Book Description

This engaging new biography is the first to tell the tragic love story of the royal couple against the changing background of nineteenth-century Germany. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Very Sad Story-But Good
Dearest Vicky Darling Fritz was a very interesting book and also very informative. When reading it I felt very sad for Vicky and Fritz for all the things they had to go threw, such as children who made trouble for them, a minister who did not like them, Fritz's father who would not give them the respect they diserved, and to top it off Fritz's death of cancer four months after becoming Kaiser Fredrick III.

There are better books out there.
This was fairly interesting and well written, but for a good, thorough biography of Princess Vicky, "An Uncommon Woman" is a far better choice. On the other hand, if you are looking for a fairly brief overview of her life and loves, this book will spare you the extreme detail found in "Uncommon Woman."

Poor Vicky
It was a rarity indeed that a royal marriage would be a happy one; that was never the idea of alliances such as the one between Victoria, Princess Royal, and Crown Prince Frederich of Prussia--but a happy marriage is exactly what they had.A partnership between a good man and an exceptionally intelligent, perceptive, loving woman.Vicky was maligned in her adopted country, gossiped about, belittled, and ultimately emotionally abused by her two eldest children, but she remained a remarkable woman nonetheless.This is a fascinating book about a devoted couple. ... Read more

Book Description

Author Michael De-la-Noy takes us on a conducted tour of the many homes of Queen Victoria and crafts an intimate domestic portrayal that adds depth and complexity to her legend. Apart from Balmoral Castle, the home she loved best, there was Kensington Palace, where she was born; Buckingham Palace, where she was the first monarch to take up residence; Windsor Castle, the origins of which stretch back to William the Conqueror; the exotic Royal Pavilion in Brighton; and Osbourne House on the Isle of Wight, where she died. What emerges from this intimate domestic portrayal is, alongside her self-centeredness and obsession with the anniversaries of deaths, a great deal of humor, shrewdness and compassion. She often showed generosity and affection to her servants: not merely did she turn a blind eye to drunkenness below stairs but also showed real concern when they were ill. Although she drove the male members of her household to distraction by insisting on conducting business with them by correspondence, this very human and domestic queen retained the love and loyalty of all who served her. This book provides a revealing and thorough portrait of the domestic side of Queen Victoria's reign. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Victoria "Lite"
This book is a reflection on the life of Queen Victoria by someone who is clearly fascinated by her and who probably knows everything there is to know about her. It is easy to read and does not require you to know a great deal about her already in order to make any sense out of the book.
On the other hand, if you are already well-read about Victoria, this book, in my opinion, brings little that's new. But if you are willing to take the journey with this author and let him share his thoughts in the way usually reserved for a dear old friend, then you will find a pleasant un-bumpy ride along the way. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Sociological analysis of Victoria's reign
This book is best read after a biography such as Hibbert's "Queen Victoria: a personal history", although Dorothy Thompson opines that Elizabeth Longford's biography of Victoria is the one of choice.

Be that as it may, Thompson's book is a useful analysis of Victoria's reign divided under various topics. Both Victoria's major heterosexual relationships, are covered, with Albert and John Brown, respectively.

Thompson writes from a feminist and leftist perspective without stridency or dogma. The plentiful contemporary political thought retailed here is illuminating and provides a handy introduction to political philosophy. There are two chapters on republicanism, one examining Victoria's accession through to the mid-century and the other coming up as far as Keir Hardie and the foundation of the Labour party.

The many primary sources include songs, cartoons, and prose of politicians, courtiers and writers, as well as the Queen herself.

This book makes a good companion after a biography and a side benefit is that it elucidates the social climate of Victorian novels by, e.g. Mrs Gaskell, George Eliot, etc. ... Read more

Book Description

This is the definitive biography of Britain’s greatest monarch, who “was hailed at once as the mother of her people and as the embodied symbol of their imperial greatness.” “One of the surpassingly beautiful prose achievements of our time” (Chicago Daily News). Index; illustrations. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Pioneering biography
This life of Queen Victoria set a new standard for biographies when it was written and it still reads very well today. To the modern ear some of Strachey's language may at times be a bit dry. That aside this is an excellent study of the development of Victoria from infancy to old age. The entanglement's of family and the influence of key ministers is well covered and documented . Especially interesting is the treatment of Prince Albert and the Queen's relationship.
I found this to be quite an informative book and would highly recommend it to anyone with a curiosity regarding this period of British history.

