HISTORY

Queen Victoria and Her Prime Ministers: Her Life, the Imperial Ideal, and the Politics and Turmoil That Shaped Her Extraordinary Reign

by Anne Somerset
Knopf. Nov. 2024. 640p. ISBN 9781101875575. $45. BIOG
COPY ISBN
Somerset, a historian whose previous books included biographies of Queen Elizabeth I and Queen Anne, turns her attention to Queen Victoria and the 10 prime ministers during her reign, starting with her accession to the throne in 1837 and ending with her death in 1901. Somerset writes that Victoria’s reign illustrated a high-water mark of British governance and politics and dives into the queen’s beliefs and relationships with each of the PMs. Her intriguing study offers a unique look at the ruling of an empire through biographical portraits that are extensively researched, relying upon the Royal Archives and what are described as never-before-seen prime ministerial papers. Endnotes, illustrations, and a bibliography round out the volume.
VERDICT Highly recommended to readers of British history and particularly those interested in the political life of Britain during Victoria’s reign.
Reviewed by Lucy Heckman , Nov 08, 2024
Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

NONFICTION

A Forgotten Migration: Black Southerners, Segregation Scholarships, and the Debt Owed to Public HBCUs
by Sanders, Crystal R.
NONFICTION

Herding Immunity: The Startling History of Life Before and After Vaccines
by Herlihy, Stacy Mintzer
NONFICTION

Ocean: A History of the Atlantic Before Columbus
by Haywood, John
NONFICTION

Henry V: The Astonishing Triumph of England’s Greatest Warrior King
by Jones, Dan
REFERENCE

Conspiracy Theories: A Reference Handbook
by Webb, Jeffrey B.
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?