Queen Victoria

'A wonderfully fresh, vivid and engaging portrait.' Jane Ridley, author of Bertie: A Life of Edward VII n n 'Has much of the abundant charm of its author.' Spectator n n 'The glory of this book is in the details.' The Times n n 'Worsley's command of the material and elegant writing style make this a must-read.' Publisher's Weekly n n 'An intimate glimpse.' Daily Mail n n 'An engaging portrait of the monarch.' i paper n n 'Provides a unique insight into this inscrutable monarch.' Choice Magazine n n ******************************* n n Who was Queen Victoria? n n A little old lady, potato-like in appearance, dressed in everlasting black? She was also a passionate young princess who loved dancing. And there is also a third Victoria, the brilliant queen, one who invented a new role for the monarchy. n n Victoria found a way of ruling when people were deeply uncomfortable with having a woman on the throne. n n Her image as a conventional daughter, wife and widow concealed the reality of a talented, instinctive politician. Her actions, if not her words, reveal that she was tearing up the rules on how to be female. But the price of this was deep personal pain. n n By looking in detail at twenty-four days of her life, through diaries, letters and more, we meet Queen Victoria up-close and personal. Living with her from hour to hour, we can see and celebrate the contradictions that make up British history's most recognisable woman. n