Victoria: Portrait of a Queen by Catherine Reef
Lord Salisbury
British Royalty in 2017
Before all the public scrutiny of this royal family, there have been numerous historical accounts of House of Windsor dynasty. Queen Elizabeth II is the daughter of King George VI and granddaughter of King George V. Her paternal great grandfather is King Edward II and her great-great grandmother is Queen Victoria. Until recently, Victoria was the longest-reigning queen in England. However, Elizabeth II has recently surpassed this record, becoming the longest-reigning British monarch on 9 September 2015. On 6 February 2017 she became the first British monarch to celebrate a Sapphire Jubilee, commemorating 65 years on the throne. |
The Victorian Era 1819 - 1901
Henry Ponsonby, Queen Victoria's private secretary
Victoria: Portrait of a Queen by Catherine Reef gives young readers insight into the life and times of Queen Victoria, who served as Britain's reigning monarch for over sixty-three years. This chronological account delves into the personal life of Victoria beginning with her overprotected childhood, her marriage to Prince Albert, and the birth of her nine children. Reef does not shy away from detailing Victoria's willful and stubborn temperament, her deep anguish on the death of her husband, and her unusual relationship with servants John Brown and Abdul Karim. The biography is also excellent source material regarding these significant historical events: decline of the Ottoman Empire and the conflicts between Muslims and Christians, Crimean War, Zulu War, governance of India, and the question of independence for Ireland. |
Short chapters with clear concise narrative and a fascinating subject make this an excellent historical volume for students. Stellar resource for student research projects.