queen victoria by Lytton Strachey
I purchased this book at a library sale and it has no copywrit date other then the 1921 date published by Harcourt, Grace & World,Inc and renewed by Jame Strachey, with no renewal date. The copy I have has 434 pages which include an index of subject matter. The only other used books mentioned for sale have a copywrit of 1981 and have 100 less pages. This book is in very good condition and has the original cover jacket. It begins its historic tale in 1817 and includes footnotes at the bottom of the page.

still one of the best things around
strachey became famous for his 'eminent victorians' which has the reputation for being a hatchet job-but he was looking at the previous generation from the disillusioned, post-WWI perspective, and he treats florence nightingale et al more like prodigies than monsters. when he undertook to write about the eponymous queen herself, people expected it would be another exercise in target practice-even his mother tried to discourage him, saying that 'if she was stupid, it was not her fault.' But in the event what he produced is one of the most sympathetic, if slightly condescending, biographies ever written-and absolutely one of the most accomplished. it is a chronicle of victoria's 60+-year-long political career and emotional life, a series of portraits of all the personalities in her life-including albert, his curious replacement john brown, disraeli-him, it is true, strachey clearly did not like-a completely non-pedantic reflection on the growth and eventual shrinkage of the british empire during her reign-and the whole thing is done so subtly, so gracefully-and, at the same time, so forcefully-that you may find yourself talking about nothing else but this book and queen victoria for days afterward. one of the most successful marriages of rigorous scholarship and beautiful style in english literature.

Interesting portrait of a queen
A readable and fairly brief account of Victoria. Frequent passages from Victoria's girlhood diary and letters make Victoria's early life particularly vivid reading. Also fascinating is Victoria's relationship with her government, and her tendency to cling to the current prime minister and despise the Opposition, whoever they might be.

The enigmatic Prince Albert, and his evolving relationship with Victoria, is presented well. Strachey makes some startling suggestions about what Britain might have turned into, had Albert lived longer (answer: Prussia).

This book is elegantly written, and free of the psychobabble one might expect from a more modern book.

The book is not boring. Although Victoria is always proper, there is plenty of adultery and dysfunctional family behavior among her many adult children.

Enjoyed book, but a little dry - informative
I enjoyed this detailed book about Queen Victoria's life. It had a lot of detail, but the writing style was a bit dry and old-fashioned (the book was written a while ago). It also didn't have as much detail of her life after Prince Albert died, which was unfortunate. It was sympathetic to her and generally very informative. I would recommend this book highly to people seeking to learn more about Queen Victoria, but not to someone seeking "light reading" as it is a bit hard to read due to the older writing style. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

God Save The Queen!
Knowing little about Queen Victoria, I was looking for a good biography. In "Queen Victoria" I hit the jackpot! This book strikes just the right balance between revealing the life of the private woman, wife, widow and mother and the Queen of her people, while giving the reader an insight into the public affairs of her time.

Victoria's life can be divided into four segments. The first is her youth during which she grew up with her mother after the death of her father. During this segment of her life, she was protected by her mother to the intense irritation of her uncle, King William IV. During this period, Victoria and her mother enjoyed a close relationship which was to terminate after Victoria's accession to the throne..

The second era of her life can be described as the Albert era. Although I greatly enjoyed the TV movie, "Victoria and Albert", I understood it much more after this movie. Albert, Victoria's first cousin and consort, is the one who really emerges as the star of the book. Although reluctant to marry Victoria, she clearly fell head over heels for him. After their wedding, Albert became Victoria's trusted confident and advisor, to the point of becoming the defacto monarch. Always "The Foreigner", Albert won the trust and admiration of British politicians, industrialists, commercial and social leaders. In domestic relations, Albert helped bring about a reconcillation between Victoria and her mother. As a businessman who reorganized Victoria's estates to multiply their return or a statesman molding Britain's foreign policy, Albert was superb. An example of the importance of his influence is found in his last diplomatic intervention during the Trent Affair. The Trent Affair was an incident in which the Trent, a British flag vessel, was stopped and searched by a ship of the United States Navy, which removed two Confederate agents. An incendiary protest was toned down by Albert to one which would lead to a peaceful solution, rather than to war. If Albert had died a month earlier, the United States may have either lost the South or won Canada.

