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Her Little Majesty: The Life of Queen Victoria
A multilayered portrait of Queen Victoria describes the life and reign of a monarch who ruled for sixty-four years
312 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1997
25 people are currently reading
1378 people want to read
About the author
Carolly Erickson
32 books708 followersDistinguished historian Carolly Erickson is the author of The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette, The First Elizabeth, Great Catherine, Alexandra and many other prize-winning works of fiction and nonfiction. She lives in Hawaii.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/caroll...
http://us.macmillan.com/author/caroll...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
April 18, 2022
I find biography's about queen Victoria to be very interesting and this was no different. But not quite a new favorite.
December 26, 2022
In her book "Her Little Majesty: The Life of Queen Victoria, Carolly Erickson presents to her reader a short and concise look at the life of one of England's most influential monarchs. For someone wishing to broaden an existing knowledge of Queen Victoria's life and reign, this is not the book. However, for someone new to reading about Queen Victoria's life and reign, this would be a perfect read. Erickson does not spend much time on politics, rather shifting her focus to primarily that of Victoria's personal life and world. Given the shorter length of the book, there is not much time to stay in any one era of Victoria's life for very long. There are some moments it does feel that Erickson is rushing through one moment to get to the next, however, as it does provide an overview with wonderful writing, and presentation of information, I would recommend Her Little Majesty to anyone wishing to start learning more about the life of Queen Victoria.
September 20, 2022
The book starts as most bios of Victoria-sharing the background of the Hanoverian kings and her sheltered childhood with her mother, the Duchess of Kent, and her comptroller, Conroy. At the age of eighteen she ascended the throne and took control of her life. Except she didn't, because she fell into the pit of belief that women needed a man to rule them, so she in turn depended on her prime ministers and her husband, Albert, as well as her uncle,Leopold, and an advisor, Stockmar, to advise her in her decision, until eventually Albert opened all dispatches, drafted all memoranda, and placed documents in front of her for her to sign.
Victoria was a creature of overweening emotion, crying and throwing tantrums at the drop of the hat. She berated her husband and children. After Albert's death she became even more controlling, especially of the Prince of Wales, reflecting the overbearing behavior of her guardians of her youth. Bertie, the heir apparent, inherited the dissolute genes of the George's, and Victoria was beside herself with outrage and grief. This grief ruled her life for many years, and in fact she wore mourning black the rest of her days. Eventually she found the will to visit her subjects again at social functions and state presentations as well as the will to live.
This will to live would not have been complete without the requisite strong men, men she again became unhealthfully attached to and lost her much esteem.
As time passed she loosed the reins on her foreign box to Bertie and allowed him more autonomy. She lost herself in the lives of her grandchildren and became a prolific letter writer. At the time of her death her family surrounded her and she was buried with numerous mementoes.
Erickson wrote an impressive overview of Victoria's life. I've read a few more detailed books on her life. If one is looking for a summary of events, this is perfect. I was distressed that the catalyst of Albert's death was not named as his wintry, rainy walk with Bertie about his profligate behavior. Also, the murder spree of Whitechapel was barely mentioned as an inconvenience. I typically appreciate Alison Weir over Erikson. She hasn't written about Victoria though.
Victoria was a creature of overweening emotion, crying and throwing tantrums at the drop of the hat. She berated her husband and children. After Albert's death she became even more controlling, especially of the Prince of Wales, reflecting the overbearing behavior of her guardians of her youth. Bertie, the heir apparent, inherited the dissolute genes of the George's, and Victoria was beside herself with outrage and grief. This grief ruled her life for many years, and in fact she wore mourning black the rest of her days. Eventually she found the will to visit her subjects again at social functions and state presentations as well as the will to live.
This will to live would not have been complete without the requisite strong men, men she again became unhealthfully attached to and lost her much esteem.
As time passed she loosed the reins on her foreign box to Bertie and allowed him more autonomy. She lost herself in the lives of her grandchildren and became a prolific letter writer. At the time of her death her family surrounded her and she was buried with numerous mementoes.
Erickson wrote an impressive overview of Victoria's life. I've read a few more detailed books on her life. If one is looking for a summary of events, this is perfect. I was distressed that the catalyst of Albert's death was not named as his wintry, rainy walk with Bertie about his profligate behavior. Also, the murder spree of Whitechapel was barely mentioned as an inconvenience. I typically appreciate Alison Weir over Erikson. She hasn't written about Victoria though.
October 28, 2025
Queen Victoria dominated the latter part of the nineteenth century, so much so that it is forever known as the Victorian Age. I’d say she left her mark on history. But before she became Empress of India and gathered enough countries and territories under the British Empire to resemble toys under a Christmas tree, she was just little “Drina” (short for Alexandrina Victoria). Cloistered, shy, all but smothered by too much helicopter parenting, it amazes the reader to learn how she overcame such an uncomfortable childhood to become the mother of the world.
When she was born in 1819, there was a collective breath of thankfulness from the British people. Her uncle, King George IV, was regent and would then become the successor of mad King George III. The Prince Regent, biding his time to become king, was known more for his girth and devotion to drink. His continuous eating of rich foods and rich liquors had made him as heavy and as nasty as Henry VIII. George’s only successor, daughter Charlotte, had died in childbirth in 1817. That was bad. But worse, it meant one of George’s many brothers would now be the next King. And given their laziness and spendthrift ways (no wonder George III went mad), the kingdom was going to be in a world of pain. So, George IV’s younger brothers suddenly straightened up and went in search of viable wives who could produce the next heir to the British realm. It was Prince Edward who stepped up and produced the future heir, who would hence be fourth in line to the succession once George IV became the real king. Luckily for her, and for Britain, the other heirs had different futures ahead of them.
Her own father, Prince Edward, died in 1820, placing Victoria into the next-in-line ladder. Uncle Frederick died in 1827. He was most famous for the rhyme, The Grand Old Duke of York (I was taught to sing it in Australia by Irish nuns who wanted to remind me the Pommies were bad).
The grand old Duke of York,
He had ten thousand men.
He marched them up to the top of the hill
And he marched them down again.
And when they were up, they were up.
And when they were down, they were down.
And when they were only halfway up,
They were neither up nor down.
Then there was Uncle Billy, who would become William IV. A man of the people and a welcome respite from the crazy Georges. But the Sailor King had no legitimate children, so Victoria became his true heir. Uncle Billy wanted to have his young niece live with him and his wife, in order to prepare her for her eventual ruling role. But Victoria’s mother was desperate to control her daughter. The King knew that the mother and her assumed lover, John Conroy, were maneuvering themselves into a future regency, so even though William knew he was in his last days, he determined to stay alive long enough for Victoria to reach her eighteenth birthday, which would deny the two nasties their chance at the throne. It was, perhaps, William IV’s greatest gift to his country.
This fascinating family soap opera takes up much of the first section of the book, which is quite pleasing for the reader. Victoria’s character was forged during the royal feuds and there was always the worry that, yet another Hanoverian descendant could be carrying the madness within that line. It also prepares the reader for the Queen’s adulthood and how she was able to become what she became, which was greatness. As the chapters continue, she marries, has a boatload of children (a Victorian thing to do), becomes widowed, wears black through the end of her life, and becomes rather matronly.
But it’s the lead up to the throne that makes her life so enthralling. In modern times, she would be considered an abused child who needed mental health services and prescriptive drugs, so I admired her ability to stay true to herself. Author Carolly Erickson writes a pleasing tome, managing to keep the reader’s interest in just three hundred pages. There are several biographies of Queen Victoria, but I always start to lose interest when the book is too large and too full of details. The author hits just the right rhythm here. Plus, I never thought that highly of Victoria, but I certainly changed my opinion after finishing this book, so job well done. But she still came from a nutty family.
Book Season = Year Round (defining symbol)
When she was born in 1819, there was a collective breath of thankfulness from the British people. Her uncle, King George IV, was regent and would then become the successor of mad King George III. The Prince Regent, biding his time to become king, was known more for his girth and devotion to drink. His continuous eating of rich foods and rich liquors had made him as heavy and as nasty as Henry VIII. George’s only successor, daughter Charlotte, had died in childbirth in 1817. That was bad. But worse, it meant one of George’s many brothers would now be the next King. And given their laziness and spendthrift ways (no wonder George III went mad), the kingdom was going to be in a world of pain. So, George IV’s younger brothers suddenly straightened up and went in search of viable wives who could produce the next heir to the British realm. It was Prince Edward who stepped up and produced the future heir, who would hence be fourth in line to the succession once George IV became the real king. Luckily for her, and for Britain, the other heirs had different futures ahead of them.
Her own father, Prince Edward, died in 1820, placing Victoria into the next-in-line ladder. Uncle Frederick died in 1827. He was most famous for the rhyme, The Grand Old Duke of York (I was taught to sing it in Australia by Irish nuns who wanted to remind me the Pommies were bad).
The grand old Duke of York,
He had ten thousand men.
He marched them up to the top of the hill
And he marched them down again.
And when they were up, they were up.
And when they were down, they were down.
And when they were only halfway up,
They were neither up nor down.
Then there was Uncle Billy, who would become William IV. A man of the people and a welcome respite from the crazy Georges. But the Sailor King had no legitimate children, so Victoria became his true heir. Uncle Billy wanted to have his young niece live with him and his wife, in order to prepare her for her eventual ruling role. But Victoria’s mother was desperate to control her daughter. The King knew that the mother and her assumed lover, John Conroy, were maneuvering themselves into a future regency, so even though William knew he was in his last days, he determined to stay alive long enough for Victoria to reach her eighteenth birthday, which would deny the two nasties their chance at the throne. It was, perhaps, William IV’s greatest gift to his country.
This fascinating family soap opera takes up much of the first section of the book, which is quite pleasing for the reader. Victoria’s character was forged during the royal feuds and there was always the worry that, yet another Hanoverian descendant could be carrying the madness within that line. It also prepares the reader for the Queen’s adulthood and how she was able to become what she became, which was greatness. As the chapters continue, she marries, has a boatload of children (a Victorian thing to do), becomes widowed, wears black through the end of her life, and becomes rather matronly.
But it’s the lead up to the throne that makes her life so enthralling. In modern times, she would be considered an abused child who needed mental health services and prescriptive drugs, so I admired her ability to stay true to herself. Author Carolly Erickson writes a pleasing tome, managing to keep the reader’s interest in just three hundred pages. There are several biographies of Queen Victoria, but I always start to lose interest when the book is too large and too full of details. The author hits just the right rhythm here. Plus, I never thought that highly of Victoria, but I certainly changed my opinion after finishing this book, so job well done. But she still came from a nutty family.
Book Season = Year Round (defining symbol)
May 15, 2009
The last 100 pages or so are far more gratifying than the first 100. There's a lot of speculative "she must have felt" garbage than I felt was warranted. Compared to the fantastically written and researched biography of Abigail Adams (by Lynne Withey) I read the week before, this one is pretty lame. Erickson even went so far as to put in quotations of what she thought Victoria would have said. That's just tacky. Most frustrating was the fact that I never really knew what was fact and what was speculation. Erickson should have written a biographical novel instead of a non-fiction biography, and based on what I read, it would have been much better than this.
Short version: there has to be a better version of her life than this.
Short version: there has to be a better version of her life than this.
November 9, 2021
A very very light biography. Doesn't seem especially worried about what was happening in the world and how that shaped queen Victoria or even what happened after such a long reigning monarch died. There were a lot of "Victoria felt like...." on instances where it would be impossible to know. Seemed more like a narrative.
August 20, 2025
Felt rushed in places but overall a decent book.
Okay I had no memory of actually reading this before until it came time to review it!! I'd have rated it 2.5* when I finished it in 2025 so won't adjust my rating.
Okay I had no memory of actually reading this before until it came time to review it!! I'd have rated it 2.5* when I finished it in 2025 so won't adjust my rating.
February 7, 2017
In an effort to learn more about Queen Victoria, I downloaded several short books to my Kindle (The Personal Life of Queen Victoria by Sarah Tooley and Queen Victoria: The Biography by University Press Biographies). They were somewhat informative but certainly not exhaustive.
Then I went to the library and found Her Little Majesty among the biographies on Victoria. I found the author's treatment of her subject depressing, emotional, and so negative that I had a hard time finishing it. I would say it is the most unflattering biography on any person that I have ever read. It is full of sadness and tragedy . I know Victoria was a complex and emotional woman with many weaknesses. In spite of that she ruled for 60 years, raised 9 children and many grandchildren in a very difficult societal structure while at the same time ruling a great country. Families crossed borders and had to deal with conflicting governments and politics as well as the intrigue that could be dangerous. The author failed to put this very amazing woman in the context of her time and place.
