Queen Victoria and her prime ministers Her life, the imperial ideal, and the politics and turmoil that shaped her extraordinary reign

Anne Somerset, 1955-

Book - 2024

"A riveting portrait of Queen Victoria and the ten prime ministers who headed the British government during her sixty-three-year reign"--

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Subjects
Genres
Biographies
Published
New York : Alfred A. Knopf 2024.
Language
English
Main Author
Anne Somerset, 1955- (author)
Edition
First United States edition
Physical Description
630 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates ; illustrations (some color) ; 25 cm
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN
9781101875575
  • Lord Melbourne 1837-1841
  • Sir Robert Peel 1841-1846
  • Lord John Russell 1846-1852
  • Lord Derby; Lord Aberdeen 1852-1855
  • Lord Palmerston; Lord Derby; Lord Palmerston 1855-1861
  • Lord Palmerston 1861-1865
  • Lord Russell; Lord Derby; Mr Disraeli 1865-1868
  • Mr Gladstone 1868-1874
  • Mr Disraeli (Earl of Beaconsfield) 1874-1880
  • Mr Gladstone 1880-1885
  • Lord Salisbury; Mr Gladstone 1885-1886
  • Lord Salisbury 1886-1892
  • Mr Gladstone; Lord Rosebery 1892-1895
  • Lord Salisbury 1895-1901
  • Conclusion
Review by Booklist Review

Queen Victoria's remarkable reign of more than six decades meant that she saw many a prime minister come and go. The strong-willed, intelligent monarch navigated these constant, inevitable political upheavals. Somerset, previous biographer of Elizabeth I and William IV, admirably details just how Victoria manipulated and was manipulated by these politicians. Her first prime minister, Lord Melbourne, steered the young queen through her tentative first years. It was difficult for any other prime minister to have such close bonds with her again. Victoria was nevertheless willing to learn as her initial governments alternated between Whig and Tory. She might at first have intensely disliked Sir Robert Peel and Lord Palmerston, but she could see beyond bad first impressions and learned to cherish them. Victoria's later reign was dominated by the titanic figures of Disraeli and Gladstone. She generally sympathized with progressive politicians but could be stubborn if she felt ignored or disrespected. Those who know Victoria more from the perspectives of her marriage to Albert and relations with family will find here an astute and sophisticated queen.

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.