Queen Victoria: Twenty-Four Days That Changed Her Life

Historian Worsley (Jane Austen at Home: A Biography) presents a unique account of Queen Victoria, focusing on 24 of the most important days of her life using research based on correspondence as well as previously published books and articles. Among the days covered are Victoria's birth at Kensington Palace in 1819, her ascension to the throne in 1837, her coronation in 1838, her marriage to Prince Albert in 1840, the Prince's death in 1861, and Victoria's death in 1901. In addition to providing insight on these specific events, Worsley gives historical background on Victoria's family, including the betrothal of her son Edward VII to Alexandra of Denmark and the complex relationship between Victoria and her own mother, Princess Victoria. Worsley also looks closely at court etiquette, customs, and family dynamics, and reconsiders Victoria's long-standing relationship with servant John Brown.