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Queen Victoria After Albert: Her Life and Loves
Few British monarchs have fit the time, the tone or the energy of an era quite the way Queen Victoria mastered her reign.
From her ascension to the throne in 1837 to her death in 1901, her monarchy was one of spectacular advances in the British Empire. Political, scientific, and industrial wonders were changing the world. Britain's influence reached all corners of the earth.
But there was one area that particularly intrigued the Queen. Men.
Keenly aware of the opposite sex, her most trusted advisors were men. Lord Melbourne, her first prime minister, was an avuncular presence. Then her beloved husband Prince Albert took the reins until his death in 1861.
In a widowhood of forty years, her ministers were a varied lot. She adored Disraeli, disliked Gladstone, and found genuine friendship with Lord Salisbury. Then there was Mr. Brown, the Scottish ghillie who she found wonderfully attractive. Later there was Abdul Karim, the Munshi , or teacher with whom she had a motherly relationship. She adored her son-in-law, Prince Henry of Battenberg, the 'sunshine of their lives' and was devastated when he died. She also loved her grandson-in-law, Prince Louis Battenberg, who was one of the executors of her will.
Those years without Albert were not barren loveless years, they were not without happiness and pleasure, even if the queen herself might protest.
From her ascension to the throne in 1837 to her death in 1901, her monarchy was one of spectacular advances in the British Empire. Political, scientific, and industrial wonders were changing the world. Britain's influence reached all corners of the earth.
But there was one area that particularly intrigued the Queen. Men.
Keenly aware of the opposite sex, her most trusted advisors were men. Lord Melbourne, her first prime minister, was an avuncular presence. Then her beloved husband Prince Albert took the reins until his death in 1861.
In a widowhood of forty years, her ministers were a varied lot. She adored Disraeli, disliked Gladstone, and found genuine friendship with Lord Salisbury. Then there was Mr. Brown, the Scottish ghillie who she found wonderfully attractive. Later there was Abdul Karim, the Munshi , or teacher with whom she had a motherly relationship. She adored her son-in-law, Prince Henry of Battenberg, the 'sunshine of their lives' and was devastated when he died. She also loved her grandson-in-law, Prince Louis Battenberg, who was one of the executors of her will.
Those years without Albert were not barren loveless years, they were not without happiness and pleasure, even if the queen herself might protest.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published November 9, 2023
6 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 19, 2024
I’ve long been a fan of Miller’s books about the monarchy and this one is no exception.
It’s a straightforward assessment of Queen Victoria’s life, emphasizing her years as a widow.
Miller does a good job of demonstrating the queen’s quirks and personality as she tangled and toiled with her nine children and passel,of grandchildren.
This book is a great start for anyone who has yet to be introduced to Victoria and her progeny because it offers a list of all the main characters and a host of pictures to associate with the names.
It’s an excellent beginning point to deep dive into the wondrous world of the House of Windsor’s ancestry.
Thanks to Pen & Sword and Ilana Miller and NetGalley for the advance copies.
It’s a straightforward assessment of Queen Victoria’s life, emphasizing her years as a widow.
Miller does a good job of demonstrating the queen’s quirks and personality as she tangled and toiled with her nine children and passel,of grandchildren.
This book is a great start for anyone who has yet to be introduced to Victoria and her progeny because it offers a list of all the main characters and a host of pictures to associate with the names.
It’s an excellent beginning point to deep dive into the wondrous world of the House of Windsor’s ancestry.
Thanks to Pen & Sword and Ilana Miller and NetGalley for the advance copies.
August 31, 2023
Queen Victoria was the longest-reigning British monarch until Queen Elizabeth II broke that record. She became Queen just one month after turning 18, and she would reign until her death in 1901 at the age of 81. She married her first cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, on 10 February 1840, and they went on to have nine children together. She was very much in love with him, and his early death in 1861 devastated her.
Queen Victoria After Albert: Her Life and Loves by Ilana D. Miller starts with a focus on Queen Victoria, but it takes over 70 pages (about a third of the book) for Prince Albert to die. For a book with the title "Queen Victoria After Albert", this seems to be rather strange. Then, we get lost in the whirlwind of her children's marriages and her grandchildren's marriages. The book also continues to use one of my biggest pet peeves... nicknames for everyone. This seems to be especially prevalent in books about Queen Victoria and her descendants. It makes for a rather confusing book, and it seems to lose its focus on the main subject - Queen Victoria. I did enjoy reading about her relationships with her various prime ministers.