The third segment of Victoria's life is her tragic widowhood. Totally dependent on Albert during his life, Victoria was devastated by his death. For years thereafter she almost totally withdrew from her royal duties, despite the efforts of her ministers to lure her back into public life.

During the fourth segment of her life, Victoria returned to public life as the mother of her country and grandmother of Europe. Emerging to the adulation of her people, Victoria resumed her rides through London, her tours of the Kingdom and the entertainment of her royal relations. During this period a major portion of her diplomacy was involved with her irritating grandson, Kaiser Wilhelm II.

This book certainly portrays Victoria as a Queen unlike those with which we are familiar. Not mere figureheads, Victoria and Albert were actively involved in public affairs. Among their surprising topics were dynastic relations and stipends for her children.

In this book we also get a glimpse at some of the political figures who Victoria loved and hated.

All things considered, this book is an excellent introduction to a most unique lady. ... Read more

Book Description

Amazon.com

When the young, insignificant scion of an unremarkable German principalityfirst came to England to serve as consort to the youthful Queen Victoria, no onecould have guessed that he would grow to become one of Britain's great--if uncrowned--kings. Albert's life could not have been an easy one; a man of great intelligence, pride,and ambition, he was forced to move behind the scenes, playing major roles in runningthe Crimean War and working to keep Britain out of the Civil War being waged in theUnited States. He was interested in industry and technology, and worked to stage theCrystal Palace exhibition--the first World's Fair. Yet, while his wife adored him, hisadopted people scorned him for his German accent, his foreign ways, and his covertactivities as a surrogate ruler.

Biographer Stanley Weintraub has penned acclaimed biographies on such renownedfigures as BenjaminDisraeli and Queen Victoria, and in Uncrowned King he turns his attentionto Prince Albert. Tapping previously unexplored sources, Weintraub chronicles everyaspect of Albert's life--from the political to the sexual--in lively, accessible prose, sure toplease even the most avid follower of the royal family. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Just absolutely stunning!
After seeing the A&E production of "Victoria and Albert," I was curious to know more about the lives of the said characters (I'm also a history major so that helps, too). I was browsing through my university's library to find this book on Prince Albert and I read it. I just finished reading it today and wow, this is a stellar book. It's so comprehensive that my mind almost exploded while reading it. There were some minor details that could've been left out, hence the four star rating. I plan to read more about Victoria and Albert in the future. So take my advice. Treat yourself to this wonderful book and put it in your personal library. I'll be sure to buy this book when I have the chance.

Good covering of a neglected life.
I questioned myself before i picked up this book in the library; brought up as a good Englishman, i already knew all i wanted or needed about the Prince Consort, and was unimpressed with it, nor did i care to learn any more. Now i see i was quite correct in my questioning, and i'm afraid i may have to change my long-held, and therefore cherished, beliefs about him. Darn intellectual honesty, anyway! Weintraub's Albert was a responsible, educated, thinking man, thrust into a situation both wonderful and intolerable (his marriage and lack of acceptance in England, respectively). Weintraub shows him as having enjoyed the one side and, through hard work and dedication, partially overcome the other. One is left to wonder, as Weintraub indeed does, what would the monarchy be today had Albert lived as long as Victoria. Surely there would be some differences. On the basis of this book, it is not fair to say (as a previous reviewer did) that Albert laid the foundation for the pax Britannica; he did, however, through his fecundity, insight into both politics and industry, and though a great deal of hard work, aid the shaping of Europe through the First World War. As i look back now, it is hard for me exactly to define just why i have disliked His Royal Highness; i suspect it has to do with his rather poor treatment of his eldest son, the Prince of Wales, which Weintraub does not gloss over, but implies was deserved; also the wreck Victoria made of her life after he died, which really can't be laid at his door; also, though i am probably of the last generation to instinctively feel nothng good can come from Germany, the man was a German (though not a Prussion, at least). Two hundred plus years of racial dislike are hard to overcome. I would not say that i have yet overcome them; Weintraub has helped me see with a clearer vision, though.