Another thing that was continuous throughout the book was the imposition of the author's analysis of what Victoria and those closest to her were feeling and thinking. It certainly was not the classical biography structure that I am used to in more scholarly books where the content is based on the writings and actions of the subject. In many parts, this read like a romance novel.
I dare any woman, even today, to deal with all the issues Victoria faced and do any better.
Then I went to the library and found Her Little Majesty among the biographies on Victoria. I found the author's treatment of her subject depressing, emotional, and so negative that I had a hard time finishing it. I would say it is the most unflattering biography on any person that I have ever read. It is full of sadness and tragedy . I know Victoria was a complex and emotional woman with many weaknesses. In spite of that she ruled for 60 years, raised 9 children and many grandchildren in a very difficult societal structure while at the same time ruling a great country. Families crossed borders and had to deal with conflicting governments and politics as well as the intrigue that could be dangerous. The author failed to put this very amazing woman in the context of her time and place.
Another thing that was continuous throughout the book was the imposition of the author's analysis of what Victoria and those closest to her were feeling and thinking. It certainly was not the classical biography structure that I am used to in more scholarly books where the content is based on the writings and actions of the subject. In many parts, this read like a romance novel.
I dare any woman, even today, to deal with all the issues Victoria faced and do any better.
March 22, 2021
I found this to be an enjoyable biography from start to end, aside from Albert's death (which I already knew was coming and the details surrounding it) where I sobbed terribly. I actually appreciated Erickson's blunt honesty in regards to Victoria's appearance, personality, and her less than great quirks and moments. I much prefer honesty over flattery in my biographies.
However, there were some writing choices Erickson made that went beyond honesty and became almost cruel. I wasn't able to acquire an exact date - I'm assuming it was around 6 months after Albert's death -Victoria wrote in her sketchbook that 1862 was the "First Year of my misery" because it was her first year without Albert. Erickson referred to this excerpt as "melodramatic," which I found slightly callous since it had only been a few months since Victoria had lost her husband.
Overall, I'm glad I read Erickson's biography, and I enjoyed how smoothly she delved into the various cultural shifts that surround Victoria's life from girlhood right up until her death as an elderly woman. Personally, I wish Erickson would've provided more insight on Victoria's later years, but I understand why she focused most heavily on the years from her accession until Albert's death.
And I loved this quote, from Prime Minister Gladstone's perspective, regarding Victoria's personality that I found sums up Victoria quite well: "...unique mix of little-girl stubbornness, toughness and petulance combined with shrewd common sense born of long experience in governing."
However, there were some writing choices Erickson made that went beyond honesty and became almost cruel. I wasn't able to acquire an exact date - I'm assuming it was around 6 months after Albert's death -Victoria wrote in her sketchbook that 1862 was the "First Year of my misery" because it was her first year without Albert. Erickson referred to this excerpt as "melodramatic," which I found slightly callous since it had only been a few months since Victoria had lost her husband.
Overall, I'm glad I read Erickson's biography, and I enjoyed how smoothly she delved into the various cultural shifts that surround Victoria's life from girlhood right up until her death as an elderly woman. Personally, I wish Erickson would've provided more insight on Victoria's later years, but I understand why she focused most heavily on the years from her accession until Albert's death.
And I loved this quote, from Prime Minister Gladstone's perspective, regarding Victoria's personality that I found sums up Victoria quite well: "...unique mix of little-girl stubbornness, toughness and petulance combined with shrewd common sense born of long experience in governing."
March 3, 2011
I rather liked this lively biography of Queen Victoria. As I've read a small mountain of books (sixty or so) about her, many of which would be exceedingly dull and plodding for someone less obsessed with the subject than myself, it was very refreshing to find a biography that concentrated less on the weighty political issues of the era and more on Victoria as a person.
Though this book does tend to concentrate on Victoria's bad points, it felt to me as if the author had researched the queen and found a great deal of negative information and was putting it down somewhat reluctantly, as I thought she had a genuine liking for her subject.
After many weighty tomes, this was a nice bit of light relief to curl up with a nice cup of tea and a biscuit with, but don't take it as an excessively scholarly volume. Mind you, any book called 'Her Little Majesty' is unlikely to be placed alongside the biographies of Elizabeth Longford or Cecil Woodham-Smith.
Though this book does tend to concentrate on Victoria's bad points, it felt to me as if the author had researched the queen and found a great deal of negative information and was putting it down somewhat reluctantly, as I thought she had a genuine liking for her subject.
