Product Description

Queen Victoria fell in love with the Riviera when she discovered it on her first visit to Menton in 1882 and her enchantment with this 'paradise of nature' endured for almost twenty years. Victoria's visits helped to transform the French Riviera by paving the way for other European royalty, the aristocracy and the very rich, who were to turn it into their pleasure garden. Michael Nelson paints a fascinating portrait of Victoria and her dealings with local people of all classes, statesmen and the constant stream of visiting crown heads. In the process, we see an unexpected side to Victoria: not the imperious, petulant, mourning widow but rather an exuberant girlish old lady thrilled by her surroundings. "Queen Victoria and the Discovery of the Riviera" is an absorbing and revealing account that makes an important contribution to both our understanding of Victoria's character and personality and our view of the late Victorian period.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #218925 in Books
• Published on: 2007-04-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Review
"Michael Nelson fully appreciates the subtle relationships between the private and the public, even in the life of imperial sovereigns, and his highly readable book will interest different kinds of readers. For me it is rich in texture as, I believe, it will be for them." Asa Briggs "A distinctly original contribution to the studies of Queen Victoria. Those sections covering the extraordinary people the Queen met on the Riviera are most moving and human." Elizabeth Longford"

About the Author
Michael Nelson is an historian of the French Riivera. He was General Manager of Reuters. Lord Asa Briggs is former Provost of Worcester College, Oxford, and is President of the Victorian Society.

Customer Reviews

Lovely!
I am surprised more hasn't been written about this lovely book, which is filled with beautiful details and descriptions. The most moving part for me was the chapter covering the death of Prince Leopold at Cannes and the extracts from Queen Victoria's letters, touching on that.
The book is quite unique in that really portrays Queen Victoria 'in holiday mode' rather than the comnon image of her, unsmiling and unamused. After reading it, I had a burning desire to follow the same routes that the Queen took...A really lovely read!!

Most Beautiful Princess