Venetia

by Benjamin Disraeli

The beauty of the young Venetia was not the hereditary gift of her beautiful mother. It was not from Lady Annabel that Venetia Herbert had derived those seraphic locks that fell over her shoulders and down her neck in golden streams, nor that clear grey eye even, whose childish glance might perplex the gaze of manhood, nor that little aquiline nose, that gave a haughty expression to a countenance that had never yet dreamed of pride, nor that radiant complexion, that dazzled with its brilliancy, like some winged minister of Raffael or Correggio. The peasants that passed the lady and her daughter in their walks, and who blessed her as they passed, for all her grace and goodness, often marveled why so fair a mother and so fair a child should be so dissimilar, that one indeed might be compared to a starry night, and the other to a sunny day.

Genres: Classics

348 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1837

About the author

One of the great British politicians of the nineteenth century, Disraeli served twice as Tory Prime Minister (1868 and 1874 - 1880) and was also a prominent figure in opposition. He is most famous today for the bitter hatred between himself and his political rival William Gladstone. He enjoyed the favour of Queen Victoria, who shared his dislike of Gladstone. His most significant political achievements are the 1867 Reform Act, in which he was instrumental, and the creation of the modern Conservative Party, with which he is credited. His literary career was greatly overshadowed by his parliamentary ambitions ('climbing the greasy pole'), but includes both romances and political novels.

Reviews

[L.T. Fawkes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Benjamin Disraeli, FREE *** A PBS documentary on Queen Victoria mentioned that Benjamin Disraeli wrote novels between stints as Victoria's PM. I grabbed my Kindle (love my Kindle) searched "Disraeli", and up popped the list. Downloaded a few free novels (lmK) and this is the 1st I've read.

I expected something heavy and political. Surprise! Its a romance. Guess ole BD was going for the $$. Oops. I mean the lbs.

Written in 1837, set in the 1760's, it's the tale of a young heiress who, raised in seclusion, is torn between loyalty to a very controlling and manipulative mother and the mysterious and possibly disreputable young man she loves.

It's also supposedly loosely based on Lord Byron and Percy Shelley, but I don't know enough about their lives to comment on that aspect.

Interesting characters and interesting plot, but it seemed looong.

[Helen Fosco · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am enjoying reading this book

[Marsha Kendall]

Didn't finish book

[Rosalind Hallifax · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this a lot. A bit wordy being a Victorian novel but a good story.