Becoming Queen Victoria
The Unexpected Rise of Britain's Greatest Monarch
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Narrated by:
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Katharine Lee McEwan
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By:
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Kate Williams
About this listen
New York Times best seller
The perfect companion to the upcoming PBS Masterpiece series Victoria
A gripping account of Queen Victoria's rise and early years in power from CNN's official royal historian
"Kate Williams has perfected the art of historical biography. Her pacy writing is underpinned by the most impeccable scholarship." (Alison Weir)
In 1819, a girl was born to the fourth son of King George III. No one could have expected such an unassuming, overprotected girl to be an effective ruler - yet Queen Victoria would become one of the most powerful monarchs in history.
Writing with novelistic flair and historical precision, Kate Williams reveals a vibrant woman in the prime of her life while chronicling the byzantine machinations that continued even after the crown was placed on her head. Upon hearing that she had inherited the throne, 18-year-old Victoria banished her overambitious mother from the room, a simple yet resolute move that would set the tone for her reign. The queen clashed constantly not only with her mother and her mother's adviser, the Irish adventurer John Conroy, but with her ministers and even her beloved Prince Albert - all of whom attempted to seize control from her.
Williams lays bare the passions that swirled around the throne - the court secrets, the sexual repression, and the endless intrigue. The result is a grand tale of a woman whose destiny began long before she was born and whose legacy lives on.
©2016 Kate Williams (P)2016 Random House AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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This superbly told story brings to life one of the most remarkable rulers––and men––in all of history and conveys the drama of his life and world. The Russia of Peter's birth was very different from the Russia his energy, genius, and ruthlessness shaped. Crowned co-Tsar as a child of ten, after witnessing bloody uprisings in the streets of Moscow, he would grow up propelled by an unquenchable curiosity, everywhere looking, asking, tinkering, and learning, fired by Western ideas.
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Narrater ruins everything
- By BrendaLouQuilts on 12-30-11
By: Robert K. Massie
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Victoria
- A Life
- By: A. N. Wilson
- Narrated by: Clive Chafer
- Length: 21 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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The longest reigning British monarch and female sovereign in history, Queen Victoria was a figure of profound paradox who has mystified historians for over a century. Now in this magisterial biography, A.N. Wilson rebukes the conventional wisdom about her life - that she was merely a "funny little woman in a bonnet" who did next to nothing - to show she was in fact intensely involved in state affairs despite a public façade of inaction.
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This book has old and new info
- By Dr. A. on 10-29-14
By: A. N. Wilson
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Matriarch
- Queen Mary and the House of Windsor
- By: Anne Edwards
- Narrated by: Corrie James
- Length: 16 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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The life of Princess May of Teck is one of the great Cinderella stories in history. From a family of impoverished nobility, she was chosen by Queen Victoria as the bride for her eldest grandson, the scandalous Duke of Clarence, heir to the throne, who died mysteriously before their marriage. Despite this setback, she became queen, mother of two kings, grandmother of the current queen, and a lasting symbol of the majesty of the British throne.
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Wow! Did not want this to end!
- By Susan Nall Sheehan on 07-16-17
By: Anne Edwards
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England's Mistress
- The Infamous Life of Emma Hamilton
- By: Kate Williams
- Narrated by: Josephine Bailey
- Length: 14 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
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Emma Hamilton was England's first superstar. She fought her way out of dire poverty to become a fashion icon, an Ambassador's wife, a confidante of both Marie Antoinette and the Queen of Naples, and the mistress of Lord Nelson, England's greatest military hero.
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Riveting.
- By jojonow on 06-12-08
By: Kate Williams
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The Duchess
- By: Amanda Foreman
- Narrated by: Wanda McCaddon
- Length: 15 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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Lady Georgiana Spencer was the great-great-great-great-aunt of Diana, Princess of Wales, and was nearly as famous in her day. In 1774 Georgiana achieved immediate celebrity by marrying William Cavendish, fifth Duke of Devonshire, one of England's richest and most influential aristocrats. She became the queen of fashionable society and founder of the most important political salon of her time.
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Captivating Biography with Outstanding Narration
- By Johanna on 05-15-16
By: Amanda Foreman
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Queen Victoria's Mysterious Daughter
- A Biography of Princess Louise
- By: Lucinda Hawksley
- Narrated by: Jennifer M. Dixon
- Length: 16 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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The secrets of Queen Victoria's sixth child, Princess Louise, may be destined to remain hidden forever. What was so dangerous about this artistic, tempestuous royal that her life has been documented more by rumor and gossip than hard facts? When Lucinda Hawksley started to investigate, often thwarted by inexplicable secrecy, she discovered a fascinating woman, modern before her time, whose story has been shielded for years from public view.
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Incredibly Frustrating
- By JayOne on 01-16-20
By: Lucinda Hawksley
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Queen Victoria's Matchmaking
- The Royal Marriages That Shaped Europe
- By: Deborah Cadbury
- Narrated by: Charlotte Strevens
- Length: 13 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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A captivating exploration of the role in which Queen Victoria exerted the most international power and influence: as a matchmaking grandmother. Queen Victoria's Matchmaking travels through the glittering, decadent palaces of Europe from London to Saint Petersburg, weaving in scandals, political machinations, and family tensions. It is at once an intimate portrait of a royal family and an examination of the conflict caused by the marriages the Queen arranged. At the heart of it all is Victoria herself: doting grandmother one moment, determined Queen Empress the next.
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Beautifully written and narrated
- By LitLadyK on 01-08-19
By: Deborah Cadbury
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Queen Victoria's Granddaughters: 1860-1918
- By: Christina Croft
- Narrated by: Fleur Edwards
- Length: 13 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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On 6 July 1868, when told of the birth of her seventh granddaughter, Queen Victoria remarked that the news was "a very uninteresting thing for it seems to me to go on like the rabbits in Windsor Park". Her apathy was understandable - this was her 14th grandchild, and, though she had given birth to nine children, she had never been fond of babies, viewing them as "frog-like and rather disgusting...particularly when undressed".
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Loved every minute!
- By Nancy Shaw Cumberledge on 07-05-17
By: Christina Croft
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The Churchills: In Love and War
- By: Mary S. Lovell
- Narrated by: Anne Flosnik
- Length: 21 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
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The first Duke of Marlborough (1650-1722) was a soldier of such genius that a lavish palace, Blenheim, was built to honor his triumphs. Succeeding generations of Churchills sometimes achieved distinction but also included profligates and womanizers, and were saddled with the ruinous upkeep of Blenheim. The Churchills were an extraordinary family: ambitious, impecunious, impulsive, brave, and arrogant. Winston - recently voted "The Greatest Briton" - dominates them all. His failures and triumphs are revealed in the context of a poignant and sometimes tragic private life.
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Grand! In it's own wonderful way.
- By Cookie on 12-05-11
By: Mary S. Lovell
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The Six Wives of Henry VIII
- By: Alison Weir
- Narrated by: Simon Prebble
- Length: 22 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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This acclaimed best seller from popular historian Alison Weir is a fascinating look at the Tudor family dynasty and its most infamous ruler. The Six Wives of Henry VIII brings to life England’s oft-married monarch and the six wildly different but equally fascinating women who married him. Gripping from the first sentence to the last and loaded with fascinating details, Weir’s rich history is a perfect blend of scholarship and entertainment.
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Overview AND Sordid Details
- By Troy on 10-29-13
By: Alison Weir
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Love and Louis XIV
- The Women in the Life of the Sun King
- By: Antonia Fraser
- Narrated by: Rosalyn Landor
- Length: 13 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
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The self-proclaimed Sun King, Louis XIV, ruled over the most glorious and extravagant court in 17th-century Europe. Now, Antonia Fraser goes behind the well-known tales of Louis' accomplishments and follies, exploring in riveting detail his intimate relationships with women.
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Excellent!
