Queen Victoria's Mysterious Daughter

A Biography of Princess Louise

By: Lucinda Hawksley

Narrated by: Jennifer M. Dixon

Spirited and lively, Queen Victoria's Mysterious Daughter is richly packed with arguments, intrigues, scandals, and secrets, and is a vivid portrait of a princess desperate to escape her inheritance.

The secrets of Queen Victoria's sixth child, Princess Louise, may be destined to remain hidden forever. What was so dangerous about this artistic, tempestuous royal that her life has been documented more by rumor and gossip than hard facts? When Lucinda Hawksley started to investigate, often thwarted by inexplicable secrecy, she discovered a fascinating woman, modern before her time, whose story has been shielded for years from public view.

Louise was a sculptor and painter, friend to the Pre-Raphaelites and a keen member of the Aesthetic movement. The most feisty of the Victorian princesses, she kicked against her mother's controlling nature and remained fiercely loyal to her brothers - especially the sickly Leopold and the much-maligned Bertie. She sought out other unconventional women, including Josephine Butler and George Eliot, and campaigned for education and health reform and for the rights of women. She battled with her indomitable mother for permission to practice the "masculine" art of sculpture and go to art college - and in doing so became the first British princess to attend a public school.

The rumors of Louise's colorful love life persist even today, with hints of love affairs dating as far back as her teenage years, and notable scandals included entanglements with her sculpting tutor Joseph Edgar Boehm and possibly even her sister Princess Beatrice's handsome husband, Liko. True to rebellious form, she refused all royal suitors and became the first member of the royal family, since the 16th century, to marry a commoner. She moved with him to Canada when he was appointed Governor-General.

©2013 Lucinda Hawksley (P)2018 Tantor

An Avid Listener

Thank you for such a wonderful Biography! She Truly was a Princess Indeed! Queen Victoria would be proud! Very Proud!

Princess Louise - Who Knew???

An interesting look at an unknown royal. Princess Louise deserves to have her day in the sun and for the rest of the world to know her. She is a hoot!

Fascinating

How did I not know about Princess Louise? So few female artist get recognized in history even if you are a princess. Great listen and as always the narrator delivers a superb read.

Loved This Book!

Absolutely wonderful to learn about Queen Victoria’s daughter Louise. She really had a fascinating life.

Boring

The subject is fascinating, however, the text and the narration were horribly boring and monotonous