Εγώ η Βικτωρία

by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, Αθηνά Δημητριάδου (Translator)

Μια κοπελίτσα χωρίς πατέρα μεγαλώνει σχεδόν φυλακισμένη στο μουντό περιβάλλον των ανακτόρων του Κέσινγκτον. Μόνο το ακατάβλητο πείσμα της τη στηρίζει καθώς περιμένει την ημέρα της λύτρωσης, την ημέρα που θα στεφθεί βασίλισσα της Αγγλίας. Είναι η Βικτωρία, κι αυτή είναι η ιστορία της όπως καταγράφεται στα τελευταία, ταραγμένα χρόνια της ζωής της. Με ανθρωπιά και χιούμορ η Αυτοκράτειρα της μισής σχεδόν οικουμένης στρέφει το βλέμμα πίσω στην ογδοντάχρονη πορεία της κι αναθυμάται οικογενειακές κρίσεις, δημόσιους θριάμβους, επαναστάσεις, πολέμους και δυναστείες, μα πάνω απ' όλα τη μεγάλη, αναλλοίωτη αγάπη που φώτιζε κάθε πτυχή της ζωής της.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Royalty, British Literature, Fiction, Historical, 19th Century

590 pages, Paperback

First published October 20, 1995

About the author

Cynthia Harrod-Eagles (aka Emma Woodhouse, Elizabeth Bennett)

Cynthia Harrod-Eagles was born on 13 August 1948 in Shepherd's Bush, London, England, where was educated at Burlington School, a girls' charity school founded in 1699, and at the University of Edinburgh and University College London, where she studied English, history and philosophy.

She had a variety of jobs in the commercial world, starting as a junior cashier at Woolworth's and working her way down to Pensions Officer at the BBC.

She wrote her first novel while at university and in 1972 won the Young Writers' Award with The Waiting Game. The birth of the MORLAND DYNASTY series enabled Cynthia Harrod-Eagles to become a full-time writer in 1979. The series was originally intended to comprise twelve volumes, but it has proved so popular that it has now been extended to thirty-four.

In 1993 she won the Romantic Novelists' Association Romantic Novel of the Year Award with Emily, the third volume of her Kirov Saga, a trilogy set in nineteenth century Russia.

Reviews

[Sina & Ilona Glimmerfee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wir schreiben das Jahr 1900 Viktoria I. erinnert sich in ihren schlaflosen Nächten an ihr Leben. In schönen Worten und einem fesselnden Schreibstil erzählt sie über ihre Eltern, ihre Kindheit, den frühen Tod ihres Vaters, über die Hörigkeit ihrer Mutter zu dem geld- und machtgierigen John Conroy, der ihr das Leben zur Hölle macht, ihren Aufstieg zur Königin und dann ihre Zeit mit Albert, der Liebe ihres Lebens.
Albert und Viktoria diese große Liebesgeschichte nimmt sehr viel Raum in diesem Buch ein. Zartfühlend und sehr glaubwürdig beschreibt die Autorin, wie die Beiden zueinander fanden. Sie, die Königin von England und er ihr Vetter aus Coburg. Das bei einer solchen Beziehung auch immer ein wenig ein Gerangel um Macht, Befugnisse und wer das Sagen in der Beziehung hat entsteht, wird dem Leser schnell klar. Viktoria hat ihren Albert ein Leben lang aus tiefstem Herzen geliebt. Sie hat ihm neun Kinder geschenkt, obwohl sie selber keine Freundin von Babys war. Sie mussten Attentate und Krisen durchstehen. Albert war ein ernster, melancholischer Charakter und Viktoria konnte sehr schnell ihrem Jähzorn nachgeben, doch sie rauften sich immer wieder zusammen.
Er bekämpfte sein Heimweh mit jeder Menge Arbeit und auch ihre Pflichten als Königin ließen den beiden nicht sehr viel Zeit auf Balmoral oder im Osborne House glücklich zu sein.
Auf die Zeit nach dem Tode Alberts und ihre Freundschaft zu John Brown wird in diesem Buch kaum eingegangen, was eigentlich etwas schade ist.
Mir hat besonders gut gefallen, dass es sehr schöne Einblicke in die Kindererziehung gibt, so kaufte Albert seinen Kindern das von ihnen gezogene Gemüse zum Marktpreis ab, so lernten sie ganz nebenbei, wie Handel funktioniert.
Parallel zu diesem Roman, las eine Freundin eine Biografie über Viktoria und ich habe mich sehr gefreut, wie sehr die Autorin sich an die Fakten gehalten hat
Als Extras sind im Buch Stammbäume, eine Karte des britischen Empires jener Zeit und eine Übersicht ihrer Kinder und Enkel, so dass man sich jederzeit orientieren kann.