You can tell that the author is knowledgeable, the information is all factual, and there is an abundant amount of footnotes. However, I would say there are better books out there about Queen Victoria.
*review copy via NetGalley*
Queen Victoria After Albert: Her Life and Loves by Ilana D. Miller starts with a focus on Queen Victoria, but it takes over 70 pages (about a third of the book) for Prince Albert to die. For a book with the title "Queen Victoria After Albert", this seems to be rather strange. Then, we get lost in the whirlwind of her children's marriages and her grandchildren's marriages. The book also continues to use one of my biggest pet peeves... nicknames for everyone. This seems to be especially prevalent in books about Queen Victoria and her descendants. It makes for a rather confusing book, and it seems to lose its focus on the main subject - Queen Victoria. I did enjoy reading about her relationships with her various prime ministers.
You can tell that the author is knowledgeable, the information is all factual, and there is an abundant amount of footnotes. However, I would say there are better books out there about Queen Victoria.
*review copy via NetGalley*
August 14, 2023
‘Victoria should never have come to the throne.’
‘When she was born, she was somewhat far down the line of succession, but that line would very quickly shrink.’
Queen Victoria is one fascinating lady and one I want to do more research and reading on, especially after enjoying this book!
In this book you get to see Victoria in a more intimate light and you will be truly inspired by her.
After the death of Albert, Victoria is a completely different person, you can’t help but feel sorry for her loss.
Victoria seems like a nice/small women when in fact many were scared of her! And she was quite rude when it came to babies!
‘I don’t dislike babies, though I think very young ones rather disgusting…’
One to read for history, royal and Victorian readers.
‘When she was born, she was somewhat far down the line of succession, but that line would very quickly shrink.’
Queen Victoria is one fascinating lady and one I want to do more research and reading on, especially after enjoying this book!
In this book you get to see Victoria in a more intimate light and you will be truly inspired by her.
After the death of Albert, Victoria is a completely different person, you can’t help but feel sorry for her loss.
Victoria seems like a nice/small women when in fact many were scared of her! And she was quite rude when it came to babies!
‘I don’t dislike babies, though I think very young ones rather disgusting…’
One to read for history, royal and Victorian readers.
September 5, 2023
It's the first book I've ever read on Queen Victoria, but I found it fascinating.
It does a good and brief introduction on her life before and during her marriage to Albert and then it evolves on a novelesque reconstruction of the years and events that followed after widowhood.
It's difficult to write about so many people that share names and are intertwined, but the author did an amazing work at putting everything together in a way that's easy to understand what you're reading.
I am now eager to learn more about Queen Victoria and her numerous offspring.
It does a good and brief introduction on her life before and during her marriage to Albert and then it evolves on a novelesque reconstruction of the years and events that followed after widowhood.
It's difficult to write about so many people that share names and are intertwined, but the author did an amazing work at putting everything together in a way that's easy to understand what you're reading.
I am now eager to learn more about Queen Victoria and her numerous offspring.
August 20, 2023
I was hoping this book would go more into detail about the relationship with Mr. Brown and the other men she admired later in life. However, it was mostly focused on her children, the marriages they made, and her grandchildren. It also focused a lot on her relationships with her prime ministers. The writing is very dry as well. Would be a good book for someone wanting to learn more about the reign of Victoria, but no real intimate details of her private life.
October 31, 2023
Four the forty years after the death of her beloved Prince Albert, Queen Victoria led a reclusive life of widowhood. Or did she? This book reveals her relationship with her children and grandchildren, with her prime ministers, and with her favorites of the court. The book is intriguing, thorough, and easy to read.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
September 21, 2023
It was a pleasant and informative read but I wanted to know more about her relationship with the men like Abdul.
It's recommended if you want to learn about Victoria's life
3.5 upped to 4
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
It's recommended if you want to learn about Victoria's life
3.5 upped to 4
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
July 8, 2024
This is an in depth look at Queen Victoria's life for the many years after she outlived her husband. Readers will be introduced to many people involved in her life, including staff and politicians. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC.
November 17, 2023
The book is the reconstruction of Queen Victoria's life after the death of her beloved husband. It's a fascinating read with a lot of new facts. Highly recommended.
July 17, 2024
One of the best books about Queen Victoria that I have read. Gives a great insight into her life. She could be one formidable lady!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews