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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
Goodreads Giveaway Winner. 3.5 stars. I started reading this while watching the PBS mini series of the same title. I was expecting more of a companion novel, but found that a lot of the dialogue in the series was verbatim from the book. I would have also liked if the book would've spent more time with the Prince Albert portion of the story - it was somewhat rushed & brief in comparison towards the end.
An ok read overall as a historical fiction novel but a bit of a letdown in the Albert and Victoria department. I felt the book ended too early and I wanted more of the story. Guess I’ll have to try Victoria: The Queen by Julia Baird
Very much enjoyed this book chronicling the early years of her reign and relationships between Melbourne, herself, and Albert. A very light read and highly entertaining.
This is a wonderful novelisation of the early life and years of the reign of Queen Victoria. It starts with the accession of Victoria to the British throne after the death of her uncle the King.
The ending is a bit abrupt with the engagement of Albert and Victoria but I suppose that reflects the actual event. The book is a quick and easy read and is not bogged down by history or by the pomp surrounding the Royalty.
The ending is a bit abrupt with the engagement of Albert and Victoria but I suppose that reflects the actual event. The book is a quick and easy read and is not bogged down by history or by the pomp surrounding the Royalty.
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4 Stars
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in advance of release.
Most people associate Queen Victoria in her later years. A portrait of a serious woman dressed in black, endlessly mourning the loss of her beloved husband. Most people forget that Queen Victoria ascended to the throne less than a month after her eighteenth birthday. She came to the throne as a time when most women were more preoccupied on who they were going to marry and learning how to run a household. This young woman was learning how to govern an empire. Queen Victoria was small in stature, quiet in voice and had lived a life of seclusion with her mother, far removed from the court and its drama.
Victoria was known by another name to her family. A hated nickname. Drina, which was short for her given name, Alexandrina. She felt she had been kept under the thumb of her mother and Sir John Conroy, her mother's counselor. She had been smothered and hidden away from the world and now that she was Queen, she was now able to be independent for the first time in eighteen years. She went so far as to move from Kensington Palace to Buckingham House and give her mother apartments as far away from her own as she possibly could. Much to the chagrin of Sir John Conroy, the young Queen refused to give him a position of power and influence.
Victoria comes to rely on the advice and guidance of her Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne. She affectionately refers to him as Lord M. They have to whether many storms together, including scandals that threaten to rock the very foundation of the Monarchy and give those who would rather see a Regent in power than a young Queen more fuel for their ambitious fires. You watch as Victoria gives her heart away for the first time and the possible scandal that can arise when you love the wrong person.
This version of Victoria is hard for many to read because we are used to the Queen Victoria after she marries the love of her life and after she is already on her way to being one of the most beloved monarchs in the history of Great Brittan. The author used historical documents, including Queen Victoria's journals, while researching for this novel. So the picture that we have of Queen Victoria is that of a young woman, alone for the first time in her life and facing an almost impossible challenge. You're led through the ups and downs of the first years of her very long reign and a glimpse into the mind of the woman who would become one of the longest reigning monarchs in English history. If you can set aside the vision of Queen Victoria that you know from your school history books and the images of her on stamps and coins and just imagine that woman as a young girl, a very young Queen...you will ultimately enjoy this book.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in advance of release.
Most people associate Queen Victoria in her later years. A portrait of a serious woman dressed in black, endlessly mourning the loss of her beloved husband. Most people forget that Queen Victoria ascended to the throne less than a month after her eighteenth birthday. She came to the throne as a time when most women were more preoccupied on who they were going to marry and learning how to run a household. This young woman was learning how to govern an empire. Queen Victoria was small in stature, quiet in voice and had lived a life of seclusion with her mother, far removed from the court and its drama.
Victoria was known by another name to her family. A hated nickname. Drina, which was short for her given name, Alexandrina. She felt she had been kept under the thumb of her mother and Sir John Conroy, her mother's counselor. She had been smothered and hidden away from the world and now that she was Queen, she was now able to be independent for the first time in eighteen years. She went so far as to move from Kensington Palace to Buckingham House and give her mother apartments as far away from her own as she possibly could. Much to the chagrin of Sir John Conroy, the young Queen refused to give him a position of power and influence.
Victoria comes to rely on the advice and guidance of her Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne. She affectionately refers to him as Lord M. They have to whether many storms together, including scandals that threaten to rock the very foundation of the Monarchy and give those who would rather see a Regent in power than a young Queen more fuel for their ambitious fires. You watch as Victoria gives her heart away for the first time and the possible scandal that can arise when you love the wrong person.
This version of Victoria is hard for many to read because we are used to the Queen Victoria after she marries the love of her life and after she is already on her way to being one of the most beloved monarchs in the history of Great Brittan. The author used historical documents, including Queen Victoria's journals, while researching for this novel. So the picture that we have of Queen Victoria is that of a young woman, alone for the first time in her life and facing an almost impossible challenge. You're led through the ups and downs of the first years of her very long reign and a glimpse into the mind of the woman who would become one of the longest reigning monarchs in English history. If you can set aside the vision of Queen Victoria that you know from your school history books and the images of her on stamps and coins and just imagine that woman as a young girl, a very young Queen...you will ultimately enjoy this book.
I found this very bland and ... meh ... there's really no better way I can describe this book. The writing is quite childish, the story repetitively drawn out to the point it becomes odious reading and not much of anything actually happens. What should have been a fascinating story turned out to be nothing more than a book that could have (should have) been cut by at least half. It paints one of the greatest monarchs Britain has ever seen as nothing more than a simpering tantruming child with an inappropriate crush.
Very similar to the ITV series- an enjoyable read to delve into Victorian England and see Victoria grow into her role of the queen after a restrictive upbringing.
I don’t no, just love this book. It’s romantic, intresting and a historical lesson. Queen Victoria became queen when she was eighteen and ruled more than 60 years. This book, based on her diaries, is just a must read if you’re into historical novels.