Leaves from the Journal of Our Life in the Highlands from 1848 to 1861

by Queen Victoria, Arthur Helps (Editor)

Excerpt from Leaves From the Journal of Our Life in the Highlands: From 1848 to 1861

A record of the impressions received by the Royal Author in the course of these journeys, as might hereafter serve to recall to her own mind the scenes and circumstances which had been the source of so much pleasure. All references to political questions, or to the affairs of Government, have, for obvious reasons, been studiously omitted. The book is mainly confined to the natural expressions of a mind rejoicing in the beauties of nature, and throwing itself, with a delight rendered keener by the rarity of its opportunities, into the enjoyment of a life removed, for the moment, from the pressure of public cares.

Genres: Royalty, History, Nonfiction, Scotland, Memoir, Victorian

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1868

About the author

The expansion and industrial growth marked reign of Victoria, queen of Great Britain and Ireland from 1837 and empress of India from 1877, and her strict moral code influenced 19th-century society.

Alexandrina Victoria from 20 June 1837 until her death. People know her 63 years and seven months as the Victorian era, a period of cultural, political, scientific, and military change within the United Kingdom. She was the last monarch of the house of Hanover.

Albert, her prince consort, died in 1861.

Victoria wrote an average of 2,500 words a day during her adult life. From July 1832, she kept a detailed journal, which eventually encompassed 122 volumes, until her death. After death of Victoria, survivors appointed Beatrice, her youngest daughter and a princess, as her literary executor. Beatrice transcribed and edited the diaries, covering accession of her mother onward, and she burned the originals in the process. Despite this destruction, much of the diaries still exist. In addition to edited copy of Beatrice, Lord Reginald Baliol Brett Esher transcribed the volumes from 1832 to 1861 before Beatrice destroyed them.

Reviews

[Bettie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mine is #118 of the 1868 edition (ooo la lah!) and inside the front cover:





The opening:

First Visit to Scotland

On Board the Royal George Yacht, Monday August 29, 1842

At five o'clock in the morning we left Windsor for the railroad, the Duchess of Norfolk, Miss Matilda Paget, General Wemyss, Colonel Bouverie, and Mr Anson following us. Lord Liverpool, Lord Morton, and Sir James Clark, who also accompany us, had already gone on to Woolwich

---

This is a journal and as such, not necessary to plough through the endless minutiae. I am nevertheless finding some of her observances interesting as I have visited many of the places she writes about but some things change personality over the years. On page 54 she remarks that one of the Treshinish Isles is the very curious shape of a dutch cap, and underneath is her drawing of it. Too funny huh?

It is page 87 that we get the run-down on Duncan J. Brown, in a large footnote and with 99% more detail than she gave Rosslyn Chapel. The Royal 'we' were at Alt-na-Giuthasach, September 16, 1852 when they heard, by telegraphic dispatch, that Wellington had died.

Just for the record then:

Dear Vickie didn't initially have sea-legs.
She read The Lady of the Lake and The Lay of the Last Minstrel 1805 to get in the mood whilst she travelled.

Now to wrap this aged tome up in tissue paper and bubble wrap to send it on to mater.

[Catherine Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to find this original 1868 book and its sister volume in a second hand bookshop in Edinburgh. A delightful read particularly as I’ve visited many parts of Scotland mentioned in the journals.

[A.K. Johns]

I have been defeated! Alas this book is just not for me. I ploughed through as far as I could, but after their third year of saying the same things about, what seemed to be, the same places I could take it no more.
I might be tried for treason for saying this, but it really is quite repetitive and dull. It may perhaps be more interesting to those who have a footnote of a relation mentioned in this volume, but there were only so many times I could read about the beautiful hills and Loch this and Loch that, before I had to admit that I was beaten. I hate to leave a book unfinished, but I have so many others to read that this one was getting in the way.

I, like so many before me probably, only purchased this book as a result of watching the film ‘Mrs Brown’ (1997). I was curious to see how much of that story was related, as I couldn’t imagine Queen Victoria gushing about Mr Brown, but I did expect more than a paragraph on their acquaintance and perhaps some journal entries from the time after Prince Albert’s death when she drew closer to Mr Brown. How the producers based a whole film on this information is beyond me.

I couldn’t help but picture and hear Dame Judi Dench whilst reading this, despite the fact it was a younger version of the Queen. Perhaps the Emily Blunt years of ‘The Young Victoria’ (2009). I am interested in history at the moment, hence the film viewing, but barring the chapter surrounding Lord Wellington’s death, there really is nothing in here (Up until page 150 when I had to cede defeat) more than a record of which hills and mountains Her Majesty climbed. I wonder also if Prince Albert was ever famous for anything else other than shooting stags and deer?

As I say, I wasn’t expecting a reveal all expose, but some sort of drama, ups and downs or heart would have been helpful to keep me engaged.

I cannot rate it as I did not finish it.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was amazed at the detail in this diary; it reads as a who’s who in Scotland and as a travel log of the many places traveled and homes inhabited within the country. (One of the surnames mentioned was a family name of mine. )Each portion of commentary begins with arriving in Scotland and ends with the travel home, so there are only perceptions pertaining to Scotland given.

I loved it when she mentioned the guards which followed herself and the lady of the house through the gardens. She mentioned it was ‘like olden times’ with the guards following with swords drawn. Reading this statement as being said in the 19th century caught me as humorous while reading it in the 21st century.

I highly recommend this to those who love Scottish history and travel. It would be an interesting way to travel: write down the sights seen and places visited at that time then compare the description to how it is today.

She mentions a field of black faced sheep; in 1844. I love black faced sheep. If nothing else I want to go for that reason alone. :). Well too, there is the mention of that family name.

[Marie Zhuikov · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting to read these journal entries by Queen Victoria about her and her family's time in the Highlands, plus Ireland. She truly loved the Scottish people. I never knew that Bamoral Castle was partly designed by Prince Albert. Hope to see it one day.

[Annm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this might be boring, but it was actually quite delightful.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read "More Leaves", a touching account of Victorias time in the Highlands after the death of her love "Albert". I have a beautiful dark blue cloth volume circa 1884, just feeling the embossed gold leaves on the cover makes me feel closer to Victoria and a long lost age. Her very human descriptions seem in sharp contrast to the picture of the long reigning monarch Queen Victoria.

[Avis Black · Rating 1 out of 5]

What struck me was the sheer dullness of a non-intellectual life in the 1800s. Listening to groups of children recite poetry and coaching along many rough and stony country miles so your husband can shoot an occasional stag seems to be most of it. I hope the luncheons were good, because there wasn't much else to get excited about.

[Bibliovixen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a slim volume, easily read in an evening. It was interesting to read of the activities in Queen Victoria's jaunts in the Highlands.

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting to listen to, although I got lost with all the different mentions of people that I personally don't know.