Reviews

• An engaging study of a fascinating monarch

  Giles Lytton Strachey was an early 20th century writer and biographer who developed a reputation for writing biographies that dealt with individuals as people, rather than the events they were associated with. His 1921 biography of the British monarch, Queen Victoria, is a highly readable insight into this long-reigning queen. Many public domain books can be slow to read, with language that is sometimes archaic when compared to contemporary writing. This is not the case with Strachey's work. Not only does it thoroughly cover Victoria's life from childhood to death, but it is an engaging read that explores Victoria's relationships, both personal and professional. I particularly liked reading of the love between Victoria and her husband, Albert, much of which is detailed in Victoria's journals and letters. I also enjoyed Strachey's turn of phrase and his ability to create such effective word-pictures of this fascinating monarch and her life. If you have any interest in history or curiosity about British monarchs I think you will enjoy this book. I certainly did - far more than I expected to.

• Fantastic

  Lytton Strachey's writing just doesn't age. Wonderful book.

• Five Stars

  not interesting

• The best of the Bloomsberries by a mile!

  He made use of The Greville Memoirs for Queen Victoria which is another set to the original 8 volume edition brought out by Henry Reeve, Greville's friend & executor in 1887. Since both sets are practically unobtainable, I must have bought highlights - have read The Greville Memoirs Selected by Christopher Lloyd, Macmillan to find out exactly! "Leaves from The Greville Diary was published by Philip Morrell in 1929". Bernard Shaw also used Macmillan publishers obviously earlier. See my review of Lytton Strachey by Holroyd on my Profile page.

• Excellent

  This is a classical portrait of Queen Victoria with amazing details of her relationships with her family and prominent politicians of the time.

Purchase links