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The Young Victoria
Born in 1819, Victoria was the daughter of Edward, Duke of Kent. Left fatherless at the age of eight months, her early years were difficult, brought up by her German mother in an atmosphere of family feuds and jealousy. Succeeding to the throne at 18, however, she began a triumphant reign.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 9, 2017
NetGalley provided a copy of the ePub in exchange for an honest review.
Alison Plowden’s biography The Young Victoria is an insightful overview of the Queen’s early years. The events of her formative years certainly shaped her perspective on the issues of her long and respected reign. The author’s use of primary sources is brilliantly woven throughout this magnificently written read. The Young Victoria is a fast-paced page-turner that is certainly informative and revealing. Queen Victoria’s character, strength, determination and sense of duty are evident. Every library should have a copy. The Young Victoria is perfect as well for book clubs. A must read.
Alison Plowden’s biography The Young Victoria is an insightful overview of the Queen’s early years. The events of her formative years certainly shaped her perspective on the issues of her long and respected reign. The author’s use of primary sources is brilliantly woven throughout this magnificently written read. The Young Victoria is a fast-paced page-turner that is certainly informative and revealing. Queen Victoria’s character, strength, determination and sense of duty are evident. Every library should have a copy. The Young Victoria is perfect as well for book clubs. A must read.
January 16, 2011
I have to admit that I read this after seeing the movie "The Young Victoria," and enjoying it quite a bit. And also (a little) wondering how much of it was really true. This seems to be the book most of the movie is based on, and the answer is: More than you'd think. It seems many of major speeches in the movie can be drawn, almost verbatim, from letters of the period. As you'd expect much was glossed over, simplified, and made rosier, but the story seems to be very much the same.
Consequently, it's an absorbing book. Victoria's life seems to be very well-documented, and Plowden is reasonably good about considering the source of information, rather than taking everything at face value. She also does a good job (for her American readers) of spelling out things that "every British schoolchild" learns, because odds are, we Americans missed out on that.
My one quibble with the book didn't actually have to do with the book at all. I had a library copy, and someone else, as she was reading it, had actually WRITTEN ANNOTATIONS IN THE MARGIN and UNDERLINED PASSAGES. In a library book. This horrified me, but what made it even worse was that she wasn't at all an insightful reader. In fact she was a pretty dumb one. (As evidenced by the fact that fairly simple words, including "avuncular" and "sanguine" were underlined with question marks next to them.) The notations were also usually incredibly obvious: That John Conroy was trying to use Victoria to gain power, for example, or that Victoria's relationship with Melbourne caused some political issues for her later. Like I said, not the author's (or the publisher's) fault at all, but it put me in a bit of a sour mood when approaching the book.
Consequently, it's an absorbing book. Victoria's life seems to be very well-documented, and Plowden is reasonably good about considering the source of information, rather than taking everything at face value. She also does a good job (for her American readers) of spelling out things that "every British schoolchild" learns, because odds are, we Americans missed out on that.
My one quibble with the book didn't actually have to do with the book at all. I had a library copy, and someone else, as she was reading it, had actually WRITTEN ANNOTATIONS IN THE MARGIN and UNDERLINED PASSAGES. In a library book. This horrified me, but what made it even worse was that she wasn't at all an insightful reader. In fact she was a pretty dumb one. (As evidenced by the fact that fairly simple words, including "avuncular" and "sanguine" were underlined with question marks next to them.) The notations were also usually incredibly obvious: That John Conroy was trying to use Victoria to gain power, for example, or that Victoria's relationship with Melbourne caused some political issues for her later. Like I said, not the author's (or the publisher's) fault at all, but it put me in a bit of a sour mood when approaching the book.
April 16, 2026
Such lovely descriptions of a young Victoria. She had a lot of fun dancing and riding her horses and loved animals.
I was surprised about her education being less political and administrative than I thought. I liked the structure of the Uncle King, Duke of Clarence and Duke of York.
I think Albert of Coburg must have won by his looks. And of I'm honest Victoria reminded me of Kitty etc in Jane Austen novels.
I was surprised about her education being less political and administrative than I thought. I liked the structure of the Uncle King, Duke of Clarence and Duke of York.
I think Albert of Coburg must have won by his looks. And of I'm honest Victoria reminded me of Kitty etc in Jane Austen novels.
July 23, 2011
A fun and informative read and a great supplement to the movie "The Young Victoria". However, the book could be a lot longer, more detailed, and have footnotes or endnotes. The latter in particular bothers me: how am I to know where the author gets particular bits of information? Yes she includes a bibliography, but that's hardly the same thing.
December 31, 2016
Book based on movie or move based on book...book is nothing special, even trashy. I only loved Victoria and Albets love story.
Politics and court and parliament intriguing are shallowly described and any interest I found in this book is palace life, funny life in palace.
Politics and court and parliament intriguing are shallowly described and any interest I found in this book is palace life, funny life in palace.
March 21, 2018
I picked this up as a follow on read as I had enjoyed "The Strangest Family"so much.
