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A review by thecaledonianrose
Becoming Queen by Kate Williams
5.0
This book is divided between the histories of Princess Charlotte, daughter of the Prince Regent (later George IV) and Princess Caroline, and the early life of Queen Victoria, with a brief discussion of the Royal Dukes (Sussex, Cambridge, Cumberland, York) who became the heirs in the wake of Charlotte's death.
I've read other books by Kate Williams and found this, like the others, to be well-researched, rich in detail, and eminently readable. The author doesn't bog the reader down in scholarly language yet does not pander to the reader either. She kept the narrative fluid and forward-moving, imparting an obviously solid knowledge of her subject matter.
In reading this book, I found myself more informed regarding the life of Princess Charlotte and the often shocking behavior of the Hanovers than I did of Queen Victoria, but that didn't surprise me as this was not the first biography I've read of the famed Queen. However, the inclusion of excerpts from the Queen's journals and letters lent a new insight into the maturing mindset of the Princess she was to the Queen she became.
As I tend to prefer non-fiction to historical fiction these days, Becoming Queen Victoria was an engrossing and enjoyable read, one recommended to me and so I in turn recommend it to anyone who holds an interest in the succession crisis within the House of Hanover and the early years of Queen Victoria.
I've read other books by Kate Williams and found this, like the others, to be well-researched, rich in detail, and eminently readable. The author doesn't bog the reader down in scholarly language yet does not pander to the reader either. She kept the narrative fluid and forward-moving, imparting an obviously solid knowledge of her subject matter.
In reading this book, I found myself more informed regarding the life of Princess Charlotte and the often shocking behavior of the Hanovers than I did of Queen Victoria, but that didn't surprise me as this was not the first biography I've read of the famed Queen. However, the inclusion of excerpts from the Queen's journals and letters lent a new insight into the maturing mindset of the Princess she was to the Queen she became.
As I tend to prefer non-fiction to historical fiction these days, Becoming Queen Victoria was an engrossing and enjoyable read, one recommended to me and so I in turn recommend it to anyone who holds an interest in the succession crisis within the House of Hanover and the early years of Queen Victoria.