After many weighty tomes, this was a nice bit of light relief to curl up with a nice cup of tea and a biscuit with, but don't take it as an excessively scholarly volume. Mind you, any book called 'Her Little Majesty' is unlikely to be placed alongside the biographies of Elizabeth Longford or Cecil Woodham-Smith.
January 19, 2012
This is the briefest sketch of Queen Victoria's long life, not a full fledged, in depth biography. Her life and reign cannot be covered in a mere 264 pages. Too many of those pages are devoted to the author's assessment of Victoria's physical appearance. Okay, I get it, she was no beauty. I plucked this book from my own collection where it had sat for several years, unread. I was looking for more information about her childhood and the influence John Conroy had over Victoria's mother. In that respect, I think the book was OK. But once Victoria ascends the throne and then marries Albert I think the book descends into a lot of conjecture on the author's part. She tends to pass off her attempts to read Victoria's inner thoughts as fact. So be forewarned, this book is pretty light going. But I *did* finish it so it wasn't completely awful.
December 28, 2020
Very informative, HOWEVER the author is particularly cruel and judgemental of the fact Victoria in was not a traditionally attractive woman. You will have many **sometimes several times per chapter** ruthless descriptions of all of Victoria's physical shortcomings. I understand she was a bit on the homely side and overweight, but the author describes her in absolutely grotesque ways. I found the constant obsession with her physical appearance irrelevant and misogynistic. No one would write this way about a man. 3 stars for being informative, but otherwise a cringey read.
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February 22, 2019A short, superficial treatment of a short, superficial person, lol. Victoria is hard to like and harder to respect. As always, glad to stick some facts and figures in the old cranium. Monarchy is such an absurd political construct. We are sooooo lucky to have better governmental systems in place, let's try to use them effectively for the greater good.
February 20, 2011
It seems fake, like it is not a true biography. The first half was very interesting, but once she became queen it DRAGGED and was all the same.
October 29, 2017
This biography of Queen Victoria is a recent addition to the plethora of material available about the famous British monarch. Erickson tells the story of a not terribly-likeable and rather homely woman who grew up in elegant but extremely difficult circumstances. A woman of her time, she happily hands off her responsibilities to the handiest sympathetic male. First, Prime Minister Lord Melbourne and then her husband, Prince Albert so when she is confronted with having to stand on her own after Albert's untimely death, she falls to pieces and turns to yet another man for support, a Scots servant named John Brown. While heavily controlled socially by circumstance she is spoiled rotten domestically. She is self-indulgent, self-pitying and a hypochondriac to the nth degree. Her nine children who, miraculously for the times, all survived childhood give her endless consternation as well as numerous grandchildren. While I found the queen herself quite an unpleasant character I was amazed that all her consort did for the empire in her name. He pretty much worked himself to death. It was also amazing to once-again encounter society's the deep sympathy for Crimean War veterans, for example, but blissfully ignore the estimated thirty thousand homeless children living on London streets in that era. It was also interesting to consider that in her era gossip about the royal family was just as rife and outrageous as it is today. Erickson provided a few paintings and photos of the many in existence but what the reader really needs is a family tree. I had to print two from the Internet, pre- and post-Victoria, to keep the myriad multi-titled royalty straight and I noticed that a previous reader of my library copy of the book had left behind a hand-written cheat sheet as well. A good biography of an extremely flawed individual.
February 4, 2018
4.5 stars! I very much liked this biography of Queen Victoria! Apparently others found this to be a depressing read. From everything I've learned about "Her Little Majesty", she was very comfortable with the "depressing". I like that the book seemed to be an honest accounting of how life really looked to Victoria. When I decide to spend time learning about a giant, historical figure, I want to be able to feel like I see their world through their eyes. I want the author to make me FEEL the subject. This author did this for me. Victoria wasn't a cheerful, happy woman. Life was VERY hard for a woman (much more for a QUEEN) during this period of history. I'm still in awe of her determination and her strength! What a little powerhouse! The story left me a little sad because she endured endless sorrow . It felt like she drew strength from her sorrow though and I admire that. I cried at the end while reading the descriptive death scene... especially after reading that she felt there was still more left to do. She struggled to fight death up to her last breath. How very sad but what a beautiful, intense life!
