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sarahcoller's review against another edition
3.0
Though I've never found Jean Plaidy's/Victoria Holt's/other aliases' writings very poignant or deep, one can not come to the end of a 541 page novel and be unmoved. This was the story of Queen Victoria from early childhood until just weeks before her death at 81 and, while some sentiments may have been somewhat construed, it read much like the filling out of a detailed timeline, leading me to believe she obtained much of her information from writings from the Queen. The story was a little unbalanced as the first 40 years of her life were told in 410 pages and the last 41 were spelled out in just over 100.
I somewhat liked the Young Victoria of the novel's early chapters. She was lighthearted and friendly; yet everything was always so peachy with everyone she dealt with that I kept waiting for the shoe to drop. There were lots of sensitive crying men who doted on her (enter construes). That didn't seem super believable.
I found myself wishing there would have been a timeline included or dated chapters. It was difficult to imagine things happening in the timeline of the rest of history without stopping to look things up.
Once Victoria and Albert were married, I found that I began liking her less and less as time went on. I can't imagine speaking so meanly about my children. Even though I definitely do put my husband before my children and they know that relationship is most important, I could never say the things or treat my child the way they did toward Bertie. It's no wonder he struggled as an adult and I was happy to read he was so free and loving with his own children. I loved it when she said, "Remember your childhood!" and he said, "Oh yes, Mama, I do remember it well."
I didn't care much for Albert throughout the book and found it irritating when Victoria would say he could do no wrong---especially in the case of Bertie's upbringing where he is clearly overbearing and mean. She mentions at the end that she maybe saw him as too angelic---but then condemns herself for thinking badly of her dearly departed. I think she battled with being proper as opposed to being real.
Once Albert passed away, I had a difficult time liking her. It's not that I didn't want to be sympathetic but she seems to be hypocritical and pampered. I was annoyed that she even mentioned Alexandra didn't seek her permission for her parents to visit her on her sick bed. I was frustrated that she continued to blame Bertie for Albert's death and that she made Beatrice feel guilty if she wanted to venture away from home. She seemed very childish to me and it was difficult to respect her.
Though I think I probably found more negatives than positives, not all was bad. I do think she was a loyal friend and a loving mother, in her own way. She was loyal to her people and seemed genuinely affected when she'd fallen out of favor as she desired to be in their good graces. I loved that she employed servants from other cultures and learned from them. I was also applauding her left and right for standing up to an overbearing mother. Good for her.
One thing I learned from the book was the practice the Germans had of purposefully scarring one another's faces in Mensur. Ew.
All in all, I'm glad I read the book. I'll keep it in my collection as I'm sure I'll want to read it again in the future.
I somewhat liked the Young Victoria of the novel's early chapters. She was lighthearted and friendly; yet everything was always so peachy with everyone she dealt with that I kept waiting for the shoe to drop. There were lots of sensitive crying men who doted on her (enter construes). That didn't seem super believable.
I found myself wishing there would have been a timeline included or dated chapters. It was difficult to imagine things happening in the timeline of the rest of history without stopping to look things up.
Once Victoria and Albert were married, I found that I began liking her less and less as time went on. I can't imagine speaking so meanly about my children. Even though I definitely do put my husband before my children and they know that relationship is most important, I could never say the things or treat my child the way they did toward Bertie. It's no wonder he struggled as an adult and I was happy to read he was so free and loving with his own children. I loved it when she said, "Remember your childhood!" and he said, "Oh yes, Mama, I do remember it well."
I didn't care much for Albert throughout the book and found it irritating when Victoria would say he could do no wrong---especially in the case of Bertie's upbringing where he is clearly overbearing and mean. She mentions at the end that she maybe saw him as too angelic---but then condemns herself for thinking badly of her dearly departed. I think she battled with being proper as opposed to being real.
Once Albert passed away, I had a difficult time liking her. It's not that I didn't want to be sympathetic but she seems to be hypocritical and pampered. I was annoyed that she even mentioned Alexandra didn't seek her permission for her parents to visit her on her sick bed. I was frustrated that she continued to blame Bertie for Albert's death and that she made Beatrice feel guilty if she wanted to venture away from home. She seemed very childish to me and it was difficult to respect her.
Though I think I probably found more negatives than positives, not all was bad. I do think she was a loyal friend and a loving mother, in her own way. She was loyal to her people and seemed genuinely affected when she'd fallen out of favor as she desired to be in their good graces. I loved that she employed servants from other cultures and learned from them. I was also applauding her left and right for standing up to an overbearing mother. Good for her.
One thing I learned from the book was the practice the Germans had of purposefully scarring one another's faces in Mensur. Ew.
All in all, I'm glad I read the book. I'll keep it in my collection as I'm sure I'll want to read it again in the future.
wildwolverine's review against another edition
3.0
One of the greatest queens in western history... or one of the greatest consorts? Jean Plaidy tackles the monumental Queen Victoria in this book whom I firmly believe is only as popular as she is because she happened to rule over the Industrial Revolution. While Plaidy covers a complex figure, readers get more of a sense that Victoria's true power was squashed by a larger than life prince consort.
Victoria comes to the throne as an eighteen year old, young, full of life and ready to live it. She is easily led by attractive and witty people; although, her strength is that she stays loyal to them no matter what. This is never more apparent than when she marries her cousin Albert. Throughout their marriage, Albert patronizes Victoria. Every now and then, she questions his behavior, only to reprimand herself for what she perceives as her unjustness towards him. The truth, as presented in this novel, is that he treated her like a child, easily preferred their eldest daughter to everyone else, and physically and emotionally abused their eldest son. Deep down, Victoria knows this is all wrong, but she can't bring herself to correct her husband.
It's truly sad to see a powerful woman who stared death in the face an unprecedented seven times, saw uncountable sadness, expanded the British empire through her children and grandchildren, and was kind to servants often be put in her place by the men she allows to rule her. You get a sense that she truly could have been awesome, if she had a little more confidence in her own rule.
That said, Victoria is still a compelling character, though I was begging for it to end at the 400 page mark because her ceaseless adulation of Albert was boring me into an early grave.
Victoria comes to the throne as an eighteen year old, young, full of life and ready to live it. She is easily led by attractive and witty people; although, her strength is that she stays loyal to them no matter what. This is never more apparent than when she marries her cousin Albert. Throughout their marriage, Albert patronizes Victoria. Every now and then, she questions his behavior, only to reprimand herself for what she perceives as her unjustness towards him. The truth, as presented in this novel, is that he treated her like a child, easily preferred their eldest daughter to everyone else, and physically and emotionally abused their eldest son. Deep down, Victoria knows this is all wrong, but she can't bring herself to correct her husband.
It's truly sad to see a powerful woman who stared death in the face an unprecedented seven times, saw uncountable sadness, expanded the British empire through her children and grandchildren, and was kind to servants often be put in her place by the men she allows to rule her. You get a sense that she truly could have been awesome, if she had a little more confidence in her own rule.
That said, Victoria is still a compelling character, though I was begging for it to end at the 400 page mark because her ceaseless adulation of Albert was boring me into an early grave.
hunkydory's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Medical content, Death of parent, Child death, Child abuse, War, Classism, and Colonisation
larobb01's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kwurtzel3's review against another edition
1.0
I wasn't as pleased with this as I have been with other Jean Plaidy books. To be honest, it was much too dry, and although I understand that Victoria really did make her entire life about Albert after they married, the book focused far too much on him and too little on Victoria. Would not recommend.
malliakokkinos's review against another edition
1.0
I was originally really excited to read this book. I found it while looking for more novels about Tudor England and thought that it would be good to brand out to another monarchy. I guess I was wrong to start here.
Queen Victoria's story could be a good one. She was a much beloved queen. However, Jean Plaidy's book focuses on almost none of the reasons why she was adored by her people. All I got out of this book was that she was whiny and obsessed with her dead husband, her prime ministers, and her myriad of relations all over Europe.
In addition to this, the narrative is written in a way that is difficult to follow. It is very incongruous. Plaidy jumps from event to event without allowing you even the slightest notion as to the passage of time. You could end one paragraph in one year and start the next one five years later without even realizing it until you are twenty pages further along.
All in all, this book was a disappointment. I truly doubt I will be reading any of her other historical novels.
Queen Victoria's story could be a good one. She was a much beloved queen. However, Jean Plaidy's book focuses on almost none of the reasons why she was adored by her people. All I got out of this book was that she was whiny and obsessed with her dead husband, her prime ministers, and her myriad of relations all over Europe.
In addition to this, the narrative is written in a way that is difficult to follow. It is very incongruous. Plaidy jumps from event to event without allowing you even the slightest notion as to the passage of time. You could end one paragraph in one year and start the next one five years later without even realizing it until you are twenty pages further along.
All in all, this book was a disappointment. I truly doubt I will be reading any of her other historical novels.
mimima's review against another edition
3.0
Reading a Jean Plaidy is like eating comfort food - at the end you feel satisfied, comforted, and perhaps a bit overstuffed.
I find Victoria to be an interesting character, and all I knew as I went into is was that she gave her name to a straight-laced era, ruled for a long time, was the grandmother to saints, and was a prolific letter writer.
Plaidy portrays her as needing a strong protector - a role that is fulfilled by a succession of ministers and her husband, Alfred.
She is not portrayed as terribly able to assess the mood of the country or to grasp the issues of the day. While there were times that it dragged and it was a bit of a slow start - due to the perspective issue of such a young main character - I recommend it and enjoyed the read.
I find Victoria to be an interesting character, and all I knew as I went into is was that she gave her name to a straight-laced era, ruled for a long time, was the grandmother to saints, and was a prolific letter writer.
Plaidy portrays her as needing a strong protector - a role that is fulfilled by a succession of ministers and her husband, Alfred.
She is not portrayed as terribly able to assess the mood of the country or to grasp the issues of the day. While there were times that it dragged and it was a bit of a slow start - due to the perspective issue of such a young main character - I recommend it and enjoyed the read.
oliviamunrow's review against another edition
2.0
What a frustrating book!
When Victoria Victorious opens, the future Queen Victoria is a young girl living firmly under the thumb of her power-hungry mother and the manipulative John Conroy. The book promises to liberate Victoria.
And so it does-- briefly. Before long she's married to Albert, who is every bit as firm and controlling as her mother once was! I gather that it's probably rather historically accurate, but it makes for a very frustrating read, as Victoria simpers and is convinced that she is always incorrect and Albert a saint. The only doubt she shows is towards the end, and it's slyly done, but not enough to make the frustration of the rest of the book disappear.
In short: Victoria's story is perhaps too frustrating for an accurate depiction to also be a great novel of either the romantic or bildungsroman type.
When Victoria Victorious opens, the future Queen Victoria is a young girl living firmly under the thumb of her power-hungry mother and the manipulative John Conroy. The book promises to liberate Victoria.
And so it does-- briefly. Before long she's married to Albert, who is every bit as firm and controlling as her mother once was! I gather that it's probably rather historically accurate, but it makes for a very frustrating read, as Victoria simpers and is convinced that she is always incorrect and Albert a saint. The only doubt she shows is towards the end, and it's slyly done, but not enough to make the frustration of the rest of the book disappear.
In short: Victoria's story is perhaps too frustrating for an accurate depiction to also be a great novel of either the romantic or bildungsroman type.
komet2020's review against another edition
5.0
It is very rare to find a writer who can fully engage the reader so that he/she feels that they are witness to a series of events as they are unfolding. Here Jean Plaidy tells a story of Queen Victoria's life in Victoria's own voice. Plaidy does it with such unerring skill that one can't help but wonder if Victoria herself had dictated this book to Plaidy.
Here we are given access to the full sweep of Victoria's life, from her birth in 1819 (grand-daughter to George III), her unhappy childhood with a greedy, selfish and controlling mother, her ascension to the throne in 1837, her marriage to her beloved Albert in February 1840, her 9 children, the death of Albert in 1861 which left Victoria bereft for the rest of her life, and the growth of Britain and her Empire during Victoria's long reign. Reading this book was a delightful and enlightening experience. If only all history could be explained to students in such a compelling and personal way as Plaidy has done so well here, perhaps more of them would be more eager to study it.
Here we are given access to the full sweep of Victoria's life, from her birth in 1819 (grand-daughter to George III), her unhappy childhood with a greedy, selfish and controlling mother, her ascension to the throne in 1837, her marriage to her beloved Albert in February 1840, her 9 children, the death of Albert in 1861 which left Victoria bereft for the rest of her life, and the growth of Britain and her Empire during Victoria's long reign. Reading this book was a delightful and enlightening experience. If only all history could be explained to students in such a compelling and personal way as Plaidy has done so well here, perhaps more of them would be more eager to study it.