Review: Victoria The Queen: An Intimate Biography of the Woman Who Ruled an Empire

Victoria The Queen: An Intimate Biography of the Woman Who Ruled an Empire by Julia Baird
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Every time I begin one of these big biography tomes I prepare myself for a huge (but hopefully enjoyable) slog.

Oddly enough, this wasn't the case at all here. The author does a great job filling the book with facts and keeping the reader interested throughout (despite a couple repetitions).

She is also careful not to draw too many hasty conclusions (on Queen Victoria or Prince Albert's sexual tendencies, for example), which many often like to do.

It is interesting to read about her relationship with Gladstone and Disraeli, not to mention the men 'helping' her after Albert's death.

Also interesting how progressive she was, except when dealing with women's rights. Especially odd given who she was and the power she wielded.



4.5 stars


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Review: The Life and Times of Prince Albert

The Life and Times of Prince Albert by Patrick Allitt
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

More interesting than I thought it would be. I always imagined he was simply a hanger-on of Queen Victoria's but it turns out he was anything but.

On the other hand, the praising in this book didn't seem to stop. So now I'm wondering how much of it was unmerited and I want to pick up a biography of Queen Victoria to see what it would have to say...


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