My Dearest, Dearest Albert: Queen Victoria's Life Through Her Letters and Journals

by Karen Dolby

Photographs of Queen Victoria most often show a plump Empress wearing widow’s serious and regal. In reality, the character of Alexandrina Victoria, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and latterly in her long reign, Empress of India, is rather different. In private, Victoria had a reputation for being fun-loving and entertaining. Victoria kept a daily journal from the age of 13, which by the time of her death ran to 122 volumes. She reveals herself to be emotional and honest about her own feelings and experiences, as well as her opinions of other people. This book shows Victoria at her most human, whether enthusing over her hobbies and interests, delighting in her children and grandchildren, commenting on the 10 different Prime Ministers who served during her reign, or sharing her love for her husband—her dearest, dearest Albert.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Memoir, Biography

160 pages, Hardcover

First published September 20, 2018

Reviews

[Micah Cummins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Queen Victoria is endlessly fascinating.

This was an excellent compilation of Queen Victoria’s personal writings that give such an intimate look into her life, from her own perspective. I found it very interesting to read about certain events from her point of view, and to gain a bit more perspective into her world.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m of the opinion that Queen Victoria’s life is one of the greatest stories the English monarchy has to boast of. She led a challenging childhood, was coronated at 18, was a champion of art and progress, and was lucky enough to experience what can only be described as great love. It was fascinating to read letters that she had actually written over the years. They were at times adorable, heartbreaking, crotchety, touching, and lonely. She never fails to cut a fascinating figure, and it was so interesting to get the closer glimpse of her character provided in this little collection.

[lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I AM SO EMOTIONAL RIGHT NOW

I love Queen Victoria so much. I am always eager to read something new about her, and I recently discovered this book. Karen Dolby offers an alternative understanding to Victoria through her own personal writing, that of her many letters and journals.

This is a very brief account of her life. We're not offered all her letters or journal entries. We are not even offered them in full. Dolby, instead, asserts something about Victoria's life and backs it up with evidence taken directly from her writing.

The one thing I love about Victoria's life is her relationship with Albert. I just find it so interesting; the fact that, initially, they didn't like each other until two years later when they meet once again and fall instantly in love. Two brief weeks together and Victoria proposes. They had hardly any time to truly get to know each other, but they knew that they were soul mates. Their story is just so pure, so simple, and so wholesome, that I love reading about it so much. Dolby displayed a really emotional insight into this, which I really loved/appreciated!

I got quite emotional during this. I was offered a new side to Victoria. I read her own personal emotions, which was naturally more intimate. It felt like I knew her better. I knew how she reacted to Albert's death, to her mother's death, to each of her children, to her servant friends, and so on. It just painted a completely new picture of the queen, and I couldn't have loved it more.

It was super short and brief! I would definitely recommend it! Think I might try to make my way through all 122 volumes of her journals next (which, thankfully, are all online for free)!

[Claire Geraghty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Think this has to be a world record for me in reading time. Took me 4 hours in one day to read. What a fantastic and insightful book. Queen Victoria was certainly an interesting character. It was nice to read her own personal thoughts and feelings on all sorts of matters such as her children, her relationships, her politics etc. I do feel for her children, constantly criticised for things and in such a brutal way. Victoria certainly didn’t hold back on what she really thought. Also reminding them that although they are happy in their marriages, no one could compare to her marriage to Albert. Often calling him her “Angel”

Victoria filled 122 volumes of journals as well as writing daily letters. Altogether more than 8,000 letters were exchanged between Victoria and her eldest daughter Vicky!!

[Kiri Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this little book expecting it to be like Oxford Classics' Selected Letters of Jane Austen. It's not! But it is a great little biography of the fascinating Queen Victoria, mostly told through excerpts from her letters and diaries. I thoroughly enjoyed this glimpse into's Victoria's perspective.

[Renee Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I I am devouring every book I can find on Queen Victoria. I loved reading her journal entries and letters in this one. Her love for Albert was so wonderful. She was quite brutal on her kids at times but that’s how she was raised. I enjoyed this book very much.

[Kristine · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this little book confirmed some of what was depicted in the three seasons of PBS Masterpiece Theater's production Victoria, it also presented direct passages from Victoria's journals that showed a slightly different side of the sovereign. She could be most prickly. And astoundingly opinionated. And her written views on children seemed much different than what was shown on the screen. I especially enjoyed the latter half of the book about her later years as a widow. The relationship she and Prince Albert shared for 20 years is indeed a love story:)

[Katherine Benfante · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really enlightening! I knew very little of Queen Victoria's personality before this, save that she was a very fast eater and demanded strict manners and civility by her guests. I enjoyed reading most of these letters, though I wish there were more of them and longer snippets. I'd give this book 4 stars except that I found Victoria very grating at times. She wasn't a nice woman, to put it bluntly. She ruled the lives of her children - or tried to do so - and seemed to steamroll over Albert. So that made the book hard to read, frankly. I cringed a lot. However, I love the concept of the book.

[Sandra Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Splashes of the humanity of Queen Victoria

Splashes of the humanity of this adored queen. I would not recommend it to anyone who had not already seen the series Victoria or read a good biography about her. Most of what she wrote revealed her failures as a mother and a wife, as well as her utter worship of--and dependence upon --Prince Albert. So sad to think she felt her life unbearable once he was gone.

[Mallory Witham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, sweet and insightful. Victoria was one harsh parent and so devoted to Albert. Wonderful to read her history in her own words. Karen Dolby did a great job of putting together chapters that reflected each of Victoria's roles in her life. Bride, Mother, Monarch etc. It is one that will stay in my memory for a long time.

[Bella Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like this book just scratched the surface of Queen Victoria’s Life. I would certainly be interested in reading a more thorough account of her life. It was interesting to read her own thoughts through her letters and journal entries. Although, I am afraid that the context that was provided was rather biased and painted a picture of Queen Victoria quite subjectively.

[Ashley Garrity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great and Easy Read

If you are interested in England's Royal Family history you will enjoy this book very much. Those who have watched "Victoria" on Masterpiece this book will give you even more insight.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic book. I have always been fascinated with Queen Victoria and this book helped open the door to understanding her love for her family, mostly Albert. If every women found their Albert, I believe that no one would divorce because you have found your soul mate.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another offshoot reading while I'm still in my Queen Victoria phase. This contains snippets of her letters and journals at very specific and momentous events of her life and provides insights to her life as a Queen, wife and mother to nine princes and princesses.

[Nickolas Schachtsick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great personal and historic interest

The dairy entries and letters of Queen Victoria are laid out in mostly chronological order. They are all neatly framed and narrated by the editor which provides historical context, commentary, and other interesting information.

[Tilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

just wow! i loved this so much would totally recommend it

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read

Fascinating to see the real and lifelike face and passions of a distant royal. She is not the remote person I thought she was!

[Kelsey S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating history, but I wish the information was arranged chronologically rather than topically. It was hard to follow at times.

[Beth (biblio.beth) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

What a strange and interesting woman Queen Victoria was.

[Softcelestial · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was good

[Delaney Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read, very interesting to read history through the lense of these letters.

[Bookwormgyrl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is better than any biography on Queen Victoria. This gives a glimpse of who she was as a Queen, wife, mother, and most importantly a woman. 5.0 bookworms

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very interesting first look into Queen Victoria’s life. Though simple, I liked that it mainly used her own writings to tell you about her life.

I look forward to picking up more books about her and Albert but this was a nice introduction into her letters and journals.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely loved that the book showcased Victoria's life through her diary entries and private letters. The only thing that I didn't like about this book was the author's tone and obvious personal opinions that came through about certain things Victoria has written or done.

[Piper Winchester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice to see a different side of Queen Victoria, didn't notice me and her have so much in common.
I did notice a tiny mistake, they put 1980 instead of 1880.
Nice to learn a bit about the children as well

[Vanilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

very good