legendary commander in the British navy, a skilful leader and negotiator, and one of the three Supreme Allied Commanders (with Eisenhower and MacArthur) in World War II. Mountbatten led a life of unflagging heroism and glamour. He married one of Europe’s richest and most beautiful heiresses, who carried on a series of affairs throughout their long and otherwise happy marriage. After the war Lord Mountbatten became the last Viceroy of India, negotiating India’s independence from Britain, and later met a tragic death when his boat was bombed by the IRA.