Due to a passing in the family a few years ago and my subsequent health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for years after the bereavement. Thank you for the opportunity.

Queen Victoria and Albert have always been a ruling couple that has fascinated me. I enjoyed this book on them as it did provide me with information I had not previously read. There is lots in this book so I wouldn’t think it would be for just a passing reader. But for those who enjoy royal and British history like me it is a great read.

Straightforward history of Queen Victoria, and of course her consort, Albert. Reads like a brief history textbook.

A well researched and interesting enough exploration of the reign of Queen Victoria. My issue really was that i didn't feel like there was anything new here. Perhaps there isn't anything new to learn about Victoria's reign but I suppose then I'd be asking myself what does it bring to the table?

It's also very dense which the serious historian will surely appreciate. Everyone else? Not so much.

This is a wonderful and entertaining biography of Queen Victoria that kept me company on a few late nights up with kids who couldn't sleep. It was informative but written in a tone accessible to all readers.

Although I tried several times to start with this book, I always got lost in the frst chapter due to the amount of information and names included in such a short time, no matter how many times I tried. This was the only problem I could find, since I liked the author's style and tone, which I'm sure has been liked by other readers. However, I could never understand what was happening because of so many characters and names being used at the same time.

This book was broken up in easily digestible chapters and sections which allowed me to read it at my own pace. It was easy to follow and enjoyable to read. I also felt like I learned a lot from this book that I didn't really know before. A great read.

Another biography on Queen Victoria, while I did not learn anything new, I have read several books on this queen, I did enjoy reading the book and would recommend it to history lovers

An interesting read for anyone interested in Victoria, but it is a little drawn out in parts & with nothing new - though as this is actually a republishing of an older work, it is likely that many of the later books have referred to this as a source!

Queen Victoria has always fascinated the public. The Victorian period has always interested me as it was a time of such contrasts. Factory owners were often incredibly wealthy and then when you look at the workers, the disparity between the two is quite startling. So it is always interesting to look at the woman in charge at the time. Victoria was such an intriguing figure. Strong but also led by her emotions as seen by the mourning period after Albert's death. A really great insight to Victoria by Bolitho.

Originally published in 1948, The Reign of Queen Victoria by Hector Bolitho was republished in time for Queen Victoria’s bicentenary. The book surprisingly begins with the relationship between Prince’s Albert’s parents, Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Princess Louise of Saxe Gotha Altenburg. Reading Princess Louise’s comments were by far the best part of the book for me.

However, the rest of the book is rather boring and quite judgemental, using words like “pathetic.” The wording rather put me off wanting to finish the book. Key events in Queen Victoria’s and Prince Albert’s family life are skipped over with a single sentence, for example, the birth of the Princess Royal, who also doesn’t receive a name in the book until after her brother has been born.

All in all, I’d say there are better books available on Queen Victoria’s reign.

I am fascinated with Queen Victoria and Prince Albert so I was very much looking forward to reading this book. I did really enjoy it although I am quite familiar with the history I did learn a few more things about this formidable couple. Highly recommended.

I am already a huge fan of Queen Victoria and find her fascinating.
So it was great to read this book and discover some facts that I didn’t know.
Perfect for fans of history and the royal family

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Overall, I really enjoyed this biography. I liked that Bolitho followed both Alberta and Victoria in their early years- normally I don't love when authors try to bring other people into focus in a biography, but in the case of Victoria and Albert, I think it works well. This book won't give you the political story of Victoria's reign, but it does give you a solid understanding of Victoria's personal life. The sources are fantastic! I would recommend this to anyone new to Victoria (as there isn't anything terribly shocking if you already are familiar to her).

I am so glad I had the opportunity to read this book. It is not a fusty history book. Hector Bolitho has done a wonderful job of writing the history of Victoria and Albert from letters and diaries. Excellent referencing and detail. It brings them both to life. Short chapters, Easy to read. My impression of Albert has been changed by this book.
Just booked a holiday to Isle of Wight because of the book!

I am in charge of our Senior School library and am looking for a diverse array of new books to furnish their shelves with and inspire our young people to read a wider and more diverse range of books as they move through the senior school. It is hard sometimes to find books that will grab the attention of young people as their time is short and we are competing against technology and online entertainments.
This was a thought-provoking and well-written read that will appeal to young readers across the board. It had a really strong voice and a compelling narrative that I think would capture their attention and draw them in. It kept me engrossed and I think that it's so important that the books that we purchase for both our young people and our staff are appealing to as broad a range of readers as possible - as well as providing them with something a little 'different' that they might not have come across in school libraries before.
This was a really enjoyable read and I will definitely be purchasing a copy for school so that our young people can enjoy it for themselves. A satisfying and well-crafted read that I keep thinking about long after closing its final page - and that definitely makes it a must-buy for me!

As a huge royal history fan this book is a very comprehensive view/guide of Queen Victoria life from the very start and doesn’t miss anything out,
If you enjoy history especially royal history this is the book for you.
Thank you to both NetGalley and publishers for my eARc in exchange for my honest unbiased review

This book is fascinating! Hector Bolitho  has referenced this with such detail using letters and records from various sources including Victoria's letters and the archives at Windsor.

Such an insight in to the reign of Queen Victoria and Prince Consort Albert.
The book follows her life from a child, her accession to the throne, her marriage, birth of all of her children, the unfortunate death of Albert and how she continued as a monarch following this right up until her death at age 81.

The reader gains insight in to how Victoria felt about her Government and her dedication to her country through constant work. It's also very interesting to learn her thoughts about her children and grandchildren provided in her own words from the sources noted above.
Every quote throughout the book is referenced and now I want to read all the correspondence myself!

I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys history and even those who like the tv show Victoria!
I hope to read Albert: Prince Consort by Hector Bolitho very soon!

A wonderful intimate look at the life of Queen Victoria told in short interesting chapters.All fans of Queen Victoria Prince Albert will love this well written book. #netgalley #agorabooks

This was a great read that was broken up into short chapters, so it was easy to take a break and pick back up again. I learned so many new facts from this book and enjoyed it immensely!