“Victoria is an absolutely captivating novel of youth, love, and the often painful transition from immaturity to adulthood. Daisy Goodwin breathes new life into Victoria’s story, and does so with sensitivity, verve, and wit.” – AMANDA FOREMANDrawing on Queen Victoria’s diaries, which she first started reading when she was a student at Cambridge University, Daisy Goodwin-creator and writer of the … University, Daisy Goodwin-creator and writer of the new PBS/Masterpiece drama Victoria and author of the bestselling novels The American Heiress and The Fortune Hunter-brings the young nineteenth-century monarch, who would go on to reign for 63 years, richly to life in this magnificent novel.
Early one morning, less than a month after her eighteenth birthday, Alexandrina Victoria is roused from bed with the news that her uncle William IV has died and she is now Queen of England. The men who run the country have doubts about whether this sheltered young woman, who stands less than five feet tall, can rule the greatest nation in the world.
Despite her age, however, the young queen is no puppet. She has very definite ideas about the kind of queen she wants to be, and the first thing is to choose her name.
“I do not like the name Alexandrina,” she proclaims. “From now on I wish to be known only by my second name, Victoria.”
Next, people say she must choose a husband. Everyone keeps telling her she’s destined to marry her first cousin, Prince Albert, but Victoria found him dull and priggish when they met three years ago. She is quite happy being queen with the help of her prime minister, Lord Melbourne, who may be old enough to be her father but is the first person to take her seriously.
On June 19th, 1837, she was a teenager. On June 20th, 1837, she was a queen. Daisy Goodwin’s impeccably researched and vividly imagined new book brings readers Queen Victoria as they have never seen her before.
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I’m actually glad I couldn’t get to reading this book until after I watched “Victoria” on PBS, not because I think it would have ruined the show for me, but because the show was forced into certain constraints and I had an even greater ability to appreciate the increased depth within the pages of the book. (The show, however, went further in time than the book, which makes me wonder if there will be a sequel coming in written form or if Ms Goodwin will simply tell the rest of the story only on the screen.) I also think that waiting to read the book took some of the edge off missing the show, which I loved. (There were some distinct differences between book and show — sequence of a few events, more emphasis on “downstairs” in the show, far more detail given in the book — but neither to the detriment of the other. Both were well handled in their own context.)
Now, for the book on its own, I loved the depth of the characters (does one call them characters when they were actual people, even if this is at least partially fictionalized?). The book was filled with description but it never felt too much. The writing was a little rough, here and there, but I also was aware that this was an unedited “early readers’ edition,” so it was to be expected. If I loved Lord M on the show, I loved him twice as much in the book and really enjoyed getting his character a little more fleshed out. Overall, a truly enjoyable read.
Telling of history most entertaining
Great historical book and follows the PBSSeries very well but it is very short. Ends at the beginning of her reign and married life
I loved this book, but I am a self professed anglophile! It’s fresh, easy to read with wonderful, timely, historical references.
Great read if you like historical books!
Even a Queen wants to be loved and as a Queen it can be very difficult to not fall into traps set by those seeking their own personal gain. Victoria was very sheltered. Rather than being taught about the role she would eventually fill upon the death of her uncle, the reining King of England. She was a great admirer of her predecessor Queen Elizabeth I and found her an inspiration that she too could be an un wed Queen. But then, of course Albert came into her life and the two of them, Victoria and Albert, became one of the great love stories. We know the plot but reading about her determination as a very young age is awe inspiring.
After watching the series on PBS I was delighted to have the opportunity to read the book. It is written in a delightful style and was simply wonderful.
This book is very well written and historically correct. I have read all of Goodwin’s books…and this one has a special place in my heart…if only because of Victoria’s early relationship with Lord M. Perhaps, not perfectlytt historical correct but heart-warming all the same! It is a great book!
Very intetesting, romantic & seems history accurate. Queen Victoria so loved Albert yet wanted her dominance to b known. Daisy has done a fine job with the romance between these two people and also the history of that time.
Listened as audio book. Made a good review for a new TV season of Victoria starting soon. Otherwise adds little to viewing the PBS Masterpiece Theater version.
4+ stars to Daisy Goodwin’s Victoria, a historical fiction novel released with a PBS TV series bringing the book to life on Sunday evenings. I was very sad when Downton Abbey was ending, but looked forward to the release of “The Gilded Age,” “The Crown,” and “Victoria,” all of which handled similar themes and historical families. I won this book through a giveaway but had already started watching the TV series. I finished the book this week with one episode still left to watch to see how this chapter of the story ends — and so far, I’m quite fascinated. A definite MUST-READ for all…
Story
Victoria’s father was next to be king, but he died young, and his brothers inherited the throne after their father passed on; however, none produced heirs. At 18, Victoria became Queen when her uncle died and she was quickly thrust into the spotlight. Raised by a German mother, with little education, and still a very young girl, Victoria waffled between rebellious teen and resourceful leader throughout this story. It covers about 2 years of her life from 18 to 20, ending when she proposes to her cousin Albert in order to bring some additional stability to her power. Based on Victoria’s journals and several other historical documents, Goodwin recreates the beginnings of a rocky reign which eventually became the longest British royal on the throne (until Elizabeth II recently surpassed it a year ago). While the TV Series ends with Victoria and Albert married, having their first child, and her Prime Minister about to retire, the book stops a few months earlier… but it’s still an amazing story.
Strengths
1. The story is classic: rebellious teen, loves someone she cannot have, fights with her mother, wants all the beautiful things, but is coming of age… so much drama we all have today but with the splendor of nearly 200 years ago added in for good measure.
2. It’s full of family genetics and history. Who’s married to whom? Who cheated on whom? It’s her cousin? It’s her uncle? It’s also her third cousin once removed from the other side? Crazy… but it seems logical and makes sense all at the same time.
3. The ability to recreate the setting and the ambiance is well done. Goodwin is a master.
Suggestions
I have very little to suggest. Perhaps a family tree tucked into the jacket of the book? A little more background on her father and early years before she inherited the throne? It may help readers understand how her parents fell in love, what kind of relationship they had, how she was raised by her mother using German educational systems. You get a flavor of it, but I thirsted for a bit more.
Final Thoughts
Forget this is founded in some reality. Ignore that it’s about royalty. Pretend it is modern times. The story is just a classic tale. And it has everything.
I won this book through Goodreads Giveaways. This another wonderful book from Daisy Goodwin. Telling the story about a strong young queen who had to put up with men telling her what she should do, her mother trying to tell her who she should marry and having her own feelings. Nobody thought anything of her because of her height but she was a strong woman with strong opinions and the men of the country didn’t know how to handle it. They kept trying to get her married off right away. She wanted things her way. I cant wait for the showing of this on PBS and see how close to the book they keep the story. Please read it is worth it.
The author really brought this time period to life. The characters where very believable. I enjoyed learning about the first years of Victoria’s reign.
An engaging novelized account exploring the early years of Victoria’s reign. Research done by the author from Queen Victoria’s journals bring make it read like a movie.
Interesting but way too detailed for me.
Started out interesting, then slooooooowed down and became..
boring
Brilliant! Here you get all the thoughts and feelings going on behind a great story. The BBC TV drama was a wonderful visual but in the book, Goodwin smoothly immerses the reader in Victoria’s world.
I remember watching the BBC/PBS production of this book a number of years to go, and found myself reading scenes that I’d seen, which were lifted directly from the book to the production script, whole and true to the text. But as usual for me, I enjoyed the book much more than the tv production, enjoying young Victoria’s victories all the more for the additional details and insights to the people around the Queen.
Well written, I read it with an honest enjoyment that kept me extending my usual bedtime on several nights as I read to the final page, and only wish Victoria had been allowed a life driven by romance rather than pragmatism. And I’m greatful to be a woman of my time.
I enjoyed the PBS series and this book was like reading the script.
If you’re like me, you’ve only seen the PBS show and picked this up on a whim – but it’s an excellent whim to go on! The television show skipped over a lot of the boring details about the Royal Family and the heavy politics underlying the young Victoria’s rise to the throne, and this is a great read that’ll fill in all the blanks.
I do wish I had read this before seeing the series – but it’s a great companion read!