bookish_brooklyn 's review for:

Victoria by Daisy Goodwin

5.0

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I confess, I watched the tv series first. I heard that the novel ends sooner than the tv series, so it was great going into the novel after finishing season 1 of Victoria, I could put faces to names and I read the lines in the actors voices.

Being an immense historical period drama lover, and an all round history buff, I'm fascinated by Queen Victoria so I loved reading this novel set during her younger years, from when she ascended to the throne at the age of 18.

This novel starts then, Alexandrina, or Drina, gets the news that she's suddenly Queen of England upon her Uncle's death. It's from here on in that her mother and her comrade want to control her, her MP's want to see her married, but Victoria as she now demands to be addressed (it's her middle name), will have none of it. She initially wants to avoid all drama of the opposite sex, and rule similarly to Elizabeth I.

Victoria's other uncle, Leopold, comes heavily into play, adamant that Victoria will marry his nephew, Albert. (Note: for my fellow history enthusiasts, we know that there love was one of the greatest), but I have to remind myself that this is historical fiction; although we don't really know what their first impressions were of one another, in this novel, Albert was initially put off by Victoria and her ways.

I absolutely love Daisy Goodwin's portrayal of the characters here. She presented Victoria in a sympathetic light, and I adore her character. I was majorly obsessing over Albert and Ernst too, I love their brotherly bond and banter and the both of them are just so dashing.

I love Lord M, he was and is such a dear. All throughout he constantly had Victoria's best interests at heart, and the blooming bond between them was divine. Initially Victoria feels like she's smitten with her Prime Minister, however he tells her that he mates for life, using a rather clever metaphor, and he's never recovered from his wife leaving him. It is this heartbreak and another tragic life lesson involving Lady Flora, that really puts Victoria on the path from young girl to reigning monarch. I loved the constant appearances of Victoria's dog, Dash, their relationship is so adorable and I love how he was the one constant presence in her life, and often his mood reflected hers, eg he barked at Albert when they first met.

I adored every page of this book, I could not put it down. It's absolutely going on my comfort reads list as well as all time favourites. The writing just effortlessly flowed and it was flawless.

Favourite quote:

"I find that happiness can always be recollected in tranquility, Ma'am."