Victoria: The Queen

An Intimate Biography of the Woman Who Ruled an Empire

By: Julia Baird

Narrated by: Lucy Rayner

The true story for fans of the PBS Masterpiece series Victoria, this page-turning biography reveals the real woman behind the myth: a bold, glamorous, unbreakable queen—a Victoria for our times. Drawing on previously unpublished papers, this stunning portrait is a story of love and heartbreak, of devotion and grief, of strength and resilience.

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY
THE NEW YORK TIMES • ESQUIRE • THE CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY

“Victoria the Queen, Julia Baird’s exquisitely wrought and meticulously researched biography, brushes the dusty myth off this extraordinary monarch.”—The New York Times Book Review (Editor’s Choice)

When Victoria was born, in 1819, the world was a very different place. Revolution would threaten many of Europe’s monarchies in the coming decades. In Britain, a generation of royals had indulged their whims at the public’s expense, and republican sentiment was growing. The Industrial Revolution was transforming the landscape, and the British Empire was commanding ever larger tracts of the globe. In a world where women were often powerless, during a century roiling with change, Victoria went on to rule the most powerful country on earth with a decisive hand.

Fifth in line to the throne at the time of her birth, Victoria was an ordinary woman thrust into an extraordinary role. As a girl, she defied her mother’s meddling and an adviser’s bullying, forging an iron will of her own. As a teenage queen, she eagerly grasped the crown and relished the freedom it brought her. At twenty, she fell passionately in love with Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, eventually giving birth to nine children. She loved sex and delighted in power. She was outspoken with her ministers, overstepping conventional boundaries and asserting her opinions. After the death of her adored Albert, she began a controversial, intimate relationship with her servant John Brown. She survived eight assassination attempts over the course of her lifetime. And as science, technology, and democracy were dramatically reshaping the world, Victoria was a symbol of steadfastness and security—queen of a quarter of the world’s population at the height of the British Empire’s reach.

Drawing on sources that include fresh revelations about Victoria’s relationship with John Brown, Julia Baird brings vividly to life the fascinating story of a woman who struggled with so many of the things we do today: balancing work and family, raising children, navigating marital strife, losing parents, combating anxiety and self-doubt, finding an identity, searching for meaning.

Masterpiece!!

Queen Victoria is one of the most remarkable figures in the history of the last 200 years. Julia Baird wrote a true masterpiece! Lucy Rayner's beautiful sounding voice perfectly narrates the immaculate life of Queen Victoria!
In this book you'll learn about Victoria's life from birth till death. Her life details are great in all categories of life, leadership, family, friends, and personal interests.
My favorite fact discovered in the book I learned was how loving she was towards everyone no matter the class society and racial barriers at the time. She loved to live life to the fullest even after her husband's death 18 years into her reign. Another interesting fact I learned is her involvement in workers rights and women's rights. I loved hearing how she made quilts for troops in Africa and how she send then thousands of chocolates in boxes featuring her portrait as a way of thank them for they're service for they're country. She is a figure in which you can only adore!
An amazing fact to note is just how much life changed and how many inventions came to be in her reign as Queen. Its astounding! I really enjoyed this book and I believe you will too! Queen Victoria is in my opinion the greatest Queen to have ruled in the British monarchy. She accomplished so much as Queen to better the lives of everyone and the infrastructure of not only England, but of the entire world.

Fascinating and personal

I thoroughly enjoyed both the writing and the narration. Learning about Queen Victoria on a much more personal level than I had previously known was enlightening and entertaining. Wonderful!

Well written but nothing new. Better read than listen. Narration not good

Every sentence has same rhythm. Very obvious actress is reading. Sounds like a book report, hard to maintain interest.

Learned a lot

Lot of historical info was new to me, so I enjoyed it. The voice of the reader was too sing song almost baby talk during the first half or more of the book. very distracting and annoying. Got into politics with prime ministers and laws too much for me.

Victoria

I have to admit I hadn't thought of reading a biography or listening to one on queen Victoria before I saw the PBS BBC series Victoria with Jenna Coleman but I'm glad I did. I might not be done reading either. very good book.