March 11, 2020
When Queen Victoria was a child, she was treated fairly coldly, and mostly “used” by her mother and a friend of her mother’s, knowing that she would likely be on the throne one day. This backfired on them when Victoria did reach the throne just after her 18th birthday. She married a cousin she loved, and once they were married, he did most of the political work, but he died young. Victoria mourned for the rest of her life for Albert. They had 9 children. Victoria varied on whether or not she got along with various elected Prime Ministers over time. She ruled for decades and she lived to be 81 years old.
I really liked this. The book is not that long, so I’m sure there was plenty left out, but I thought it was very readable and almost read like fiction. Despite all her kids, I didn’t have too much trouble following who was who, but maybe the author made sure to remind us? I didn’t notice. I have read a couple of fictional works about her, but this, I think, is the first nonfiction. I liked some of the extras thrown in about things that were happening at various points in time over the course of Victoria’s life, including fashion.
I really liked this. The book is not that long, so I’m sure there was plenty left out, but I thought it was very readable and almost read like fiction. Despite all her kids, I didn’t have too much trouble following who was who, but maybe the author made sure to remind us? I didn’t notice. I have read a couple of fictional works about her, but this, I think, is the first nonfiction. I liked some of the extras thrown in about things that were happening at various points in time over the course of Victoria’s life, including fashion.
November 10, 2019
There is everything in here I expect from a biography: an account about the important events of her life as well as a study of her personality with bits of politics, social changes and other history sprinkled in.
While I found the information really interesting, I noticed a few odd things in Ericksons writing.
She seems to take pleasure in describing people's appearances in the most unflattering ways. I don't mind stating the opinion of the public from back then, but her choice of words seemed mean-spirited in a way that was distracting.
Also, there were some creative liberties taken when expressing what people felt or how someone wept into their pillow that night to a point where it takes novel-like proportions. It's not that often, though, and mostly in the first third of the book, but whenever something like that wasn't backed up with a diary entry or something similar, it felt strange. However, the majority of the book was written as factually as I expect from a biography.
Despite the issues it was still great to learn about the queen of my favourite historical period.
While I found the information really interesting, I noticed a few odd things in Ericksons writing.
She seems to take pleasure in describing people's appearances in the most unflattering ways. I don't mind stating the opinion of the public from back then, but her choice of words seemed mean-spirited in a way that was distracting.
Also, there were some creative liberties taken when expressing what people felt or how someone wept into their pillow that night to a point where it takes novel-like proportions. It's not that often, though, and mostly in the first third of the book, but whenever something like that wasn't backed up with a diary entry or something similar, it felt strange. However, the majority of the book was written as factually as I expect from a biography.
Despite the issues it was still great to learn about the queen of my favourite historical period.
August 4, 2017
Raamat oli huvitav. Raamatu lugemisel tasub (netiavarustest) otsida välja Victoria sugupuu (avastasin raamatut lõpetades, et raamatu tagalehel on mõningane sugupuu siiski olemas).
Eeldan, et see oli tõelähedane elulooraamat, siiski hämmastas mind kirjeldus temast kui pirtsakast, tujukast, vähese haridusega inimesest (eriti lapsepõlves).
Tema välimuse inetust või omanäolisust kirjeldati mitmeid kordi. Mulle tundub, piltide järgi, kuninganna põneva olekuga ja omamoodi ilus. Samas, mul on silme ees see imearmas noor kuninganna, keda mängib Jenna Coleman teleseriaalis Victoria. Raamatu alguses tekivadki mitmed võrdlusmomendid raamatu ja filmi vahel. Film ilmestab raamatut päris kenasti, kuigi võib-olla vääralt.
Eeldan, et see oli tõelähedane elulooraamat, siiski hämmastas mind kirjeldus temast kui pirtsakast, tujukast, vähese haridusega inimesest (eriti lapsepõlves).
Tema välimuse inetust või omanäolisust kirjeldati mitmeid kordi. Mulle tundub, piltide järgi, kuninganna põneva olekuga ja omamoodi ilus. Samas, mul on silme ees see imearmas noor kuninganna, keda mängib Jenna Coleman teleseriaalis Victoria. Raamatu alguses tekivadki mitmed võrdlusmomendid raamatu ja filmi vahel. Film ilmestab raamatut päris kenasti, kuigi võib-olla vääralt.
