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Queen Victoria and the Bonapartes
Queen Victoria and the Bonapartes
260 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1972
12 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Theo Aronson
24 books33 followersTheo Aronson is an historical biographer specialising in the Royal Houses of Europe. Among his many widely read books are "The Golden Bees: The Story of the Bonapartes," "Grandmama of Europe" and "Royal Family: Years of Transition."
His books have been published in Britain, the United States, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Holland and Belgium.
Theo Aronson lives in an eighteenth-century stone house in Frome, Somerset.
His books have been published in Britain, the United States, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Holland and Belgium.
Theo Aronson lives in an eighteenth-century stone house in Frome, Somerset.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 26, 2018
Thank you to the publishers for providing an ARC of this book through NetGalley.
This was incredibly informative and fascinating. I loved the writing style, and the way it flowed so smoothly.
While it concerns Victoria’s relationship with the Bonapartes, I actually really liked how it showed Albert’s relationships with them as well, and how Victoria and Albert differed between their opinions of both politics and of the Bonapartes.
I found Victoria’s relationship with Empress Eugenie more interesting than her relationship with Napoleon. There was such a disparity between them regarding appearances, manner, bearing and leadership styles, that it’s hard to imagine the two women actually being friends, but Aronson managed to create this vivid portrayal and understanding show from between them.
It was a well researched, well written book, that was incredibly enjoyable.
This was incredibly informative and fascinating. I loved the writing style, and the way it flowed so smoothly.
While it concerns Victoria’s relationship with the Bonapartes, I actually really liked how it showed Albert’s relationships with them as well, and how Victoria and Albert differed between their opinions of both politics and of the Bonapartes.
I found Victoria’s relationship with Empress Eugenie more interesting than her relationship with Napoleon. There was such a disparity between them regarding appearances, manner, bearing and leadership styles, that it’s hard to imagine the two women actually being friends, but Aronson managed to create this vivid portrayal and understanding show from between them.
It was a well researched, well written book, that was incredibly enjoyable.
June 18, 2017
A very fascinating and personal book. I loved the narrative Aronson provided for this book which seemingly flowed smoothly. The story is an unbelievably interesting one and the author details Queen Victoria's relationships with the Bonapartes particularly Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie.
The friendship between the Queen and the Empress is complicated and very engaging to read about, particularly how their friendship grows following periods of mourning for the Queen's husband and later the Empress's son. The Empress is a very interesting figure and Aronson manages to detail her character and Victoria's very vividly. As well as adopting a brilliant writing style, Aronson uses many contemporary accounts and letters creating a very well sourced, readable book.
This book is utterly fantastic and definitely worth anyone's time, it provides an interesting perspective on a fascinating relationship between two dynasties.
The friendship between the Queen and the Empress is complicated and very engaging to read about, particularly how their friendship grows following periods of mourning for the Queen's husband and later the Empress's son. The Empress is a very interesting figure and Aronson manages to detail her character and Victoria's very vividly. As well as adopting a brilliant writing style, Aronson uses many contemporary accounts and letters creating a very well sourced, readable book.
This book is utterly fantastic and definitely worth anyone's time, it provides an interesting perspective on a fascinating relationship between two dynasties.
January 3, 2015
Whenever I read this type of book I'm reminded of the lack of real background many Americans have about who overlapped whom in world history. This account of Queen Victoria's relationship with Napoleon III and, more specifically, his wife Empress Eugenie is filled with the types of details that make history so fascinating. The disparity between the two women's looks and sense of dignity, for example, speaks volumes.
I particularly liked the fact that the foreign terms were simply left, no translation provided.
I particularly liked the fact that the foreign terms were simply left, no translation provided.
January 12, 2018
In this book, Theo Aronson explores the relationship between Queen Victoria and the Bonapartes of the Second Empire, in particular Napoléon III, Empress Eugénie and their son Prince Louis.
