Thanks to NetGalley and William Collins for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I’ll admit that while I’ve read a few biographies of Queen Victoria, most of what I know about her time on the throne was from the Victoria television series, which concentrated on the beginning of her reign. Queen Victoria and her Prime Ministers focuses on her relationships she had with her PMs, good and bad. And while many portraits of the woman portray her as an aloof monarch, she was anything but. She really stuck her nose into things! Sometimes, her PMs listened to her, sometimes they didn’t, much to her vexation, but even when she was in confinement due to pregnancies, she had her hands on the business of the empire.

This was an exquisitely rich and detailed accounting on the machinations of the British government, and I feel I understand how their government works a lot better now. It is so different than the U.S.! I also appreciated the fact that Victoria was a product of her times and had some decidedly controversial opinions on peoples and places that are cringe-worthy today. Her ability to grow and change with her opinions on a variety of subjects and, in fact, the various men who held the position of PM, is a testament to how she conducted business. She did not simply reign, she definitely ruled, as all the Prime Ministers could attest.

Anne Somerset’s new book is a well-done look at the people who ruled Britain when it was at the height of its imperial power. Personalities and politics are all well-described and vividly detailed. Somerset’s book might have nothing new to say about Queen Victoria and her prime ministers, but it still makes for very good history reading.

Anne Somerset’s Queen Victoria and Her Prime Ministers offers an enthralling and nuanced examination of the monarch’s sixty-three-year reign and her complex relationships with the ten prime ministers who served under her. This brilliantly researched and meticulously crafted work challenges the common perception that Queen Victoria was merely a ceremonial figurehead, revealing instead her active and often forceful role in the governance of her empire. Somerset provides an insightful and richly detailed portrait of not only Victoria’s political evolution but also the fascinating and turbulent relationships she maintained with her premiers.

Somerset’s narrative shines by drawing from a treasure trove of unpublished sources, including material from the Royal Archives and previously unseen prime ministerial papers. These resources allow her to paint an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at Victoria’s reign, highlighting her keen interest in state affairs, strong opinions on political matters, and deeply personal connections—or, in some cases, tensions—with her prime ministers. Somerset’s portrayal of Victoria is both humanizing and invigorating, presenting her as a passionate, sometimes headstrong ruler who was far more involved in shaping the course of her empire than many historians have given her credit for.

The heart of the book lies in its exploration of Victoria’s interactions with the ten prime ministers who served her, each relationship marked by its own unique dynamic. The tension and affection between Victoria and her premiers is recounted with humor and insight. For example, Somerset delves into Victoria’s deep admiration for Benjamin Disraeli, her favorite prime minister, who brought warmth, poetry, and charm into her life. Disraeli’s ability to flatter and appeal to Victoria’s sense of grandeur stands in stark contrast to her frosty relationship with William Gladstone, whom she famously loathed, calling him a “dangerous old fanatic.”

Somerset doesn’t shy away from the political turmoil and global changes that defined the Victorian era, and she expertly weaves these larger historical events into the personal stories of Victoria and her prime ministers. From the expansion of the British Empire to the rise of industrialization and the shifting political landscapes of Europe, Somerset contextualizes Victoria’s reign within the transformative global currents of the 19th century. The result is a book that not only illuminates Victoria’s relationships but also offers a vivid account of the historical forces at play during one of the most significant periods of British history.

What makes Queen Victoria and Her Prime Ministers particularly compelling is Somerset’s ability to blend scholarly rigor with an engaging and accessible writing style. Her descriptions of Victoria’s “feuds and affectionate interactions” with her premiers are often laced with wit and humor, making the book as entertaining as it is informative. Somerset succeeds in making history feel immediate and relatable, drawing readers into the personal dramas and political machinations that defined Victoria’s reign.

The depth of character development is another of Somerset’s strengths. Victoria herself emerges as a multifaceted figure—a devoted mother, a romantic widow, and a determined queen whose personality shaped the politics of her time. The prime ministers, too, are brought to life with remarkable clarity, each man’s strengths, weaknesses, and quirks fully explored. Somerset’s balanced portrayal ensures that the book never becomes one-sided, and readers come away with a thorough understanding of the personalities that shaped British governance during Victoria’s reign.

Final Thoughts:
Queen Victoria and Her Prime Ministers is a masterful work of historical biography that not only shines a light on the personal and political intricacies of Queen Victoria’s reign but also offers a vivid portrait of the exceptional politicians who navigated the challenges of 19th-century Britain. Anne Somerset’s skillful storytelling and in-depth research make this a must-read for anyone interested in Victorian history, British politics, or the remarkable life of one of history’s most enduring monarchs. A captivating 5-star read that offers both insight and entertainment in equal measure.

