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Victoria

A Life

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Victoria

By: A. N. Wilson
Narrated by: Gareth Armstrong
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To many Queen Victoria was a ruler shrouded in myth and mystique, portrayed as an aging, stiff widow. But in truth Britain’s longest-reigning monarch was passionate, expressive, humorous, and unconventional.

A. N. Wilson’s exhaustively researched and definitive biography includes a wealth of new material from previously unseen sources, showing us Queen Victoria as she’s never been seen before. Wilson explores the circumstances that led to Victoria’s coronation, her isolated childhood, her passionate marriage to Prince Albert, and her widowhood, all set against the backdrop of this momentous epoch in world history.

©2015 A.N. Wilson (P)2015 Oakhill Publishing Europe Great Britain Historical Politicians Politics & Activism Royalty Women Imperialism Witty Middle Ages Winston Churchill Socialism War Latin American
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Critic reviews

"[A] splendid biography--this book is a gem: thoughtful, witty, insightful, striking a balance between political commentary and personal gossip.... As this terrific biography shows, there really was a human being behind the gloomy portraits." (Dominic Sandbrook, Evening Standard)
"Subtle, thoughtful...a shimmering and rather wonderful biography." (Kathryn Hughes, Guardian)
"Wilson is affectionately alert to the rich contradictions of his subject's personality, and his deliciously readable biography becomes increasingly fascinating as Victoria's reign unfolds." (Jane Shilling, Daily Mail Book of the Week)
"Wilson is an excellent history teacher. He orders and narrates the hugely complex socio-political events and party infighting of the 19th century with a rare clarity.... His own achievement, sustained by a lifetime's scholarly fascination with the Victorian era, is also in its way, awesome." (John Sutherland, Financial Times)
"A. N. Wilson has written a sympathetic but by no means hagiographic biography of her that will probably overturn many people's prejudiced conception of her.... Wilson's picture of her is a rounded one, with her vices and virtues." (Theodore Dalrymple, The Times)
All stars
Most relevant
An excellent biography and reading of Queen Victoria addressing the many aspects of her life and reign.

Well read throughout.

Inspiring and edifying

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I've listened to this sumptuous audiobook so many times and just dip into it for pleasure every now and then. It is such a rich feast with so many fascinating personages bought vividly to life in the context of their times and with tantalising glimpses into the private lives of Victoria's sprawling and dysfunctional family. As for the matriarch herself : truly what a funny little woman she is indeed!

Absolutely wonderful

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This gives an insight into the myth of the widow of Windsor. A much more complex and far less benign person than folklore would have us believe. A very detailed history of the turbulent times as well as the personal history of Victoria. It makes you glad to call yourself an Elizabethan!

Myth buster history

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The unfailingly marvellous A.N.Wilson delivers a magisterial survey of both the life and times of Victoria and a corrective to the “we are not amused” cliche that still prevails. He writes enormously sympathetically and even generously about Victoria - and followers of A.N. will know that he is more than capable of sharpening his quill to deadly effect if he so desires. At times the reader might want him to linger and dawdle, but honestly there’s so much ground to cover that restraint must have been the watchword. Clearly there was a tragic suppression of Victoria’s diaries and letters after her death, not least in matters of John Brown, dealt with tantalisingly here. Hats off to the narrator, who conveys the humour of Wilson’s prose and serves up no end of accents when required. I feel I now need to get the book so I can dip in and out at leisure. Recommended!

Strangely riveting

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wonderful book well researched and well written.
Always knew parts of the story, but it really bought Victoria to life. Also never really knew what happened to all her children till now. Thank you A.N Wilson for the history lesson.

loved this book.

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