At Her Majesty's Request: An African Princess In Victorian England

My nine-year-old daughter and I read this together and very much enjoyed this story of a young girl orphaned in tribal violence and then, essentially, gifted to England's Queen Victoria. I think we were both drawn to the narrative of a child traveling without family to a foreign land and then trying to find a home there.

I appreciated that Myers included excerpts from the primary sources that he used, not only because they help my daughter see how to weave material from primary documents into a narrative but also because I enjoy hearing the story in the words of those who lived it. As Myers mentions in the epilogue, there are many questions left unanswered about Sarah Forbes Bonetta's life, particularly how she felt and what she thought show more about her circumstances. We can make guesses from her letters to loved ones, but throughout the book, I wondered about the woman behind those words.

Reading about Sarah Forbes Bonetta reminded me of how I felt when I learned about Native Americans who had been taken to England in the 17th century, either as captives or as curiosities. Much as I wonder what it was like in England for Squanto or Pocahontas, I wonder how Sarah Forbes Bonetta experienced England. She lived her life among the English and made her home primarily in England, but did she feel accepted in English society? Did she feel at home? Her choices seemed limited, but were they more limited than the choices any woman in Victorian England would have had?

This book exposed my daughter and me to a different side of England in the 19th century, and we enjoyed it despite (or maybe because of) the unanswered questions. It prompted discussion not only about the historical and cultural context of Bonetta's life, but also about what makes a family and what makes a place "home." show less

This is a biography of Sarah Forbes Bonetta, an African princess rescued from certain death. Her benefactor was Queen Victoria of England.

Sarah’s village had been destroyed by enemy warriors. Her parents murdered in front of her. At age 7 she was rescued by Captain Forbes and brought to England. He was able to save her by telling the chief of the warrior tribe she would be a gift to the Queen.

It is an interesting story of the life and times in Victoria’s era. Sarah was raised as an English child with some of the privileges of royalty. Her education was of the top drawer for a girl. The basis of the book came from letters written by Sarah telling of what her life was like. She didn’t live at court, but was raised by white families. show more She also was sent back to Africa, for a bit, to learn about the culture and world she came from.

An unusual and interesting read. show less

This is a very interesting tale based on the true story of an English captain who rescued an African princess from sure death via sacrifice by a brutal African King of Dahome. Attacking and killing members of villages, the King of Dahome, kept some members, bringing them back to Dahome to hold in pens until his ritual of sacrifice was held.

When Captain Frederick Forbes is meeting with the King, he is told that a sacrificial ceremony is about to occur. Watching in horror, he notes a small five year old girl about to be killed. Asking the King to give the girl to him as a present for Queen Victoria, he then rescues the girl, bringing her back to England, naming her Sarah Forbes Bonetta.

The Queen is smitten with Sarah and from then on show more provides funding for her upkeep. Frequent visits to the palace set Sarah apart from others and she is held in great esteem.

Befriended by Queen Victoria's children, Sarah forms a bond that lasts a lifetime. Sharp, sensitive and very intelligent, Sarah adapts to her life and, while she dies at a young time in her life, she marries, has two children and is forever grateful to her rescuer. show less

This book by Walter Dean Myers is the story of a young African girl who was taken from her home after witnessing atrocities and was provided for by Queen Victoria of England in the nineteenth century. Besides being exceptionally well-researched, At Her Majesty's Request is a very interesting read.

Sarah Forbes Bonetta's life is so fascinating! I especially like how Walter Dean Myers fills in the gaps between the printed letters between Sarah and her friends and family. At times, he even asks questions about Sarah for his readers. He also provides many pictures and drawings of Sarah and her companions during the period. It made the book feel less like an archive or a history book and more like a story. And despite the fact that this book show more is about a historical figure, the themes presented in this book are timeless. Sarah grapples with her identity, as she can't stick to calling herself by one name. Her story also shows a concern for family. Both of these themes are integral to the book, and to humanity in general. It's for these reasons that I foresee many older children and young adults picking this book up and not putting it down. show less

This was an interesting look at a young woman who was born in Africa and eventually came to the court of Queen Victoria. Some of the details of Sarah's life are completely shocking. It's hard to imagine the world she inhabited in the context of today's world. It's quite the story. It's also a view of a part of Queen Victoria's life that isn't often touched upon.

Good reading.

Myers didn't have a lot of source material, so this is scant. That is to say, he couldn't make informed guesses about dialogue, past-times, relationships with schoolmates in Freetown..., and so he didn't write a narrative. And still he manages to create an engaging history. I just want more. I think he could have filled in more details of the time & context... he did do some, but more would have been good. Maybe he could have mentioned other Blacks or Indians (East or West) who were brought to the British court. But I also respect the tight focus of the book as it stands, which makes it more accessible to the schoolchildren who are the intended audience.

At Her Majesty's Request tells the amazing, sad true story of an African princess, rescued at the point of her certain death by a Commander in Her Majesty's Royal Navy, who is given the child, to give to Queen Victoria. Given the name Sarah Forbes Bonetta by Commander Forbes, her last name being the name of the ship he commanded, she went to England for a year and was the queen's special interest.

A four year old girl who sees her parents and siblings slaughtered, is held in solitary confinement for two years, and is then about to be part of a huge human sacrifice and is rescued only minutes before her sure death....one wonders, given our predilection for labeling outrageous behavior as being caused by past trauma, especially childhood show more traumas...how did she overcome these things, and be a kind, interested, educated, and basically happy person.

Walter Dean Myers carefully lays out as much of Sarah's story as he can without overwhelming his audience, but at the risk of being quite dry in his tone as he seldom elaborates in detail, for this extremely dramatic story. show less