Good Reads / Community Library Notes
Victoria
Daisy Goodwin
Review by Priscilla Comen
Victoria
Daisy Goodwin
Review by Priscilla Comen
Victoria by Daisy Goodwin is the coming of age story of a queen. Beautifully told with wit and charm, it takes her from a stubborn youngster to a determined woman. This leader is a force for good, aided by her devoted Prime Minister, Duke of Malbourne. He respects her intelligence and leads her to the compassionate decisions she must make as Queen. They ride their horses together in the forest. Victoria chooses her own name, and decides on her own hair style and gowns. But she makes a mistake when she accuses Lady Flora of being with child by Lord Conroy, and regrets it greatly when that Lady dies of a tumor. Victoria is booed by her subjects at the funeral, but keeps her proud face, and hears “Long live Queen Victoria” after all is done.
Her German mother is under the influence of Lord Conroy who wants to replace Victoria as Regent. But Lord M. out-smarts him, and offers to be Prime Minister. The Tory choice for Prime Minister wants Victoria to replace her Ladies in Waiting, Harriet and Emma. Victoria refuses, says they are her friends and she needs them beside her. Author Goodwin helps us understand Victoria and the workings of the British government, and the people who function in it.
Victoria always seems to get her way, even against all the men in Parliament. Her uncle Leopold wants her to marry his son Albert. But he sees how she looks at Melbourne at the opera, and how Melbourne looks at her.
Her cousins, Ernst and Albert, come from Coburg to visit and everyone thinks they are most handsome. Albert is the chosen one but Victoria must be the one to propose, and she is not anxious to marry anyone. When she waltzes with Albert at a formal ball, does he sweep her off her feet? Will he teach her about the Dutch master artists in her palace gallery that her uncle King George chose when he was ruler? Find this interesting historical novel on the new fiction shelf of your Mendocino Community Library.
Her German mother is under the influence of Lord Conroy who wants to replace Victoria as Regent. But Lord M. out-smarts him, and offers to be Prime Minister. The Tory choice for Prime Minister wants Victoria to replace her Ladies in Waiting, Harriet and Emma. Victoria refuses, says they are her friends and she needs them beside her. Author Goodwin helps us understand Victoria and the workings of the British government, and the people who function in it.
Victoria always seems to get her way, even against all the men in Parliament. Her uncle Leopold wants her to marry his son Albert. But he sees how she looks at Melbourne at the opera, and how Melbourne looks at her.
Her cousins, Ernst and Albert, come from Coburg to visit and everyone thinks they are most handsome. Albert is the chosen one but Victoria must be the one to propose, and she is not anxious to marry anyone. When she waltzes with Albert at a formal ball, does he sweep her off her feet? Will he teach her about the Dutch master artists in her palace gallery that her uncle King George chose when he was ruler? Find this interesting historical novel on the new fiction shelf of your Mendocino Community Library.