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paola_mobileread's review against another edition
4.0
This very lively biography of Queen Victoria must be one of the best ads for republicanism I have come across: voluble, domineering, egotist, not well educated, her genuine concerns for her subjects appear rarely if at all. In most interactions she is surprised and disappointed by their failure to understand what she really means.
Why should birth confer privileges to such a person? She harasses her Ministers, she presses for war on one side then the other on a whim, she amasses a private fortunes drawing largely from the State coffers.
I am not in the position to judge how much of this account is biased and how much of it is backed up by evidence (e.g. how does Strachey know that Albert was sad and unsatisfied?) - putting this on one side, it is a very engaging book that for sure pictures a 3D image of Queen Victoria and her times.
Why should birth confer privileges to such a person? She harasses her Ministers, she presses for war on one side then the other on a whim, she amasses a private fortunes drawing largely from the State coffers.
I am not in the position to judge how much of this account is biased and how much of it is backed up by evidence (e.g. how does Strachey know that Albert was sad and unsatisfied?) - putting this on one side, it is a very engaging book that for sure pictures a 3D image of Queen Victoria and her times.
marginaliant's review against another edition
3.0
I don't understand why you would chose to write a biography of a person you clearly cannot stand. Strachey is a beautiful prose writer but cannot conceal his contempt for Victoria and chooses instead to write about everyone around her--prime ministers, advisers, male relatives, and Prince Albert, who Strachey has a massive man-crush on. In this characterization Victoria comes across, no more or less, than a silly, meek, stupid woman who has to be steered by all the men around her, except when she is childishly stubborn and refusing to listen to their Correct and Good counsel. Probably good for Victorian historians who know better and want to get a grasp of the historiography, but everyone else steer clear.
grllopez's review against another edition
4.0
Fascinating read : )
Book Review: https://www.greatbookstudy.com/2020/02/queen-victoria-by-lytton-strachey.html
Book Review: https://www.greatbookstudy.com/2020/02/queen-victoria-by-lytton-strachey.html
franfernandezarce's review against another edition
3.0
FINAL BOOK OF THE YEAR!!
*3.75*
for a first time reading a lytton stratchey work, this was a very satisfying experience. you wouldn't believe the writing style to have come from 1921. it captured the best things i like from narrative non-fiction works--the intricacy of study and research transformed skillfully enough into a cohesive, coherent well-built narrative. if i were only discussing at a surface level, in terms of writing, we would be talking of a higher rating.
unfortunatelly, it doesn't work like that.
for a first time reading a queen victoria biography, this could have been worse. it could also have been better--not that it is not well researched or explained, but to be honest, i would be more interested in a more critical take on her as a political figure and as a woman of her age. this book felt like it only scratched the surface of it, especially near the end with victoria's opinion on women's right (which the fact that she was against it seems utterly fascinating and worthy of further development). it definitely left me wanting more--particularly after those two chapters around the middle (approximately) where the book transforms into queen victoria presents the story of prince albert. look, if i wanted that much insight into him as a historical figure, i would find a book about him as a historical figure. but the title cover says victoria and she overall disappeared whilst the story turned to her husband--which just sounds very typical to be honest.
i would say this book is a solid starting point but, inevitably, it leaves you wanting for more depth.
however, from the following quote, i'm firmly convinced prince albert fell on the asexual spectrum and nothing will make me change my mind:
throughout their married life no rival female charms ever had cause to give victoria one moment's pang of jealousy. what more and more absorbed him [albert]--bringing with it a curious comfort of its own--was his work
*3.75*
for a first time reading a lytton stratchey work, this was a very satisfying experience. you wouldn't believe the writing style to have come from 1921. it captured the best things i like from narrative non-fiction works--the intricacy of study and research transformed skillfully enough into a cohesive, coherent well-built narrative. if i were only discussing at a surface level, in terms of writing, we would be talking of a higher rating.
unfortunatelly, it doesn't work like that.
for a first time reading a queen victoria biography, this could have been worse. it could also have been better--not that it is not well researched or explained, but to be honest, i would be more interested in a more critical take on her as a political figure and as a woman of her age. this book felt like it only scratched the surface of it, especially near the end with victoria's opinion on women's right (which the fact that she was against it seems utterly fascinating and worthy of further development). it definitely left me wanting more--particularly after those two chapters around the middle (approximately) where the book transforms into queen victoria presents the story of prince albert. look, if i wanted that much insight into him as a historical figure, i would find a book about him as a historical figure. but the title cover says victoria and she overall disappeared whilst the story turned to her husband--which just sounds very typical to be honest.
i would say this book is a solid starting point but, inevitably, it leaves you wanting for more depth.
however, from the following quote, i'm firmly convinced prince albert fell on the asexual spectrum and nothing will make me change my mind:
throughout their married life no rival female charms ever had cause to give victoria one moment's pang of jealousy. what more and more absorbed him [albert]--bringing with it a curious comfort of its own--was his work
octavia_cade's review against another edition
4.0
Extremely entertaining account of the life of Queen Victoria. It is perhaps somewhat superficial in its treatment - though really, she lived for over 80 years and reigned for over 60, so a 300 page bio is barely enough for the highlights - but that is compensated for by the tone, which is the shining strength of this text. All I can say is that Strachey must have been an inveterate, gleeful old gossip! Would have loved to have gone to a dinner party with him. His writing is informal and funny and while there's a clear warmth for his subject he's not above putting the side-eye to Victoria and her many hangers-on.
We are most certainly amused.
We are most certainly amused.
kevinfemenias's review against another edition
4.0
Absolutamente indispensable para las personas interesadas en la época victoriana y el personaje de Victoria. Una maravilla que, más que una biografía, parece una novela que nos cuenta la vida de una joven que comenzó a reinar y acabó convirtiéndose en una de las figuras más importantes de la historia en Europa. Recomendadísima.