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68th out of 70 books
—
19 voters
At Her Majesty's Request: An African Princess in Victorian England
One terrifying night in 1848, a young African princess's village is raided by warriors. The invaders kill her mother and father, the King and Queen, and take her captive. Two years later, a British naval captain rescues her and takes her to England where she is presented to Queen Victoria, and becomes a loved and respected member of the royal court. Illustrated with histor...more
Hardcover, 160 pages
Published
February 1st 1999
by Scholastic Press
(first published 1999)
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This is a very unusual and relatively unknown but important piece of history that takes place just after the ending of slavery. A girl in an African country, Dahomey (now Benin), about to be sacrificed in a ceremony is seen by the English army officer, Captain Frederick Forbes who is attending the event. When the King points out that the girl in the cage is actually a princess, the Captain is horrified and said he didn't think that Queen Victoria would approve of that at all. The King then gives...more
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What is commendable about this work is that Walter Dean Myers has unearthed an amazing story that otherwise would have been lost forever in a decaying package of letters and diary entries in the British Royal archives. Myers hired professional researchers to ensure accuracy in his telling of Sarah Forbes Bonetta's life journey and I had the feeling he never wanted to overstep the bounds of a faithful historian. I applaud the effort and am thankful to Myers for his insight and dedication to bring...more
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At Her Majesty's Requestt tells the amazing, sad, true story of an African princess, rescued at the point of her certain death in a gigantic & horrific display of brutality by the notorious "King of Dahomey" Gezo, when a Commander in Her Majesty's Royal Navy begs for her life. Gezo gives him the child, to give to Queen Victoria. Given the name Sarah Forbes Bonetta by Commander Forbes, her last name being the name of the ship he commanded, she went to England for a year and was the queen's sp...more
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An African princess is saved from sacrifice by a British man and given to Queen Victoria as a gift by the ruthless King Gezo who murdered her entire family and village. The girl, named Sarah Forbes Bonetta Davies, lived a life of privilege but as an outsider, struggling to find her place amongst the royalty with whom she consorted. This is an interesting story about the changing perceptions of race and women during Queen Victoria's reign, though the writing leaves a bit to be desired. Young girl...more
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What a fascinating story! This is a biography of an African princess whose life was saved by an English gentleman and who was "given" to Queen Victoria by the African king who had enslaved her. This young girl, given the name Sarah (Sally) Forbes Bonetta, is brought to England where she frequently meets with the queen. After a year in England, she is sent back to Africa for school, but returns to England a few years later. There she lives a life very different from anyone around her - she is set...more
This book was about an African Princess who survived the raid on her home, a year in captivity by another tribe, and a ritual that's suppose to kill people by throwing them over a wall and they're attack by others on the other side. From that fate, she is saved by Commander Forbes. She is then given to Queen Vitoria as gift, but the Queen takes her as a god-daughter. She is then renamed as Sarah "Sally" Bonita Forbes. Sarah lives a life of trying to find that place she calls home since she goes...more
While I did enjoy reading this book, I will probably never read it again. There were too many gaps and unknown facts in this princess’s story. I would have liked to read more of Sarah’s words and thoughts about her situation, but perhaps these records do not exist or were not appropriate since this book is more of a tween book than a young adult book. The writing clearly reflects this aim at a younger audience by keeping the chapters short, making the text large and interspersed with large image...more
Award-winning author Walter Dean Myers--piecing together the story of this African Princess from letters he found in a rare book and ephemera shop in London. He paints a hauntingly detached portrait of the small African princess whom the heroic captain named Sarah Forbes Bonetta. We follow her charmed but unlucky life as the Queen's protégée through a succession of British middle-class households, beginning with the Forbes home. Because of her celebrated association and frequent visits with the...more
At Her Majesty’s Request an African Princess in Victorian England
At her majesty’s request was writing by Walter Dean Myers. He unveils the story of Sarah Forbes Bonetta, an African princess who was taking in by Queen Victoria. She was found in Dahome kingdom, when she was about to be sacrifice at the age of 7 years old. “Captain Forbes saved her life by asking for her as a present said from Queen Victoria’s Diary.”(Myers # 14) Walter Dean Myers purpose of writing this book was to let other peop...more
At her majesty’s request was writing by Walter Dean Myers. He unveils the story of Sarah Forbes Bonetta, an African princess who was taking in by Queen Victoria. She was found in Dahome kingdom, when she was about to be sacrifice at the age of 7 years old. “Captain Forbes saved her life by asking for her as a present said from Queen Victoria’s Diary.”(Myers # 14) Walter Dean Myers purpose of writing this book was to let other peop...more
This books merits 4.5 stars, but doesn't quite reach the 5 level, and I'll explain why in a moment. It sheds light on a fascinating chapter of the Victorian era, drawing on letters from and about Sarah Forbes Bonetta, an African princess who was rescued from death at the hands of slavers to become a ward of Queen Victoria herself. Walter Dean Myers vividly brings to life the young woman, her charted life path and her surroundings. However, there isn't a lot of material for him to draw on, and he...more
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A really interesting book. I found it in the teen readers section of the library, but adults should not steer away from it.
