Königin Victoria von Großbritannien (1819–1901)

Much has been made of Queen Victoria's friendships with men during her long widowhood after the death of her beloved Prince Albert. Until reading this book, I did not know that her Poet Laureate Alfred Tennyson was one of them. While they did not have the frequent close contact of John Brown, Queen Victoria enjoyed an emotional and spiritual connection with Tennyson. Initially chosen by Prince Albert to be Poet Laureate, Tennyson offered the grief-stricken widow what she felt was true show more sympathy throughout her life. The Duke of Argyll, a mutual friend, facilitated their first meeting and Tennyson was as moved by her loss as she was by his poetry.

Queen Victoria invited Tennyson to return to Osborne with his family, who met hers. In her own words, she "was struck with the greatness and largeness of his mind, under a certainly rough exterior." For his part, his wife recorded, "A. was delighted with the breadth and freedom and penetration of her mind. One felt that no false thing could stand before her. We talked of all things in heaven and earth it seemed to me."

Through subsequent meetings, they shared a sense of humour and a "natural" directness of manner. Their friendship grew further after the death of John Brown, and the queen began to write to Tennyson herself -- in the first person, as "it is so difficult to express feelings in the third person." He acknowledged in person how alone she was on that "terrible height" of the throne. Their sympathy deepened with the shared loss of grown children during their long correspondence.

While Queen Victoria and Tennyson are identified as the book's authors, this vintage collection includes other letters from their families, and is aptly edited by Hope Dyson and Charles Tennyson. As they say in their introduction, they offer "a much more complete picture of the remarkable friendship which developed between the Queen and her Poet Laureate, two of the most extraordinary personalities of an extraordinary age." show less

This is a lovely book with many illustrations, paintings, photographs, copies of invitations, official announcements, menus, etc.

Contained therein:

The Children of Queen Victoria & Prince Albert
Queen Victoria's Prime Ministers & Their Terms of Office
The Pelham-Clintons
Principle Events 1861-70
Selections from the Journals of Queen Victoria
Principle Events 1871-80
Principle Events 1881-90
Principle Events 1891-1901
List of Precedence
Lord Edward's Diary


What marvelous occasions! The experience of show more such a rich & lavish life is difficult to imagine...

I was very amazed to see sketches done by HRH Victoria, herself, of her son Prince Arthur at age 3. She was a quite good artist, even if she did dress her sons in girl's clothing. It is all very well written & interesting.

**************Quotes I Found Interesting**********************

"But the Queen did not really approve of the education and emancipation of the working classes, saying that education made them unfit foe work as good servants and labourers, nor of women, and she was heard to say of the daughter of Earl of Russell (a former Prime Minister), who had spoken in the cause of female suffrage: 'She ought to get a goos whipping.'"

Queen Victoria was considered "to be an opinionated and interfering little woman who almost drove her Prime Ministers mad with her meddling in State business, (and) sometimes believed herself to be an Absolute, instead of Constitutional Monarch." show less

I wish that some of the more significant details of the journals and letters were better highlighted amongst the day to day entries.

Victoria's personal journal of her time spent in the Scottish highlands (Balmoral) after the death of her husband Prince Albert. Including mention of John Brown.