Product Description

Queen Victoria is the longest-reigning monarch in British history. In this concise biography, Lady Longford, long recognised as an authority on the subject, gives a full account of Queen Victoria's life and provides her unique assessment of the monarch. David Cannadine hailed her Victoria RI as 'pre-eminent in the genre...the commissioned biography that the great Queen never got'. Victoria ascended the throne in 1837 on the death of her uncle William IV. In 1840, she married her first cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, and for the next twenty years they were inseperable. Their descendants were to succeed to most of the thrones of Europe. When Albert died in 1861, Victoria's overwhelming grief meant that she virtually withdrew from public life. This perceived dereliction of public duty, coupled with rumours about her relationship with her Scottish ghillie John Brown, led to increasing criticism. Coaxed back into the public eye by Disraeli, she resumed her former enthusiasm for political and constitutional matters with vigour until her death in 1901.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #220266 in Books
• Published on: 2009-05-18
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 128 pages

Customer Reviews

Superficial and mediocre, light weight
I bought this book for two reasons , the first - is that I have an interest in Queen Victoria, the second, based on the two reviews, I thought this was something very special. I was expecting a detailed and fascinating book on the life of Queen Victoria and what I got was a very lightweight paperback which I read in a couple of hours. The book gives a very superficial overview pf Queen Victoria's life. There is very little detail and it gives one the impression that not a lot of research has gone into this. I got no feel for the 'true' queen and for me, the book was just a chronological record of her life as one could have read in a newspaper. If you are someone who is looking for deeper insight into the life of one of our greatest queens, then this book is not for you. Have a look at some of the other books, there are a lot better out there. If you want something light to read on the train or to provide background for a school project, then it is ideal - in fact, it could have been written for a school project.

A great book
I thought this book was an informative and enjoyable read on Queen Victoria. It also contains some great photos too, albeit in black-and-white. A recommended read.

The Best!
Of all the wonderful books about Queen Victoria, I believe this is the best. Time has not lessened its impact and it has not been outshone by newer books. Lady Longford captures the character of Queen Victoria so perfectly and weaves the other members of the Queen's family in and out of the 'story' with such ease. Without over-complicating anything, the book covers not only Queen Victoria's personal life, but some of the major political and international events and changes of her reign. Quite an achievement when you consider how long that reign was, and the way that society was transformed in those 63 and a half years!
Most Beautiful Princess