Customer Reviews

Sophia of Hanover: Mother of George I and Ancestor of the House of Windsor

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Sophia of Hanover is the descendant who links the Stuart line on the British throne to the current royal family's right to inherit. However, at her birth her becoming heiress to the throne seemed the most unlikely thing that could happen. She was the daughter of Princess Elizabeth Stuart, "the winter Queen" and her husband Frederick, Elector of Palantine. She was born and grew up in the Hague in Holland in a background of gentile poverty with a mother who was generous beyond her means but who nevertheless never forgot her royal heritage.

Sophia had an interesting life and made the best of what it dealt her. In her 50s when she hit a low patch she even started writing her memoirs. Luckily for us the multi lingual Sophia was an excellent writer. The author has even included a number of Sophia's letters in their original language at the back of the book as a "challenge" for readers to translate (a bit annoying but at least they are published).

I would have to say this was an interesting look at Sophia's life. Given her extensive letter writing and the quality of her letters this is unlikely to be the be-all-end-all biography of Sophia but as an overview of her life and a look at a woman who was fascinating in her own right this is a good read.