True Romance of the Month: Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

Just a couple of chapters and I will be finished with a biography on Queen Victoria. I never realized how lucky she was, in a period dominated by loveless marriages, to find a soul mate in her husband Prince Albert of Saxe Coburg Gotha. Theirs was a true love story that never really died, not even when he passed away at a young age, leaving Victoria a widow at 42.

I have to say that I was a bit shocked at how obsessed Victoria was with her husband. It was borderline unhealthy. She even blamed her son, Edward VII, for his death (Prince Albert was upset upon learning that his son had engaged in sexual activity with a woman of ill repute) and disliked having her children around initially because they got in the way of her having her husband all to herself. What a woman!

Heroines and Miscellaneous

I don't like heroines in their late thirties.

I've yet to read a novel in which said heroine is interesting. She's always screwed up in some way and incredibly self-righteous. Apparently, there were no feisty hot blooded women in their thirties back in the Regency or Victorian periods....only sulky frustrated virgins who made their men's lives a living hell.

This is just a rant. I'm currently debating reading the latest Mary Balogh and I hear the heroine is a dull piece of work. Makes me angry primarily because the hero is so dreamy (he's been featured in other Balogh novels).

I need to read a good romance novel. I've been immersed in historical biographies for the last month. My most recent read is a biography on Queen Victoria. Wow...incredible woman.

I need to revamp my TBR list. Hear Julia Quinn's latest is amazing and must must must buy the recent contemporary Kleypas, as well as catch up on all the romance news.

More to post this weekend, trust me!

PRINCESSES

I'm currently reading a historical biography on the daughters of George III; they are also the beloved sisters of the man known in romance novels as "PRINNY," George IV, who ruled the British Empire as regent until the death of his father.

George III had several daughters and could have easily married them off to gain political alliances during an exceptionally turbulent time in European history, yet he did not. The man was affectionate and loving, but soon became affected by a hereditary metabolic disease which left him in no place to make decisions. It was only when the princesses were older, their brother having taken over as regent, that they finally were able to break free. George III's tale is told well in the film THE MADNESS OF KING GEORGE. He was, by all intents and purposes, mad! Terribly sad story.

While George III rejected suitor after suitor for his daughters (no one was good enough or he wanted to wait 'til a better political time), their mother didn't allow the women to even leave the palace. She wanted them with her at all times and had a fit whenever one of them wanted to go into London. The daughters wanted to marry and have children. The Queen would not allow it because it might upset their father and make him more mad. Gosh, it was awful! Talk about selfish!

I recommend the book if one wants to get an inside look at the court of the time. The book is filled with letters written by the princesses to their confidantes, lovers and teachers. Just be prepared to be angry for most of it and sad for the happiness denied the princesses. The princesses start out very hopeful for the future; they each dream of love and a happily ever after. The letters soon change tone and they seem almost resigned to their state. Most of them eventually married, although later in life. The story will tear you to pieces. The queen is not at all depicted in a positive light. What a absolute wench!