A considerably shorter read, but a very interesting and readable account of the life of Victoria, from the death in childbirth of the heir to the throne Princess Charlotte, the subsequent race of George IIIs other sons to produce a legitimate heir, and Victoria's very sheltered and restrictive childhood after the death of her father, in Kensington Palace with her mother and the hated John Conroy. Despite her mother and Conroy's efforts to control her, once she became Queen in 1837, she proved to be an able and independent monarch.
This account is taken up to her marriage with Prince Albert, would have happily read more
A considerably shorter read, but a very interesting and readable account of the life of Victoria, from the death in childbirth of the heir to the throne Princess Charlotte, the subsequent race of George IIIs other sons to produce a legitimate heir, and Victoria's very sheltered and restrictive childhood after the death of her father, in Kensington Palace with her mother and the hated John Conroy. Despite her mother and Conroy's efforts to control her, once she became Queen in 1837, she proved to be an able and independent monarch.
This account is taken up to her marriage with Prince Albert, would have happily read more
January 6, 2019
The Young Victoria was a refreshing look at the life of Victoria until her marriage. Plowden does a great job giving a factual account of Victoria's life without speculating. The author tells this story without prejudice or favoritism. While I did not learn much new the author did give a new perspective on those key characters...the Duchess of Kent, William IV, Melbourne and Lehzen. For example the famous speech King William gives toward the end of his life in anger at the Duchess of Kent is re-examined within the context of the period.
October 12, 2019
I feel I have read quite a bit about Victoria. She defined an age. There is so many interesting topics surrounding her and her reign. This book was good enough, but didn’t particularly bring up any new information for me. A good read though.
**I received a copy from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
**I received a copy from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
March 19, 2019
Enjoyable, easy read.
January 6, 2015
The Misadventures of Salem Hyde
Star Rating Art: 5 Stars
Star Rating Story: 5 Stars
Self Purchase.
First Impression: Adorable and Funny.
Love the drawing. Love the huge eyes on Salem Hyde. Love Salem Hyde’s spunk.
Love the little getting to know you pages on the characters. I really enjoyed this. The Whammy the cat is also adorable. Great for kids. The only negative thing I can say about this is that it was WAY TOO SHORT!!!! Otherwise, Awesome and juicy.
Quotes: “I’m not a Scaredy Cat! I’m a careful Kitty!”- Whammy
Star Rating Art: 5 Stars
Star Rating Story: 5 Stars
Self Purchase.
First Impression: Adorable and Funny.
Love the drawing. Love the huge eyes on Salem Hyde. Love Salem Hyde’s spunk.
Love the little getting to know you pages on the characters. I really enjoyed this. The Whammy the cat is also adorable. Great for kids. The only negative thing I can say about this is that it was WAY TOO SHORT!!!! Otherwise, Awesome and juicy.
Quotes: “I’m not a Scaredy Cat! I’m a careful Kitty!”- Whammy
December 1, 2012
I don't even know where to start...
The narrative was amazing, with A. Plowden's words and the primary sources like letters, notes and Victoria's diaries I almost felt like I had been there, like I had seen it. And then there's Victoria, not the queen, but the young girl that grows up with a normality that I could almost identify myself with, and with trials that made me cheer for her to overcome them. Another sweet surprise was how much of the movie was real! Which is something I, unfortunately, don't see as often as I wished.
I loved this book and it made me love the movie even more.
The narrative was amazing, with A. Plowden's words and the primary sources like letters, notes and Victoria's diaries I almost felt like I had been there, like I had seen it. And then there's Victoria, not the queen, but the young girl that grows up with a normality that I could almost identify myself with, and with trials that made me cheer for her to overcome them. Another sweet surprise was how much of the movie was real! Which is something I, unfortunately, don't see as often as I wished.
I loved this book and it made me love the movie even more.
August 13, 2016
I wish there were more history books that focused on a tiny topic and were only 150 pages long--this made a nice, quick read. The book was originally published in the early 1980s (so the "latest research" it's based on probably isn't) and the translation into ebook form is pretty shoddy with lots of stupid OCR errors. I enjoyed the recent movie that closely follows this book because it has a lot of good visual detail, but at least the book skips the silly fictionalized assassination attempt.
August 23, 2011
So I stopped for some time and finally picked the book back up and finished it. Some slow parts, but I did enjoy it overall. It does give you an idea of what the Young Victoria's life must have been like.
May 18, 2010
Remarkably similar to the film and engrossing reading in its own right.
September 15, 2011
To be reviewed for HNR December 2011
January 14, 2012
A fascinating look at Victoria's early years, which gives good context for some of the key developments in British history.
February 1, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. I had never been as interested in Queen Victoria as I have been in earlier European monarchs, this book has made me want to read more books about her and her life.
April 27, 2015
Pretty good, for a quickie read.
August 6, 2015
So very good!
Want to Read
January 4, 2018This book was amazing! I have always been very curious about Queen Victoria and to learn of her younger years was something I had been wanting to do. This book is well researched and has many primary sources like letters, notes and Victoria's diaries.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about the girl that grew into a queen.
*Thank you to Alison Plowden, Sutton Publishing and Netgalley for providing a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about the girl that grew into a queen.
*Thank you to Alison Plowden, Sutton Publishing and Netgalley for providing a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
Read
October 22, 2017Have dnf'd this as well.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews