The Young Victoria
Regular price £34.95A beautiful, extensively researched volume investigating the birth and early life of one of the most familiar British monarchs, Queen Victoria (1819-1901).
A wealth of material, including many unexamined sources and unpublished images, sheds new light on Victoria's youth. Included here are portraits of the queen as princess, childhood diaries and sketchbooks, clothing, jewellery, and correspondence.
Deirdre Murphy paints a vivid picture of Victoria's early years. Among her most surprising conclusions is the idea that the queen's personal mythology of a childhood characterised by sadness and isolation is less accurate than is generally thought. Victoria's personal relationships are brought brilliantly to life, from her affectionate but increasingly suffocating bond with her mother, the Duchess of Kent, to the controlling influence of Sir John Conroy, a man she came to despise, and her courtship with Prince Albert.
Lesser-known figures are also explored, including Victoria's first schoolmaster the Reverend George Davys, her governess Louise Lehzen, and her half-sister Feodora. This fascinating cast of characters enhances our image of Victoria, who emerges as both wilful and submissive, fickle and affectionate, and with the explosive temper of her Hanoverian ancestors.
Details
- Author: Deirdre Murphy, Senior curator at Historic Royal Palaces
- Hardcover: 224 pages | 200 colour illustrations
- Date published: May 2019
- Language: English
- Delivery: Allow 1-2 weeks
- ISBN: 978-0300238877
- Dimensions: 25.4x 19.1 cm