Victoria in the Wings

Georgian Saga #11

by Jean Plaidy

With mad King George III locked away, the Prince Regent ill, and Princess Charlotte dead, young princess Victoria remains the last hope of the House of Hanover to retain the throne. Reprint.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, 19th Century, British Literature, Novels, Victorian

354 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Eleanor Alice Burford, Mrs. George Percival Hibbert was a British author of about 200 historical novels, most of them under the pen name Jean Plaidy which had sold 14 million copies by the time of her death. She chose to use various names because of the differences in subject matter between her books; the best-known, apart from Plaidy, are Victoria Holt (56 million) and Philippa Carr (3 million). Lesser known were the novels Hibbert published under her maiden name Eleanor Burford, or the pseudonyms of Elbur Ford, Kathleen Kellow and Ellalice Tate. Many of her readers under one penname never suspected her other identities.
-Wikipedia

Reviews

[Sara G · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the better installments in Jean Plaidy's Georgian historical fiction series. This book covers the period between the death of Princess Charlotte and the death of George IV, with special focus on the young Princess Victoria. The Georgian royals were so interesting and this book does a good job of portraying that. My only slight criticism is how the story portrays the Duke and Duchess of Cumberland as total villains. I'm not sure that's entirely fair.

[Elisem007 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good portrayals, really nice character developments but again moves really fast

[Samantha Crisford-Eade · Rating 4 out of 5]

My beloved Grandma Leila introduced me to works of Jean Plaidy (real name Eleanor Hibbet and also wrote under many pen names including Victoria Holt). And so my love affair with historical fiction was born - real facts and events brought to life. This novel brought to live the absurd race for an heir during the Georgian period. The character that most resonated with me in this novel was not the Royals but a wonderful Dorothea Jordan. She was a talented actress and the future King Williams’s mistress for 20years, bearing him 10 illegitimate children. When the race for the heir began, she was discarded by William and died in poverty in France at the age of 54. Her life fascinates me and I want to learn more - thank you wonderful Eleanor Hibbet for introducing her to me and keeping the memory of Dorothea alive.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read a lot of of Victoria Holt (also known as Jean Plaidy) when I was younger. Her MY ENEMY THE QUEEN, about Queen Elizabeth I, was one of my favorites, so I thought I would enjoy this book, which details the generation leading up to Queen Victoria's ascension to the throne. Although the story was interesting, the were SO many different characters (made more confusing by the fact that they are referred to alternately by their names and their titles, sometimes other names as well) that it was hard to fully engage with the novel. I did learn some things and am glad I read it. but I probably won't read others in this "Georgian Saga" series.

[Olga · Rating 3 out of 5]

Если рассматривать как дополнение к учебникам по истории Британии, то очень даже. Даже живенько. Даже с интригой для тех, кто не в курсе.
Если рассматривать как женский роман, то скучновато. Очень сочувствовала Аделаиде. Любопытно, насколько правдиво описан ее характер?

[Eva Knox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Queen Charlotte and King George III had 15 children but the king didn't allow the girls to marry except for one. The sons didn't make good choices and then as older men they married to produce an heir
The crown was more important than family.

[Arin Rohrbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fascinating and historically accurate account of the baby race to get an heir to the English throne.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love a good story about the royals in England. All the plotting and bad behavior made for a decent read.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jean Plaidy never fails to deliver a fantastic read.

[Lynn Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book covers the period between the death of Princess Charlotte and the death of George IV, with special focus on the young Princess Victoria.
Synopsis:
With King George III under lock and key suffering from perceived insanity and the Prince Regent in ill health, all eyes are on the Regent's pregnant daughter. Unfortunately, the unthinkable happens and both Charlotte and her baby die in childbirth, leaving the age old problem of succession. For though King George III has many children, all are middle-aged and none have legitimate heirs to secure the Hanoverian dynasty.

The death of Charlotte causes a sudden enthusiasm for marriage among the sons of George III, as they compete to have children and secure their line of succession. William marries Adelaide of Saxe-Coburg Meiningen while Edward marries Victoria Mary Louisa of Saxe-Saalfeld-Coburg. Another son, Ernest, is already married and he too hopes to be the one to provide necessary children. King George dies, to be replaced by an ailing George IV, and Edward and Victoria succeed in having a daughter, also named Victoria. She waits patiently to become Queen, avoiding the plots, intrigue and danger that threaten to prevent her reaching maturity.

[Marlene Bate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and entertaining read.

I chose five stars, purely due to my enjoyment of the book. Plaidy tells an excellent story, and draws the characters very well. The atmosphere of the time is well described, and the characters developed with humour and wit. The cut and thrust of the era is described in a very dramatic manner. Anyone with an interest in Queen Victoria would enjoy this book.

[Karen Galber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting and fast paced. Describes the British Royal family from the death of Princess Charlotte until the death of her father George IV.
It also describes the rush to produce an heir after the death of Princess Charlotte. The result being Victoria

[Hans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just another Plaidy, maybe my last one.

[Hina S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 1 of the Victoria Series