The author of the “monumental, scholarly study” The Reign of Queen Victoria delves into her unique relationship with her son Edward during her final years (Kirkus Reviews).
In this biography, Hector Bolitho paints a fascinating portrait of the life of the two monarchs, focusing on how their contentious relationship evolved after the death of Victoria’s beloved Prince Consort. Victoria and Edward are here given equal attention, with their often-conflicting perspectives presented without bias or retrospective judgement.
Bolitho begins the narrative in 1861 with the death of Albert and Queen Victoria’s inconsolable grief at the loss of her love. As Victoria’s mourning begins to impact her rule, young Edward is torn between his youthful, pleasure-seeking nature and his duties as heir to the throne.
In this authoritative and insightful biography, Bolitho illustrates the latter part of Victoria’s rule, highlighting the tumultuous relationship between a grieving widow and her unruly son. Under Bolitho’s sympathetic eye, these two giants of British history are, finally, rendered human.
