The secret life of Queen Victoria: Her Majesty's missing diaries, being an account of her hitherto unknown travels through the island of Jamaica in the year 1871

by Jonathan Routh

This book aims to cover Queen Victoria's disappearance between 22 March and 10 June 1871. Lord Braborough released extracts of what he alleged was the diary the Queen kept during her visit to Jamaica, which coincided with these dates. This is a reproduction of that diary.

128 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Jonathan Routh, born John Reginald Surdeval Routh, (1927–2008) co-starred in the British version of the television show Candid Camera (1960–67) and co-starred with Germaine Greer and Kenny Everett in a later attempt at a revival, Nice Time (1968). He published a number of humorous books, and also painted for many years.

Reviews

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally read in August 1998. Reread in July 2017. This book was a gift from a friend, Richard Frahm (AKA Blue Birdie). I greatly enjoyed rereading it. My original review from 1998 folows:

A sly fictional account of the good queen's holiday in Jamaica and her improbable adventures there. Lavishly illustrated with whimsical drawings of the black-clad queen kicking up her heels. A delight.

I was intrigued to read an obituary of Routh in The Economist (June 17th, 2008) and wasn't surprised to learn of his reputation as an eternal prankster. He was, it seems, star of the British version of Candid Camera in the UK. In later years he moved to Jamaica and took up painting. The Economist obit described his style thus:

"He painted nuns driving racing cars and flying balloons, the pope windsurfing, Mona Lisa naked or smoking. His favourite subject was the aged Queen Victoria, on an imaginary trip to Jamaica in 1871, doing the hula-hoop or the limbo dance, riding a zebra and driving dodgem cars. He could have found a more prosaic explanation for the missing three months of her reign. But he preferred, as ever, the shock of the absurd, and the sense of the detached voyeur intruding on private space."

Reread this delightful frolic for a Reading Genres book club discussion devoted to the theme "Reimagine", held in July 2017

[Dagmar1927 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely mental! The illustrations are brilliant (if a trifle disturbing at times) and the narrative kept me laughing throughout. It was so brilliantly written that I sincerely hope in my heart of hearts that it's true.

A brilliant read for a Victoriana nut who wants a jolly good chuckle.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reminds me of reading The Da Vinci Code in that it claims to be factual but all through the book one wonders how it possibly could be. I think there is a better chance this one is than Dan Brown's fictional story but it seems like the diary is probably a fanciful forgery. I am skeptical and will remain so.

The art work in the book makes the book a treasure. Loved it and am glad I have this book on my shelf. I will go back and enjoy the art over and over.