Queen Victoria's Highland Journals

by Queen Victoria

Trade paperback which reprints the queen's diary of her visit to the Highlands.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, History, Victorian, Scotland, British Literature

240 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1994

About the author

The expansion and industrial growth marked reign of Victoria, queen of Great Britain and Ireland from 1837 and empress of India from 1877, and her strict moral code influenced 19th-century society.

Alexandrina Victoria from 20 June 1837 until her death. People know her 63 years and seven months as the Victorian era, a period of cultural, political, scientific, and military change within the United Kingdom. She was the last monarch of the house of Hanover.

Albert, her prince consort, died in 1861.

Victoria wrote an average of 2,500 words a day during her adult life. From July 1832, she kept a detailed journal, which eventually encompassed 122 volumes, until her death. After death of Victoria, survivors appointed Beatrice, her youngest daughter and a princess, as her literary executor. Beatrice transcribed and edited the diaries, covering accession of her mother onward, and she burned the originals in the process. Despite this destruction, much of the diaries still exist. In addition to edited copy of Beatrice, Lord Reginald Baliol Brett Esher transcribed the volumes from 1832 to 1861 before Beatrice destroyed them.

Reviews

[Petra · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of a slog to get through at parts and would have worked as a shorter book but it was interesting to travel through Scotland with Queen Victoria. It is a very traditional Victorian diary but there are hints of sorrow as Queen Victoria looks back into her past with Prince Alfred after his death.

[Carol Bakker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I place a high value on reading source material. The Queen's diaries fall in this category. Did she self-edit, assuming the public would someday read these? Most assuredly. Does it include lots of curtsies and posies given to her by young Scottish girls? Indeed. But she visited places in Scotland that I've visited and the recognition thrilled me.

I am always amazed when a political leader turns out to be a decent painter. I thoroughly enjoyed each piece in this illustrated book. I just pulled one off the net to share with you.

More thoughts soon! (Sigh...I retire in one week.)

[Angelica · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting to get to know more about queen Victory.

[Aylish Prince · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting glimpse at the former monarch's life and feelings.

[Barbara Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was reading this for research, and I found what I was looking for - a clear idea of Queen Victoria's priorities and preoccupations, as well as her authentic writing voice. It was clearly laid out, and my edition contained a lot of helpful images which brought the text to life. I found it very useful.