Warum man vielleicht zu diesem Buch greifen sollte:
1. Man sich für Geschichte und besonders für das britische Königshaus interessiert
2. Man gerne über große Liebesgeschichten liest
3. Man historische Romane mag, die gut recherchiert sind

Fazit: Ein zauberhafter Roman über das Leben von Viktoria I. und ihrem Herzallerliebsten Albert, aber auch ein gut eingefangenes Bild des Viktorianischen Zeitalters.

[Aubrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It felt so much like I was reading an autobiography that I often forgot that I wasn't. I felt like I really got to know Queen Victoria, and learned that she was a very fascinating, funny and very human queen.

[Christos Dimopoulos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Νομίζεις πως το βιβλίο γράφτηκε από την ίδια τη Βικτωρία. Ευαίσθητο, ενδιαφέρον, με χιούμορ, περιγράφει κυρίως την προσωπική ζωή της βασίλισσας και σε μεταφέρει στην ανεπανάληπτη Βικτωριανή εποχή.
Η μετάφραση της Αθηνάς Δημητριάδου εξαιρετική.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good choice to begin my 2023 reading journey. I have read so many books, and seen so much historical fiction, about Queen Victoria, that there were few surprises here. I very much enjoyed this novelized autobiography, and I had to keep reminding myself that I was not actually reading her diaries. The entries reflected on both her political (apolitical?) and personal life, although I was somewhat frustrated that she seemed to identify less with her own people’s struggles. But I guess she was a product of her time and upbringing.I could very much identify with the viewpoint of an older woman reviewing her life and choices.

I will forever be astounded by her relationship with Albert … what an incredible love story and partnership few achieve. To have been both a successful wife AND successful queen was to walk a tightrope. I also identified with her devastation over Albert’s loss. There is nothing more soul deadening than to lose one’s beloved best friend, spouse and soulmate.

[ladywallingford · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the better historical fictions on Queen Victoria...not the best that I've read, but not the worst either. It was easy to put down, and that type of a book can be nice during busy times.

The story is told from old Victoria's point of view and mainly encompasses her life with Albert, which is fine with me. I don't quite find Victoria very interesting after Albert dies to be honest, but that feels rather wrong to say.

[Sara G · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, which is written in the style of a fictionalized autobiography by Queen Victoria herself. The author was pretty true to what we know of Victoria's writing style (except for all the underlining!) and it felt pretty plausible as a narrative. It drags a bit at the end, but the story of her early life and relationship with Albert was very good.

[Julianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great way to learn about Queen Victoria and study history through her eyes.

[Olga S · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most beautiful and powerful love story you have ever read... Romeo and Juliet was fictional... This is the real story of Romeo and Juliet's love...

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you can get over the fact that the "diary" bounces back and forth between current events and the past, it's a pretty good read.

[Sara Maxwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall very good. I learned a lot! Did drag in some areas.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! A beautiful retelling of Victoria’s life!

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Victorian England is my favorite time period so I knew I was gonna love this book! It did not disappoint ❤ Now I need to go find nonfiction books about Queen Victoria ❤📚

[Agathe C. TST · Rating 5 out of 5]

J'ai savouré chaque ligne de ce merveilleux livre! On rentre dans l'intimité de cette grande reine, de ses épreuves, de ses joies, et on apprend à la connaître sous un angle très différent de celui qu'on connaît.

[Donna Jo Atwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is set up as a journal written by Queen Victoria during her last year. She writes of her entire life interspered with comments about the political and family happenings of the day (the Boer War, etc.)
I found it to be an interesting book with more of the humor than one typically thinks of in relation to Victoria. (One of the most frightening pictures I have ever seen is of Victoria as an old lady smiling.)
The life of Victoria lends itself well to this treatment as she lived such a long and public life.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is out of print. I originally got it at the library but wanted a copy of my own, which I found online. Everyone I've loaned this book to has loved it. It's the story of Queen Victoria's life, written as if it were an autobiography.

[Amy Koester · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was GREAT! Sometimes I forgot someone besides Queen Victoria wrote this book. It really is "the autobiography Queen Victoria would have written". I thoroughly enjoyed it and would highly recommend it.

[Tara Chevrestt]

NOT for me. I want to read about Victoria being queen. I couldn't care less about her aunt's indigestion or the palace decorations. I was so put off by the first few pages, I moved on to something else.

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read, and plausible as an "autobiography". It did get a bit draggy near the end where the focus shifted more to national events and away from family life, but overall well-written and enjoyable.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Biographical novel about Queen Victoria, really better than most of the genre.

[Andria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most excellent!