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There are currently 34 member reviews
for Victoria
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Aleksandra E. (Alpharetta, GA)
Informative & engaging
This was not my first novel by Daisy Goodwin and I really love her writing style and Victoria was no exception! I found the book to be insightful as well as informative. It had all the pertinent aspects of what made Victoria become the leader she was while still presenting this in a thoroughly engaging novel format. I found myself wanting to know more about her and I would say any novel that does that is well worth reading.
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Liz D. (East Falmouth, MA)
Historical Victoria
I am a avid reader of historical fiction. I found Victoria by Daisy Goodwin to be a most engaging read. The book brought to life the mid-19th century customs and politics in a most lively and entertaining way. The reader becomes acquainted with the naïve 18 year old Victoria as she ascends the English throne where she will reign as Queen for many years. The book gives insights into her relationships and difficulties with her mother, her Prime Minister and her future husband Prince Albert.
We are witness to the growth of a young shy girl into a strong and steady ruler. These narratives give the book its lively fresh qualitythat holds the readers interest. Victoria leaves the reader longing to know the rest of the story. A good quality for a book. I look forward to the upcoming Masterpiece Drama.
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Barbara O. (Maryland Heights, MO)
Victoria, Before Albert
This is a wonderful book revealing the story of the young Victoria, one of England's most famous and long-serving Monarchs. How does a sheltered young woman suddenly become queen and negotiate her way through all the political intrigue and find her true self? Daisy Goodwin presents us with a delightful story of the young Victoria, a young woman with all her thoughts and feelings learning to become her own person. Victoria becomes real to the reader, a lovely young woman and not the severe Queen we are familiar with from her portrait in our history books. A wonderful story for those of us that love reading about the English aristocracy. Bravo!
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Bess
Teenage Queen
I was looking forward to receiving this book since my favorite genre is Historical Fiction. I was not disappointed. The author has made Victoria's ascension to the throne come to life. The author provided the background of Victoria's life in an easily read format. Victoria as well as the other main characters were presented so that you felt you knew them. Although the book covers only a short period of her life it sets the foundation for her reign. Can't wait to see the presentation on Masterpiece Theater.
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Anne C. (Herndon, VA)
Fascinating Story!
I have always been interested in Queen Victoria and have read many books, both non-fiction and fiction, about her. This novel about the first two years of her reign is one of the very best! Beginning with her realization in 1835, at age 16, that she would become Queen of England, the novel explores her feelings, first as a teenager and then as a young woman accepting the responsibilities of her destiny. Taking the name of Victoria as her royal name for her coronation in 1837 was one of her first acts of defiance against her mother and other advisers who tried to dominate her. With the help of her first prime minister Lord Melbourne, she learns to stand up against pressures from political parties and from her own relatives. The author writes very movingly about Victoria's insecurities about her appearance and small stature, her infatuation with Melbourne, and her uncertainty about whether she should ever marry. Late in the book we read of her mixed feelings for her cousin Prince Albert, whom she eventually decides to marry. Royal protocol requires that she be the one to propose, which she does in 1839.
She is such a fascinating character, and Ms. Goodwin writes with such deep sympathy for Victoria, that I hope the author will continue her story in subsequent volumes!
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Kathleen W. (New Brighton,, MN)
The Flip Side of the Victorian coin
The reader of this review needs to understand two things upfront: the reviewer is a longtime reader of British history (both fiction and non) and a loyal fan of MASTERPIECE television.
VICTORIA by Daisy Goodwin covers the relatively short time between the 18 year old Victoria becoming Queen of the British Isles and her meeting with her future husband, Prince Albert. That is a strength of this book-providing the reader with a narrower set place in time of plot and characters. Historical fiction can sometimes work against itself in terms of the heft of details to be understood. This narrowing allows the author Goodwin to do a more than credible job in presenting both plot and character in such a way as to enable the reader to easily follow the narrative as well as to gain insight into the motivations of supporting and lead characters. That is not to say that Victoria's strict and strident early years are ignored; they are dealt with in such a way that the reader comes away with a clear understanding of both the social/political complexities of that time as well as the complexities of character of the young queen who will lead her Britain into the 20th century. Goodwin provides a valuable service in showing both the romantic / passionate young girl as well as the naive/ isolated / insecure context from which she springs. This rendering compares starkly with the only visual that some readers will have of the dour and reclusive final years of her lengthy reign. The reviewer was especially interested to experience the "fleshing out" of the characters of Prime Minister Melbourne, Victoria's mother and Princes Albert and Ernst. Goodwin takes much of her content from the diaries of Victoria who began writing voluminously when she was but 12. I happily anticipate the screen adaptation which is to appear in the US in January of 2017.
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Joanne V. (Towanda, PA)
Early years of Queen Victoria
I am not a particular fan of Daisy Goodwin's novels, but found this one to be an easy and interesting read about the first few years of Queen Victoria's reign. The character of Lord Melbourne was most interesting and I thought, the best developed. It was also interesting to note how little we have progressed in the notion that women can be capable rulers. I admired Victoria's independence, but that was probably due more to Melbourne's influence than anything else. It gave her a good foundation for her long reign.
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