Letters Of The Empress Frederick

by Frederick Edward Grey Ponsonby (Editor)

""Letters of the Empress Frederick"" is a book that contains a collection of letters written by the Empress Frederick (also known as Victoria, Princess Royal) to her father, Prince Albert, and her husband, Emperor Frederick III of Germany, during the late 19th century. The book was compiled and edited by Frederick Ponsonby, a British politician and writer, and was first published in 1928.The letters offer a unique insight into the life of the Empress Frederick, who was known for her intelligence, political acumen, and progressive views. They cover a wide range of topics, including her relationships with her family members, her experiences as a mother, her involvement in politics, and her struggles with illness.Throughout the letters, the Empress Frederick displays a keen intellect and a deep sense of compassion for those around her. She also provides a fascinating glimpse into the political and social climate of Europe during the late 19th century, as she discusses topics such as the Franco-Prussian War, the rise of socialism, and the role of women in society.Overall, ""Letters of the Empress Frederick"" is a valuable historical document that provides readers with a unique perspective on the life and times of one of the most fascinating women of the 19th century.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

524 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2007

Reviews

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the summer of 1901, Frederick Ponsonby, then Private Secretary to King Edward VII, followed him to Germany to visit the King's dying sister, Vicky, Princess Royal and widow of the Emperor Frederick III. During their stay, the dying Empress invited Ponsonby for a private interview, and asked him to take all her private papers secretly to England. Vicky was sure that the second she died, her son, the Emperor Wilhelm II, would try to find all her papers and destroy them (which he did - and was pretty mad when he didn't find anything). It was risky, but Ponsonby succeeded, and nearly 30 years after the Empress' death, published a part of her letters, mostly the ones sent to her mother, Queen Victoria.

The published letters are mostly about political matters - with most of Vicky's family alive at the time, including the eldest son she had had so many problems with, Ponsonby couldn't make his selection any other way. Also, most of the book is dedicated to the period that starts with the illness of the Emperor Frederick until Vicky's death.

Having read biographies on Vicky and her family before, through her letters she comes out exactly as historians/biographers describe: an incomparably strong and intelligent woman, who was perhaps born before her time, and who led a life filled with tragedies with immense dignity.

Her letters are extremely interesting, giving the point of view of someone who was in the unique position of being (extremely happily) married to the heir of a growing Empire. Vicky gives accounts of the militaristic Prussian Court, of Prince Bismarck and of European wars. And in the family matters, we get a firsthand account of her husband Fritz's horrible illness and the whole debacle that involved the couple's preference for an English doctor over a German one. But most of the letters are dedicated to Vicky's troubled relations with her eldest son, Wilhelm II, especially after his father's death (my favourite letter was when she tells her mother she finally understands how Caesar must have felt when Brutus stabbed him). He causes her frequent pain and humiliation, and yet Vicky refuses to flatter him like his cronies just to be on good terms, when she knows that would be worse for his character.

I think this book is extremely valuable for anyone interested in not only Vicky herself but Queen Victoria's family, the German Empire and Europe in the XIXth century.