Laurie C

Daisy Goodwin's historical novel, Victoria, tells a compelling story of Queen Victoria who takes the throne at eighteen years of age. The novel details not only the struggle the young queen faces with managing the precipice between adolescence and adulthood but also the naiveté and inexperience she has about duty, politics, and trust. Portrayed at the beginning of the novel as stubborn, a bit reckless and unprepared for her duties, I found my interest in the novel increasing as the Queen learns the complexities of ruling through making mistakes and becoming more politically aware. At forty years older than Queen Victoria, Lord Melborne's character, was equally well fleshed out. The relationship between the queen and the Prime Minister was effectively conveyed through the various historical events that occurred during these first few years. The juxtaposition in age, as told through both characters perspectives, added to the complexity. Ms. Goodwin's focus on dialogue, along with historical events made this a wonderful, delightful read. The novel also piqued my interest in reading more about Queen Victoria's reign.