Victoria and Albert

by Richard Hough

This fascinating biography chronicles the life of Queen Victoria (arguably the most significant queen of England after Elizabeth I) and her historic marriage to Prince Albert--an event that decisively shaped the Victorian Age. Acclaimed biographer Richard Hough examines Victoria's letters and diaries to skillfully bring to life the most famous marriage of the era.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, British Literature, Victorian

224 pages, Hardcover

First published March 29, 1996

About the author

Richard Alexander Hough was a British author and historian specializing in naval history. As a child, he was obsessed with making model warships and collecting information about navies around the world. In 1941, he joined the Royal Air Force and trained at a flying school near Los Angeles. He flew Hurricanes and Typhoons and was wounded in action.

After World War II, Hough worked as a part-time delivery driver for a wine shop, while looking for employment involving books. He finally joined the publishing house Bodley Head, and then Hamish Hamilton, where he eventually headed the children’s book division.

His work as a publisher inspired him to turn to writing himself in 1950, and he went on to write more than ninety books over a long and successful career. Best-known for his works of naval history and his biographies, he also wrote war novels and books for children (under the pseudonym Bruce Carter), all of which sold in huge numbers around the world. His works include The Longest Battle: The War at Sea 1939-45, Naval Battles of the Twentieth Century and best-selling biographies of Earl Mountbatten of Burma and Captain James Cook. Captain Bligh and Mr Christian, his 1972 account of the mutiny on the Bounty, was the basis of the 1984 film The Bounty, starring Anthony Hopkins and Mel Gibson.

Hough was the official historian of the Mountbatten family and a longtime student of Churchill. Winston Churchill figures prominently in nine of his books, including Former Naval Person: Churchill and the Wars at Sea. He won the Daily Express Best Book of the Sea Award in 1972.

Reviews

[Micah Cummins · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is quite a brief account of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s marriage, and because of that the author doesn’t have much page space to work with. I didn’t find anything new here, after reading a few other books on this same subject, this didn’t add any new information, but rather seemed to regurgitate much of the other works I have read. For someone new to the subject, this would be a good place to start, however, being a bit dry, I would instead recommend Helen Rappaport’s “A Magnificent Obsession” or Gillian Gill’s “We Two” instead, as they both tackle the subject from different perspectives, and both work off original research.

[AnnE · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but the biographer was pretty biased. I got sick of hearing his opinions by the end. There are other books about Victoria that I have liked better.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great biography of Victoria's and Albert's lives -- especially liked how the author included their journal writing so I was really able to see their perspective on what they were going through. The Great Exhibition of 1851 was such an accomplishment to Albert and to England. It was the "first world's fair." It was held in Hyde Park inside The Crystal Palace which was made with girders of cast iron and glass (prefabricated for rapid construction.) It was just beautiful, over the 5 months over 6 million people viewed the exhibit, which generated a profit that Albert put into a scholarship fund for students in the arts and sciences still used today. I did not know that the Queen was a carrier of hemophilia which she passed down to her male descendants. I did not know that Prince Albert brought from Germany the tradition of the Christmas Tree to England. Overall a very enjoyable read containing a lot of information, in only 212 pages.

[Claire Biggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starting with their early lives and how they became entwined until his untimely death in 1861, it looks at their love for each other with snippets of letters between them and the politicians during their marriage

[Pat Heath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent perspective on this marriage

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Queen and Consort/
Loved each other, that we know/
Now I find out why

[Lisa Konet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great account about how Albert of Germany and Victoria of England met, fell in love and married. He was her constant supporter when she became queen, and yes it wasn't all roses but they loved each other intensely. A great couple.

I enjoyed reading this and I love them even more as a couple in history. They did a lot together for England, hence the Victorian era <3

[Melyni · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author seemed to focus on the hardships of their relationship and doesn't really expound on the good things. I liked learning about their lives and I think that's the only thing that kept me finishing the book. It was a little depressing.

[Shannon Bailey]

got interested in V & A when we were in London last month -- a true love story even though they were set up -- and really interesting to learn more about the woman who ruled England for 60 years while it was the most powerful nation on earth -- while raising 9 kids!

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of those rare treats - fact-filled, yet very readable nonfiction. It may have been 5 stars for me when it'd be 4 for you, because I have a bias toward the subject matter.

[Monica]

Thanks for the tip, Carol. Glad it's only a couple hundred pages.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read to provide an overview of Prince Albert's life.