A Prince Consort, who really should have been king.
At a time when marriages of royals were political matches, and not romantic ones, this is a story of an insignificant German prince who is married to the very young, Queen of England. Victoria and Albert actually fall in love with each other. Unfortunately, physicians at the time did not know when human females ovulated, which resulted in the many children of Victoria and Albert. However, her numerous pregnancies allowed Albert to become a more integral part in the monarchy. He became King in all but name as Victoria retired to the "sidelines." His diligent, untiring work set the stage for the great Victorian Era and the Pax Britannia.

well-written biography of Prince Albert.
This book is a balanced account of Prince Albert's life - both in his public role as prince consort and as a husband and father. Albert often had to be content to work "behind the scenes" in order to accomplish his goals, and the author provides the details of both his success and his failures.

It is a very enjoyable book. If you liked the author's earlier biography of Queen Victoria, you will like this book too. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A meticulous and scholarly biographical portrait
Henry & Mary Ponsonby: Life At The Court Of Queen Victoria by William M. Kuhn (Associate Professor of History, Carthage College) is the informed and informative, meticulous and scholarly biographical portrait of Henry and Mary Ponsonby, two high-ranking courtiers who served Queen Victoria during the latter part of the nineteenth century. Henry & Mary Ponsonby is an enthusiastically recommended, intimate portrayal of court life which offers unique insights into the recent history of Great Britain's royal family in general, and the court of Queen Victoria in particular. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

An intimate look at Britain's most famous queen
The author does an excellent job of detailing Queen Elizabeth's life, from girlhood to her death. Throughout the book are the Queen's own letters, furthing our insight into this dynamic female ruler. After finishing this book, I felt as though I knew Her Royal Highness personally! ... Read more

Download Description

This brief life of Queen Victoria gives the salient features of her reign, including the domestic and public life, with a glance at the wonderful history and progress of our country during the past half-century. In the space at command it has been impossible to give extended treatment. The history is necessarily very brief, as also the account of the public and private life, yet it is believed no really important feature of her life and reign has been omitted. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Intimate look into the private lives of royal women
After Queen Victoria's death, her youngest daughter Beatrice (at Victoria's own request) edited all her journals and destroyed the originals. However, the letters between Victoria and her eldest daughter, Empress Frederick of Germany, were kept elsewhere and remained intact.

This series provides an invaluable, candid look at Victoria's intimate feelings and private opinions. Forget the dour old monarch intoning "We are not amused"; here you encounter a mother sharing her thoughts, hopes, fears and opinions with her daughter.

This book is a follow-up to the multi-volume series by Roger Fulford (Your Dear Letter, Dearest Mama, Dearest Child, etc). Fulford's work as an editor was superior in my opinion. If you are seriously interested in finding out what Queen Victoria and Vicky (Empress Frederick) were like as people, I'd recommend looking for the Roger Fulford series in a good library or through used booksellers.

This book is still very enjoyable, and definitely worth reading for Victoriana buffs. But some may have difficulty keeping track of historical events and figures.

Dear Mom, I mean Your Majesty:
This is an excellent book, but not for the beginner. If you know very little about German or English history, this book might be confusing at times. For those with some background it is an absolutely delightful glimpse into the lives of two outstanding characters. A "must have" for fans of Queen Victoria or the Kaiserin Friedrich!

Great insight into Victoria and Vicky's minds
I loved reading these letters! Behind the cold royal facade are two very likeable women who truly understand each other. It is fun to see these two (a Queen and Crown Princess) relate to each other in the same way most mothers and daughters do. "Keep your back straight, brush your teeth, don't eat too much or laugh too loud"

their desolation over the deaths of Albert, Victoria's beloved husband and Vicky's dad and of Alice, Vicky's sister, is so real and palpable.

there are other books in this series, I've read them as well and they're delightful.

