Customer Reviews

At Her Majesty's Request: An African Princess in Victorian England

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When deciding to buy some books for my kids in elementary school to read, I was intrigued by the title of this book, and I chose it. Reading this book for me was an exhiliarating experience, and I would highly recommend it. The author tried to do justice to the life and history of this admirable African or should I say Nigerian princess (I am biased here), and for the Yoruba folks, she was an Egbado. Her ancestory can be traced to present day Abeokuta, Nigeria.

This book encapsulates the moving story of an African princess, who escaped death from a wicked king in the present day Republic of Benin (Dahomey) courtesy of a British Naval Captain (Frederick Forbes) during the early part of the 19th century. Captain Forbes brought her to England when she was about 6/7years old, where she had a first taste of the British Aristocrats and became known as Sarah Bonetta Forbes. She then had to be sent to Sierra Leone (West Africa) due to illness, having been thought to be unable to withstand the cold weather. In Sierra Leone, she was an astute student in the Female Institution there, and she maintained contact with Queen Victoria. She also met with the famous First African CMS Bishop, Samuel Ajayi Crowther. After about 4 years in Sierra Leone and now about 12 years old, Queen Victoria requested that she be sent back to England. She lived in England until she was about 19 years old. Reading her letters and her experience in England, gave me a personal satisfaction, as I had insight into a potential scholar the world did not really get to know. Sarah undoubtedly was an extremely bright kid, and Captain Forbes conceded that she was ahead of her contemporaries including the caucassian kids she schooled with. After much reluctance, she got married to a West African Business man, Mr Davis. Her marriage then took her back the second time to West Africa where she finally settled in Lagos (Nigeria). She lived and lectured here in another Female Institution until she was about 37/38 years, and had 3 children. Her first child Victoria was named after Queen Victoria, who was also her God-mother. Sarah Bonetta Davis as she became known had a tragic end, dying of Tuberculosis on a Portugese Island, where she was sent to recover. I wonder what happened to her husband Mr Davis and her three children. I think any information available on them and subsequent descendants would certainly complete the story. I congratulate the award winning author of this book, Walter Dean Myers for a job well done.

"At Her Majesty's Request: An African Princess in Victorian England" tells the life story of Sarah Forbes Bonetta, who was born an African Egbado princess, captured by rival Dohamans and taken to Dahomey to be murdered in a ritual sacrifice, rescued and adopted by a British naval captain, taken to England and presented to Queen Victoria, and raised under the Queen's protection in England and Sierra Leone. This handsome book is a very fine biography for young readers; it includes many excerpts from Sarah's letters and the Queen's diaries, as well as historic illustrations. Relevant information about 19th century West Africa and Britain (e.g., the Dahomey empire, the slave trade and British actions to end it, Christian missions in Africa, Sierra Leone, the British class system, women's place in society, etc.) is well presented. Although Sarah's story is interesting because of its uniqueness, much about the lives of ordinary 19th century West Africans and Europeans can be learned here. Despite the fact that there is little material concerning Sarah's life, the author has done a fine job and readers interested in Africa should be glad he did. The book contains a useful bibliography which includes "Dahomey and the Dahomans" (1851) by Frederick E. Forbes (the captain who rescued and adopted Sarah).

19th century Dahomey is also the setting of "The Viceroy of Ouidah" by Bruce Chatwin.

If any literary giant needs to have his work adapted to film, it is Myers. As one of the premier writers of fiction for juveniles, the author has added another significant piece to his long line of classics. This one tells the story of a little-known African princess who comes under the wing of England's legendary Queen Victoria.

Not only does the book reveal the horrors of the African slave trade, the atrocities that some tyrants inflict on their enemies, and the class system that pervades much of a "civilized" society, it is a marvelous tale of a girl who overcomes such obstacles and becomes the darling of English society.

Although Sarah's life is brief, it is a memorable one as the character grows from frightened child to a loving mother.
I am recommending that all my students read this book as well as others by Myers. Now, if only someone in "Tinsel Town" would discover this fine author.

I'd much rather see his stories on the big screen than any about a teenaged wizard.

I'm 12 years old, and I love to read. I can absolutely say that this is with out a doubt one of the best books I've ever read, and I've read alot of great books. I love tthe way the author would put the letters, and the diary entries in the book, that way it let us see what the queen, and Sarah were going through. If you like historical books this is definatly on I would read.

I'm 12, and I love reading. I can with out a doubt say this is one of the best books I've read, and I've read alot of other great books. Just the way he would put the letters, and the diary pages in the book, and the pictures were gorgeous. So, If you like historical books I would definatly recomend this book

The book, At Her Majesty's Request was the most wonderful book I've read because it tells the story of how Sarah Bonetta overcomed so many problems. First w/ the horror of watching her parents being killed, and then almost being sacrificed by the slave holders because of who she was and where she lived.Then when she was saved by a white man whom she couldn't even understand becase she spoke a different language.And then soon after that she learned how to speak english and then she became friends w/ the Queen of England, Queen Victoria.So the book to me was very heart-warming and I hope you love the book too! Go Wells Wolverines!

I'm 12 years old, and I love to read. I can absolutely say that this is with out a doubt one of the best books I've ever read, and I've read alot of great books. I love the way the author would put the letters, and the diary entries in the book, that way it let us see what the Queen, and Sarah were going through. If you like historical books this is definatly on I would read.

Once in a life time you start to read a book that you know is going to change your life forever, this is the book. It is history set in a timeframe that perhaps we all need to know and share with others. It is a real life history of a race of people and our stuggle for life. Adults, students, and educators,and librarians need to have a couple of copies in our schools and libraries. Dr. Patricia Brumley

During the reign of Queen Victoria, a very young West African girl is brought to England and becomes friends with the Queen. Fascinating glimpse of a people and culture in transition.

I read this book for the first time when I was maybe 7 years old. My mother brought it home, and I must say I took it all in. I read this book HUNDREDS of times in the 6 years following. I was obsessed with the concept, filled with a billion questions, and horrified yet entranced by the story. The pictures have stuck with me for years, and I'm fairly certain my mother bought me a book because it had one of my favorite things (a princess) combined with culture (I'm African American, adopted by a Caucasian family, so I'm sure she saw the connection there, haha) and while the story was thrilling (she seemed to retain her princessly stature throughout) I thought, "Well isn't it cruel that the one story about an African princess seems to connect with so much strife? But the thing the author forgets to remind us is wonderful is SHE was adopted by the rich and the royal alike. She lost her village, but gained new friends. That's what a princess is all about. Recommended for an avid child reader--it's one that will stick out in their mind. And that's hard to come by when you're a little kid who will read anything.