Victoria [Hardcover]

Deborah Jaffe (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 28, 2002

This highly illustrated book celebrates Queen Victoria's life and times in unparalleled depth and breadth.

Editorial Reviews

Review

In this enjoyable book Deborah Jaffe tells the story of the Queen who gave her name to an epoch. Spanning the 19th century - she was born in 1819 and died in 1901 - Victoria presided over a time when Britain lived up to its 'Great' moniker. It was the time of Dickens, Tennyson and the Brontes; of Rossetti and the Pre-Raphaelites; of Darwin, the Rothschilds and the Great Exhibition. And towering over all this was the first Empress of India, Victoria herself. Jaffe tells the story chronologically, including chapters recounting Victoria's childhood, marriage to Albert and imperial role. The book is illustrated throughout with a unique array of paintings, engravings and early photographs - of the Crystal Palace standing on Hyde Park, of St Pancras Station, one of the pinnacles of Victorian architecture, and of some of the more intimate moments from Victoria's life - out riding with servant and companion John Brown or sitting with her great-grandchildren. The focus of the book is its illustrations, and inevitably the text is pedestrian in comparison. Little effort has gone into it and pat banalities are offered up with little justification or supporting evidence - '[Victoria] always hoped that there would be no bloodshed involved in these [imperial] acquisitions and expected that one day Britain would gracefully withdraw when the people were ready.'. Jaffe's book is beautiful to look at and a useful and accessible introduction to the period, but anyone with a serious interest will have to look elsewhere. (Kirkus UK) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

DEBORAH JAFFE is a photographer based in Los Angeles and New York.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Carlton Books (October 28, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1842221558
• ISBN-13: 978-1842221556
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,202,034 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Lousy overview - substantial photographs, March 23, 2002

By 

Claire (East coast, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Victoria (Hardcover)

If you're looking for an in-depth, fresh approach to Queen Victoria, and you already know the basics of her life, this is NOT the book to buy. Incredibly repetitive - entire paragraphs that were almost word-for-word repeating an earlier section, inattention to detail (chloroform is just wonderful and all, but Jaffe reviews its importance every 5th page!) and shows a lack of present research (Latest findings show that Prince Albert was actually killed through stomach cancer that he contracted several years before he died - Jaffe only mentions typhoid).

The photographs were the only positive part about this book - rich information surrounding her life.

All together a poorly written book for a reader who wanted substantial, indepth details about Queen Victoria (and who already knew the wonderful advances of chloroform!!)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Get The Facts Straight, August 14, 2006

By 

Royalty Buff - See all my reviews

This review is from: Victoria (Paperback)

I wouldn't recommend this book for serious Victoria RI fans.The book discusses the events in Queen Victoria's reign in parallel with events in 19th Century England.

There were some glaring errors in the book:

1. On the backcover, Queen Victoria came to the throne when she was 18 not 19. Anyone who knows anything about Queen Victoria knows that she was 18 years and 37 days when she became Queen. People do judge a book by its cover.

2. Prince Edward is the Earl of Wessex. He is not the Duke of Wessex. Another fundamental error.

3. Prince Philip's mother Princess Alice of Battenberg died in 1969 not 1950.

4. The Harewood/Lascelles branch of the royal family is missing. Mary Princess Royal (1897-1965) abd Henry Lascelles 6th Earl of Harewood (1882-1947) and their descendants have been omitted.

5. Frederick Duke of York died in 1827 not 1803.

6. Victoria Duchess of Albany and Saxe-Coburg-Gotha was born in 1885 not 1865.

7. Prince Arthur of Connaught was born in 1883 not 1869 and died in 1938 not 1931.

The dates of many other royals are missing.

8. On page 146 one of Alfred Duke of Edinburgh's children did not become King of Romania. One of his children became Queen of Romania.

This book provides a gentle overview of Victoria RI's reign and the events in Britain at the time but adds nothing to Queen Victoria literature.

4.0 out of 5 stars orsaylady, July 11, 2002

By 

historybooklady (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Victoria (Hardcover)

Victoria 101. I think this book is intended for a reader who has not picked up much on this subject. Includes a nice basic overview of 19th century England. I enjoyed it.