Becoming Queen

By: Kate Williams

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Paperback | 1 May 2009 | Edition Number 1

At a Glance

Paperback
432 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
19.5 x 13.0 x 2.8

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The astonishing story of Queen Victoria's passionate youth, her bitter struggle with her mother - and how her life was shaped by the life of her forgotten cousin, Princess Charlotte, the Queen who never was.

Our perception of Victoria the Queen is coloured by portraits of her older, widowed self - her dour expression embodying the repressive morality propagated in her time. But Becoming Queen reveals an energetic and vibrant woman, determined to battle for power. It also documents the Byzantine machinations behind Victoria's quest to occupy the throne, and shows how her struggles did not end when finally the crown was placed on her head.

Laying bare the passions that swirled around the throne in the eighteenth century, Becoming Queen is an absorbingly dramatic tale of secrets, sexual repression and endless conflict. After her lauded biography of Emma Hamilton, England's Mistress, Kate Williams has produced a most original and intimate portrait of Great Britain's longest reigning monarch.

Industry Reviews

The amazing untold story of Victoria before she was Queen ... Kate Williams reveals a passionate young woman beloved of her future subjects but at war with her family * Sunday Telegraph *
Passionate, exuberant and entertaining, a treasure trove of royalty, intrigue and politics ... vividly and sensitively brings to life the girl who would become Queen * Simon Sebag Montefiore *
This fresh and vivid portrayal of the young Queen Victoria is deserving of the highest praise. I cannot recommend it highly enough * Alison Weir, author of The Lady Elizabeth *
Becoming Queen showcases an outstanding talent from whom we can expect much more -- Matthew d'Ancona * Spectator *
History as exciting and tempestuous as you are ever likely to find * Country Life *

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List of Illustrations
Family Tree
1796-1817 Charlotte: The Queen Who Never Was
'The most distressing feelings of my heart'	p. 3
'I find him very fat, and nothing as handsome as his portrait'	p. 10
An Immense Girl	p. 15
'Fleas are the only enemies HRH has'	p. 22
The Mistress of Montague House	p. 27
Forming the Character of a Young Princess	p. 32
Sex, Lies and Scandals	p. 41
Prince Regent	p. 44
The Nunnery	p. 48
'Thinking that she has a will of her own'	p. 57
Violent Orange Attacks	p. 65
The Rising Sun	p. 70
'The soldiers will be ordered out'	p. 80
A Little Turquoise Heart	p. 86
The Black Sheep	p. 93
'Everything I could wish & desire collected in one'	p. 98
Mr and Mrs Coburg	p. 107
'Some strange, awkward symptoms'	p. 116
Interlude: 1817-20 Drunken Dukes
'The dregs of their dull race'	p. 127
'As plump as a partridge'	p. 136
Alexandrina Victoria	p. 143
1820-37 Little Victoria
An Idol in Kensington Palace	p. 155
The Nation's Hope	p. 162
Imperial Robes	p. 166
Living in a Very Simple Manner	p. 173
'I was greatly pleased'	p. 180
Educating a Princess	p. 185
Sickly Uncle King	p. 193
Charlotte the Queen?	p. 200
'The Queen does nothing but embroider flowers'	p. 205
'How very old'	p. 215
'When nobody wishes to change and nobody wants to give in'	p. 220
Victoria on Tour	p. 227
Victoria's Whims	p. 232
Crowds of Princes	p. 237
'I cannot expect to live very long'	p. 245
'It may all be over at any moment'	p. 254
1837-41 The Young Queen
'Just the sort of life I like'	p. 263
'He is of the greatest use to me'	p. 278
Scandal	p. 289
A Way of Settling It	p. 300
Passing Like a Dream	p. 307
'Monsters!'	p. 315
'An everlasting impression'	p. 321
'Children seem to literally be raining down from heaven '	p. 327
'What a hard task it is for us women'	p. 335
Epilogue: An Immense Multitude	p. 342
Notes	p. 347
Bibliography	p. 388
Index	p. 398
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.

Becoming Queen

At a Glance

Paperback

Industry Reviews

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

More in History

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Australian history from the top down

Plebs Romana

People, Power and Politics in Ancient Rome

Straya Day: from the bestselling author of RUM and GOLD, with 45 trivia quiz questions to test your history

The unofficial history of Australia's national day

Francis of Assisi

The Life of a Restless Saint

Sister Heart

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All or Nothing

How Trump Recaptured America

The Dark Side of the Earth

How the Soviet Union Collapsed but Remained

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The case against John Howard

The Path of Light

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An American Prophecy: What the Cycles of History Tell Us About America's Next Rendezvous with Destiny

Half of a Yellow Sun

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The Zorg

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