It was interesting to read about an African Princess, who at the age of 7 escaped the hands of a savage death and given to Queen Victoria as a gift .... Keep in mind, England did not look at slavery favorably. None the less, we are talking about a female in the Victorian time period, so regardless, she was still enslaved to a degree due to her gender .... The story is a hap...more
It was interesting to read about an African Princess, who at the age of 7 escaped the hands of a savage death and given to Queen Victoria as a gift .... Keep in mind, England did not look at slavery favorably. None the less, we are talking about a female in the Victorian time period, so regardless, she was still enslaved to a degree due to her gender .... The story is a hap...more
I read this book for a class assignment, but picked it because the story was so unique that it was hard to believe that it was true. An African princess, eventually renamed Sarah Forbes Bonetta, is rescued from being beheaded by Captain Forbes and given to Queen Victoria as a present. She is educated as an upper class British girl, more like royalty really, and is given an allowance to spend. The biography charts her life from 5 till her death. She knew the British royal family intimately and ev...more
Walter Dean Myers in the introduction explains beautifully why I love old books and ephemera. I don't have the time or budget for the dedication that Myers. Therefore I am grateful that he was able to buy Sarah Forbes Bonetta's letters and bring her to life again in this short but fascinating biography, At Her Majesty's Request: An African Princess in Victorian England.
Sarah Forbes Bonetta was the daughter of the slain Egbabo leader as far as accounts go though there is no mention of Sarah's rec...more
Sarah Forbes Bonetta was the daughter of the slain Egbabo leader as far as accounts go though there is no mention of Sarah's rec...more
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From the Publisher
In 1849, a young African girl came within moments of being sacrificed in the bloody Dahomian ritual called the "watering of the graves." But Commander Frederick E. Forbes, the young British captain of the HMS Bonetta, intervened, provoking Dahomian King Gezo to offer the girl as a gift to Queen Victoria instead. Forbes named the girl Sarah Forbes Bonetta and took her back to England, where she became Queen Victoria's protege. Walter Dean Myers discovered the kernel of Sarah's s...more
In 1849, a young African girl came within moments of being sacrificed in the bloody Dahomian ritual called the "watering of the graves." But Commander Frederick E. Forbes, the young British captain of the HMS Bonetta, intervened, provoking Dahomian King Gezo to offer the girl as a gift to Queen Victoria instead. Forbes named the girl Sarah Forbes Bonetta and took her back to England, where she became Queen Victoria's protege. Walter Dean Myers discovered the kernel of Sarah's s...more
This is a wonderful story of intercultural relations, although a sad story as well. In some ways Sarah Forbes Bonetta is more liberated than most women of her age, both African and English. She is well educated and travels in the highest social circles. However, she doesn't know her real name, and is forced to marry a man she doesn't love to meet social expectations. As the author notes, there is much about her story we will never know. It really makes you wonder what she really though about he...more
Apr 05, 2013
A.C.E. Bauer
added it
I am always intrigued by stories of historical figures I had never heard of before. This biography for the middle grade reader gives a slice of the slave trade, Dahomian culture, Victorian England, and how a Egbadon princess lives through all of it. Though her life is never entirely her own, she maneuvers through restrictive societies with grace. The story, incomplete as it is given the historical record, is poignant.
May 24, 2010
Ayodabo Esuola
added it
I happen to be a Nigerian, and my great grandmother also an Egbado woman born around the time Sarah was taken as slave.