June 23, 2025
Biography on Queen Victoria; very well written, and it goes into a lot of Her Majesty’s personal life as well as her responses to the political ambitions of European powers as well as the growth of the British Empire and social changes throughout the decades of the Victorian era in Britain. Also noted is Victoria’s guilty conscience about teenage soldiers being maimed for life in the Crimean War (a contrast to LBJ and hawkey 21st century lawmakers) and her trying to help them medically after the war’s conclusion as well as her opposition to feminism and the growing suffragette movement. Her Majesty’s opposition to women in public life is very interesting given the queen herself being the most powerful woman in human history, Queen Victoria herself commenting that the suffragettes in Britain ought to be flogged.
April 20, 2025
Interesting information but the author was too intrusive. Also she contradicts herself. One minute we're told that Victoria hated sex and (understandably) feared pregnancy and childbirth, the next that she constantly had the hots for Albert and they did it every night. One minute she is an absolute ruler (at least in terms of calling the shots) and the next she's a clinging vine who thinks it's only right the men should do it all. Also the text needed a better proofreader than it had.
The first half was a quick read, the second half dragged.
The first half was a quick read, the second half dragged.
February 18, 2019
If you do not enjoy biographies or historical accounts, this book is not for you. However, the author does a great job of bringing creative writing to historical events. It details the life of queen Victoria, yet does not sugarcoat the monarch herself. This biography humanizes this powerful queen. We are third used the Queen’s personal diary to gain understanding about the Queen’s emotional state.
March 8, 2021
This was my favorite of the 3 Queen Victoria biographies I've read. It's more based in fact than Daisy Goodwin's book and covers more of her life, but it's not as dull and dry as AN Wilson's Victoria: A Life. I liked that it touched on political events of her lifetime without going into every single detail and nuance; the focus remained on Victoria and her family life. I would definitely recommend!
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May 25, 2022Moim zdaniem było tutaj zdecydowanie za dużo domysłów, gdybania, opisów wyglądu Wiktorii (niektóre były już zwyczajnie okrutne i stygmatyzujące), a za mało jej opinii na różne tematy, za mało tła obyczajowego (tło polityczne było j a k o ś zarysowane, ale chyba zbyt oszczędnie). Czytało się to bardzo szybko, język był przyjemny, ale nie polecałabym chyba tego komuś, kto się interesuje tym okresem.
January 6, 2025
mi è piaciuta per la panoramica sul mood dell'epoca vittoriana e per la scansione temporale di cui avevo bisogno. forse si sarebbero potute tenere le fila più spesso di questa famiglia numerosa e complessa, perché ogni tanto mi sono persa. se mondadori lo ripubblica, visto che gli altri saggi della erickson li sta ripubblicando da qualche anno, un albero genealogico ci starebbe bene.
ci sono descrizioni molto accurate perché vengono da testimonianze e lettere personali.
ci sono descrizioni molto accurate perché vengono da testimonianze e lettere personali.
November 10, 2025
Queen Victoria was born in 1837. She took the throne at the age of 18, in 1838. She married Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in 1840. The couple had nine children. Her reign lasted almost 64 years, and would constitute what we know today as the Victorian Era. This book talks about her life, reign, and contributions to societal norms. I enjoy other works by this author and was glad to finally complete this one in my stack of unread books.
May 3, 2024
I really enjoyed this book which provided a brief summary of Queen Victoria’s life. As we are going to Balmoral this summer, I was particularly interested in the portion relating to the Queen and the Highlands. I intend to to delve deeper into Queen Victoria’s life and the Victorian era with more reading in the future- this book provided a great introduction
January 19, 2019
Libro interessante che però non approfondisce molto la lunga vita della regina. Le informazioni che vengono date rimangono superficiali, come se si volesse dare una panoramica veloce sulla vita di questa grande regina.
May 19, 2023
To call Carolly Erickson a historian, would be like calling Victoria a competent ruler... her books are very entertaining and will at least communicate the barest facts that are so universally known that even she cannot put her own spin on them. Her biography of the last tsarina Alexandra Romanov was a hot awful mess: this one is much better, probably because this time Erickson need only know English to access primary sources and secondary literature. This is a fast read that recounts the personal life of Queen Victoria and Erickson's wild fantasies on Victoria's feelings and moods that can duly be ignored.
November 3, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this bio of Queen Victoria, although, I get the impression this was a highlight reel. I am now hyper fixated on Victoria and her children and want to read more about them and their personalities.
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