Thursday, February 07, 2013

Victoria Rebels (2013)

Victoria Rebels. Carolyn Meyer. 2013. Simon & Schuster. 192 pages.



I absolutely loved this book. But I tend to always like Carolyn Meyer's historical fiction. And I have great interest in Queen Victoria. If you enjoyed watching Young Victoria, there's a good chance you'll enjoy reading this book. Half of the novel focuses on Victoria's childhood and her strict upbringing, the second half focuses on the first six or seven years of her reign. Only the last few chapters focus on Victoria as wife...and mother.

Relationships matter in this book. We see this at the very beginning as Victoria struggles to have genuine relationships with the people in her life. Victoria is disappointed again and again as the people she loves and trusts most leave her life. (Her sister, her favorite uncle, various cousins, etc.) She does NOT have a good relationship with her mother...at all. The tension between the two is seen throughout the novel. Other important relationships, of course, are between Victoria and Daisy (Louise Lehzen), Victoria and Albert (her husband-and-cousin), Victoria and Lord Melbourne (prime minister).

It is about politics, but, it isn't only about politics. It offers plenty of drama: ROYAL DRAMA. For example, Victoria's mother does NOT get along with the king...they HATE each other.

I really enjoyed this one. It is told completely from Victoria's point of view. And I think it's well told.

Read Victoria Rebels
  • If you LOVED Young Victoria or Victoria and Albert
  • If you love Victorian literature (Dickens, Trollope, Gaskell, Collins, Eliot, etc.) and want to have more background on the time period;
  • If you love reading about royals
  • If you enjoy MG or YA historical fiction
 
© 2013 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

1 comment:

Ms. Yingling said...

Did really like this one. I thought that it gave a good picture not only of what Victoria did, but also what she was like as a person. Interesting book.