- By Louise on 04-27-08
By: Antonia Fraser
What listeners say about Becoming Queen Victoria
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- A. Ingraham
- 12-27-17
Love European History? Queen Victoria? READ THIS
Where does Becoming Queen Victoria rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
On a scale from 1 - 10, I would rank it a 9
What did you like best about this story?
At first it was a bit confusing as to how the author took so much time on Princess Charlotte, but I ended up enjoying this bit of history that I was unaware of.
What does Katharine McEwan bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
N/A
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
I would have to say when Princess Charlotte died.
Any additional comments?
It's a great book, enjoyable, a great entry into History if you are beginner. I would read the book and listen to the audio book again as well as recommend to others!
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- Linda
- 02-25-19
The back story
Some reviewers seemed to think this book should have been more about Victoria. I thought it was great that she gave us the information on what led up to her reign. No one is interested in the Georges, but you need to know what was happening in order to appreciate Victoria. I had thought she was not well educated or socialized. Now I see that she was well prepared to become queen in spite of (or because of) the way she was raised. Well done Ms Williams!
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- Wren
- 04-01-17
Extremely Well Written and Readable
One of the most informative biographies placed into an enjoyable writing style that I have had the pleasure to read. The dual biography of Queen Victoria and her lesser known predecessor, Charlotte the almost Queen whose death changed the line of succession. Fascinating and enjoyable. The narrator had a slightly noticeable style that I came to enjoy. Very pleasant to listen to.
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8 people found this helpful
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- Tlr
- 01-04-20
Not what I expected
This is clearly a well-researched book and very interesting. However, Victoria does not make an appearance until Chapter 20. The beginning of the book is all about the life of Princess Charlotte. While this is an interesting background story, I found it to be too much when I was expecting a book mostly about Victoria.
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- Pill Picker
- 08-20-22
Pill picker
While most of the information in this book was familiar, a few parts were new to me and the overall result was an excellent book. Thank you.
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- EM new Mom
- 04-03-17
Fascinating and well read
Would you consider the audio edition of Becoming Queen Victoria to be better than the print version?
This well told biography is wonderfully read and a fascinating tale of the rise of Victoria. A compelling listen!
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5 people found this helpful
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- Rodney and Jennifer C
- 01-01-19
Perfection
I was hesitant to get this book because I typically go for historical fiction. but I really wanted to know more about how Victoria became Queen.
This did not come across like a text book at all. The stories were told in a very interesting way. I think the narrator did a great job bringing this to life.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Karen O'Neil-Roy
- 09-19-17
Great book
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes, it's based a lot on journal entries and letters.
What other book might you compare Becoming Queen Victoria to and why?
No idea.
Which character – as performed by Katharine McEwan – was your favorite?
It's a biography.
Any additional comments?
There's a gap in the story at 13:15:20 to 13:15:22. I thought there was a buffering isuse, but it turns out there's an issue. every time I replayed the 30 seconds prior, it would happen again at the same time.
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5 people found this helpful
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- Allyssia
- 05-24-18
Intriguing, from beginning to end
Although it's not just about Victoria's life, but also about Charlotte and her mother, it's no critique; their lives are utterly fascinating.
The path to the crown has been showed to be rather complicated, unpredictable and full of intrigue, which, despite the stress it must have caused to them it's nevertheless very interesting and always keeps the reader anxious for the next chapter.
When Victoria finally is crowned queen, the book is 80% finished and the focus switches to showing her contribution to our modern vision of monarchy and how she dealt with her private life affairs.
Even though the book leaves you wanting for more, even after it's end it still wraps up wonderfully, establishing correlations between Victoria's past decisions and nowaday events, such as the press coverage of the affair of the former King of England with Willis and how the monarchy slowly acquires resemblance with celebrities, such as seen with Diana.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Sarai D
- 03-13-18
Very informative
I enjoyed getting to know more about the history, joys, and struggles. This book helps to "humanize" a group that is sometimes seen as different and less "normal" than those of us with "regular" careers.
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