Very unique concept and so well executed!

You get Queen Victoria's perspective of her Prime Ministers and their perspectives of her.

If you love reading about history like me, this is definitely a book I recommend you pick up!

Thank you NetGalley, Anne Somerset, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for giving me an ARC of this book!

A unique perspective, looking at Queen Victoria, not through how she saw herself, but how her prime ministers viewed her, and how she viewed them. It's at once a history of the monarchy, and a history of the inner working of the British government.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. This was a great book! If you are a history buff you will like this book. I have not rad many books about Queen Victoria's Prime Ministers. This was very informative and the author honestly did a great job with the research!

Queen Victoria and Her Prime Ministers: Her Life, the Imperial Ideal, and the Politics and Turmoil That Shaped Her Extraordinary Reign by Anne Somerset is an in-depth look at the political side of her reign.

This is a fascinating and definitely deeper look at the relationships, events, and sometimes even political antics that occurred between Queen Victoria and the many Prime Ministers that she “worked with” during her long reign.

I already knew a small amount about the queen and most of the Prime Ministers that were elected during these decades, but this gave me way more information and background that I have previously read.

This book is not for the faint if heart, it is a solid read, but thorough, enlightening, and interesting nevertheless.

4.5/5 stars

Thank you Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Knopf for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 11/5/24.

I absolutely love this book! I've always been a big fan of Queen Victoria and her journey from a young Queen to the Grandmother of Europe! I always knew she had fierce determination of Queen Elizabeth I but after reading this awesome addition about Victoria's life I've come to see she had a grand spark all of her own! ❤️

Naturally Victoria gave her prime ministers the benefit of the doubt with their advice and consideration for England☕️

But Victoria truly shines bright with taking over a lot of decisions that can write new paths for her country. I have watched many documentaries and read many books on the life of Queen Victoria and I have to say this book by the Anne Somerset is a royal sweet treat edition! 🧁


Bravo! 🥳

I requested and received an eARC of Queen Victoria and Her Prime Ministers: Her Life, the Imperial Ideal, and the Politics and Turmoil That Shaped Her Extraordinary Reign by Anne Somerset via NetGalley. Was tickled pink when I saw this title on NetGalley and even more so when my request was approved to read it. I have a fondness for Anne Somerset! Her biography of Queen Anne is still one of my favorite works of historical nonfiction, not only because Queen Anne was a delight to read about it, but it was also an exhaustingly detailed work that seemed to leave no stone unturned. My reading about Victoria has been confined to pretty straightforward biographies and books about her various children and descendants. In Somerset’s new book, the author offers a glimpse of Victoria’s reign through (as the title suggests) the lens of her relations with the Prime Ministers that served during her tenure as a monarch.

It is often believed that while Queen Victoria reigned, she did not rule, and that her influence was nearly always contained by those surrounding her (such as her husband.) In her book Somerset sets out to disprove this myth and traces the monarch’s reign through each of the ten Prime Ministers and the influence she exerted in her dealings with them. Somerset does an exceptional job backing her claims, something made much easier by Victoria’s prolific letter writing and record keeping. We are offered many direct glimpses into the monarch’s mind as she affectionately, and occasionally disdainfully, offers her view of the men asked to form a government in her name. Through Somerset's account we are able to witness Queen Victoria’s growth from girlish immaturity to a well- seasoned and thoughtful leader.

This book also allows us to become familiar with the men who became Prime Minister and the ideals that they held (I am fatigued from reading about the Corn Laws.) Not going to lie, I was a huge sucker for the opening section about Victoria and Melbourne. Victoria had a long, fascinating, and occasionally tragic reign, but I’m always drawn to the young woman freshly emerged from under the thumb of the Kensington System, coming into her own power. Although his statements and beliefs were at times abhorrent, I can’t help but feel a fondness when reading about their bond. I also think this section really highlights the person behind the crown and offers such an excellent starting point for the reader to consider how Victoria grew as an individual throughout her reign while retaining that something that makes her terribly interesting to read about. While the early sections about Melbourne and Peel were endearing (the Peel section really highlights her quick growth, something attributed to her marriage, when it should be attributed to age and the building of experience) then the sections about William Gladstone were an absolute riot of laughs (she really quite disliked him.)

Ultimately, I found this book to be engaging and informative. It is packed with details, and although I wish I had been able to glean more about the individual Prime Minister’s personal lives, I think Somerset does an admirable job of capturing the essence of their personalities and how those personalities clashed or conformed with Victoria’s. The language used was accessible and important events were contextualized and explained in a way that would benefit the casual reader of history. The work is quite lengthy with few chapters, so it does require a bit of a commitment and effort, but the reward is well worth it!