Interesting subject, mediocre editing
This last collection of the letters between Queen Victoria and her oldest daughter, the Empress Frederick, cannot help but be fascinating. Unfortunately, the editing and annotation cannot in any way compare to Roger Fulford's work on the previous volumes. The annotations are either in brackets (interrupting the flow of the page-- the Queen and her daughter were fond of nicknames and abbreviations, so a great deal of annotation is needed) or at the end of the book (necessitating flipping to the back of the book and figuring out the footnote number to read the clarifying information). While this book is not as easily readable as the previous volumes, the information it contains is just as interesting. ... Read more

Book Description

This is volume one of a three volume set.

Queen Victoria was a prolific letter writer and maintained a large correspondence for almost 70 years.Here is a selection covering a wide range of topics and strong opinions that is fascinating to read.These letters were published after her death by the authority of her son - His Majesty the King, Edward VII.

Some letters were personal, but many of the others were official.They provide an intimate portrait of Victoria and her innermost feelings, including her reticence over meeting Albert for the first time. "Though all the reports of Albert are most favorable, one can never answer beforehand for feelings, and I may not have the feeling for him which is requisite to ensure happiness."

Other topics covered in letters in this three-volume set include The Emperor Napoleon's Pamphlet, Marriage of Princess Royal, The China War, Italian policy, Death of Lady Canning, The war in America,The Eastern Question, The Orleans family, The Reform Bill, Miss Nightingale's mission, visit of the King of Sardinia, Lord Panmure at the War Office, Conservative overtures to Lord Palmerston, Illness of King of Prussia,and many more. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

orsaylady
Victoria 101. I think this book is intended for a reader who has not picked up much on this subject. Includes a nice basic overview of 19th century England. I enjoyed it.

Lousy overview - substantial photographs
If you're looking for an in-depth, fresh approach to Queen Victoria, and you already know the basics of her life, this is NOT the book to buy. Incredibly repetitive - entire paragraphs that were almost word-for-word repeating an earlier section, inattention to detail (chloroform is just wonderful and all, but Jaffe reviews its importance every 5th page!) and shows a lack of present research (Latest findings show that Prince Albert was actually killed through stomach cancer that he contracted several years before he died - Jaffe only mentions typhoid).

The photographs were the only positive part about this book - rich information surrounding her life.

All together a poorly written book for a reader who wanted substantial, indepth details about Queen Victoria (and who already knew the wonderful advances of chloroform!!) ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Well worth tracking down.
The Victorian Era's literature filled my childhood, and its poets (along with the Romantics) remain my favorites. I picked up this biography knowing I would find it interesting, but I didn't anticipate reading it as I would a novel.

That's just what happened, though. The author achieves such readability (even, I would think, for those who don't share my interest in European history) by focusing on her subject as if Victoria were a fictional protagonist. While Woodham-Smith supplies the necessary level of detail and background, and demonstrates the solid research skills that make this a serious work, she never forgets that the reason most readers pick up this book is - Victoria! A monarch who was also girl and woman, daughter and sister, wife and mother, in an era when each of those roles conflicted wildly with the one that destiny called on her to play.

Long out of print, but well worth tracking down. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Fascinating!
I found this book to be absolutely wonderful in the way they displayed the clothes and accessories so beautifully.You can see the true elegance, pomp, and magnificence in which the royal family dressed, yet also see hownormal they were in that they wore common clothes just like the commonfolk.I highly reccomend this book. ... Read more

Book Description

The book covers all aspects of the Queen’s official and private life, giving specific details on her children, her friends, her personal interests and preoccupations, the historical events that marked her era, and the prime ministers and various other persons whose lives were in some way affected by their relationship with the Queen. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Impressively comprehensive
Expertly compiled by writer, researcher, Russian translator, 19th Century historical expert and consultant Helen Rappaport, Queen Victoria: A Biographical Companion is an impressively comprehensive 463-page biographical compendium offering a wide selection of information concerning the longest reign of any female monarch in European history. Ranging from her personal life and family, to the sweeping events of history around her, as well as the crucial issues of her day and the Victorian society that reflected her name as the "Victorian Era", Queen Victoria: A Biographical Companion is enhanced an exhaustive index, as well as black-and-white photographs occasionally illustrating this invaluable and highly recommended addition to academic and community library European Biography resource and reference collections. ... Read more