I became very curious to know more about the story. I sent a face book message to Walter Dean Mayers about this story and still waiting for a reply. My mission is to revisit the village in Nigeria and make a documentary of this story. Thank you Walter Dean Mayers for bringing this story to light. God bless.
I became very curious to know more about the story. I sent a face book message to Walter Dean Mayers about this story and still waiting for a reply. My mission is to revisit the village in Nigeria and make a documentary of this story. Thank you Walter Dean Mayers for bringing this story to light. God bless.
One terrifying night in 1848, a young African princess's village is raided by warriors. The invaders kill her mother and father, the King and Queen, and take her captive. Two years later, a British naval captain rescues her and takes her to England where she is presented to Queen Victoria, and becomes a loved and respected member of the royal court. Illustrated with historical photographs and drawings, this is an extraordinary story of royalty on two continents, colonialism, race, class, and ide...more
I read this book as a BookClub selection. It is geared towards young adults. It is a quick read and gives you quite a bit of information about the West African princess, Sarah. Although I would not have chosen thread this book, I am glad that I did. Now I can recommend this book as a "good read" for the youngsters in my family.
I read this soon after it came out, I think. As with all of Myers' works, he finds stories that can be universal, but also gives brown girls something to look at in literature and history that looks a little bit more like them. It's a great read, and it's a historical moment that probably more people should know about.
Absolutely the most fascinating book that I have ever read...
The research that this required was amazing and it showed the mentality of the world in the time period.
I read this with 5th graders but it is a book with value for K-12 and adults.
The research that this required was amazing and it showed the mentality of the world in the time period.
I read this with 5th graders but it is a book with value for K-12 and adults.
I haven't read this book in a loooooooooong time. I got it as a Christmas present from one of my teacher's in grammer school one year and it's been one of my favorite books ever since. It's a very lovely and very interesting tale.
This is a short and interesting history of Sarah, who survived tribal warfare in Africa in the mid-1800s and was educated under the protection of Queen Victoria. This book makes me feel like I should learn more about Victorian England.
The rescue of an African princess, Sarah Forbes Bonetta, by the captain of a slave-raider ship, Frederick Forbes, who took the princess to England around 1850. Queen Victoria herself saw to her education. Excellent book.
I was amazed at this little known history. It poses a lot of questions and things to think about the Victorian Era. The writing is quite accessible. I am excited to read this with my students and hear their thoughts and ideas!
Unfortunately, the details of this story pieced together through polite correspondence don't result in a satisfying story of a young African princess saved from a brutal death by a last-minute decision to send her as a "gift" to Queen Victoria...who became her life-long benefactor.
May 17, 2012
Chandra
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
history,
non-fiction-kids,
biography-memoir,
kids-young-adult,
2012-reads,
anglophilia,
africa
I'm having a hard time putting into words why I enjoyed this so much. It's a really slim little book and there is so much about Sarah's life that we can never know. And yet I found myself really absorbed in Meyer's account of what little we do know about Sarah - that she was orphaned by 6, saved from human sacrifice by 8, then whisked off to England to live a life of privilege that would have been rare even for a young white girl of her era. Some of her story is tragic, But much is uplifting, an...more
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This book was really interesting to read. It gave a good historical persepective of the relationship between England and Africa. The story of Sarah is really amazing and worth reading about.
It was an intriguing and historical book that I found very interesting. Who would have thought this could happen to a slave. The Queen's favor, acceptance....Sarah.
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pseudonyms:
Stacie Williams
Stacie Johnson
Walter Dean Myers was born on August 12, 1937 in Martinsburg, West Virginia but moved to Harlem with his foster parents at age three. He was brought up and went to public school there. He attended Stuyvesant High School until the age of seventeen when he joined the army.
After serving four years in the army, he worked at various jobs and earned a BA from Empi...more
More about Walter Dean Myers...
Stacie Williams
Stacie Johnson
Walter Dean Myers was born on August 12, 1937 in Martinsburg, West Virginia but moved to Harlem with his foster parents at age three. He was brought up and went to public school there. He attended Stuyvesant High School until the age of seventeen when he joined the army.
After serving four years in the army, he worked at various jobs and earned a BA from Empi...more
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