While drawing on personal journals and letters and using quite a lot of quotations, the writing style is very light and easy to read. It reads almost like a novel and keeps you wanting to learn more. The fact that the layout is very clear and precise - chapters are all subdivided into smaller sections - makes it simple to pick it up and put it down to get back to it, although I didn't really need that as I felt compelled to read more.
Aronson manages to flesh out each of the people in his study and make them so human and understandable. When you take characters such as Queen Victoria or Napoléon III, it is quite easy to put them on a pedestal and forget their human side. Here you really get into their thoughts and private correspondences to recreate the human being behind the public icon.
I learned a huge deal from Queen Victoria and the Bonapartes. Most of what is in the book I didn't know, which I was quite annoyed about (with myself and perhaps the history curriculum at school) as I am French and don't know all these things about decades of French history. Somehow it felt like I had missed out on learning all that before. So now I do know!
The only thing that I think should come as a warning is that there are quite a few quotations in French, none of which are translated. While it didn't bother me at all, it might be difficult for someone who doesn't read French. You might want to have a dictionary or translator nearby.
Theo Aronson is a historical biographer who specialises in the royal houses of Europe, and he's written quite a few books that are of interest to me, so I am looking forward to reading more of his books.
If you're looking for a fast-paced, interesting history book on a topic that I've never seen before, look no further!
Disclaimer: thanks to NetGalley and Thistle Publishing for a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
The review is also available on my blog
While drawing on personal journals and letters and using quite a lot of quotations, the writing style is very light and easy to read. It reads almost like a novel and keeps you wanting to learn more. The fact that the layout is very clear and precise - chapters are all subdivided into smaller sections - makes it simple to pick it up and put it down to get back to it, although I didn't really need that as I felt compelled to read more.
Aronson manages to flesh out each of the people in his study and make them so human and understandable. When you take characters such as Queen Victoria or Napoléon III, it is quite easy to put them on a pedestal and forget their human side. Here you really get into their thoughts and private correspondences to recreate the human being behind the public icon.
I learned a huge deal from Queen Victoria and the Bonapartes. Most of what is in the book I didn't know, which I was quite annoyed about (with myself and perhaps the history curriculum at school) as I am French and don't know all these things about decades of French history. Somehow it felt like I had missed out on learning all that before. So now I do know!
The only thing that I think should come as a warning is that there are quite a few quotations in French, none of which are translated. While it didn't bother me at all, it might be difficult for someone who doesn't read French. You might want to have a dictionary or translator nearby.
Theo Aronson is a historical biographer who specialises in the royal houses of Europe, and he's written quite a few books that are of interest to me, so I am looking forward to reading more of his books.
If you're looking for a fast-paced, interesting history book on a topic that I've never seen before, look no further!
Disclaimer: thanks to NetGalley and Thistle Publishing for a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
The review is also available on my blog
March 15, 2018
A very interesting subject, with more detail than I had hitherto been aware of. (eg the Empress Eugenie's brother-in-law...)
An eminently readable style, striking just the right balance between being a dry history, & an over friendly, too-intimate account. The reader feels one gets to know the Queen & the Empress far better than the more usual history books, in large part through their own words & those of other contemporary witnesses.
The author's own opinions do not intrude, as has become the style of some of today's writers.
I enjoyed reading this book very much indeed, & would most certainly recommend it to those seeking a more human experience of history.
An eminently readable style, striking just the right balance between being a dry history, & an over friendly, too-intimate account. The reader feels one gets to know the Queen & the Empress far better than the more usual history books, in large part through their own words & those of other contemporary witnesses.
The author's own opinions do not intrude, as has become the style of some of today's writers.
I enjoyed reading this book very much indeed, & would most certainly recommend it to those seeking a more human experience of history.
August 17, 2020
Nice, close account of Victoria's relationship with Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie.
January 11, 2021
Interesting short book on Queen Victoria's relationship with the Bonapartes although it is more accurate to describe the book as a relationship between Queen Victoria and Empress Eugenie (Emperor Napoleon III's wife). Always interesting to see how royal relations treat one another.
January 12, 2016
I am glad I read this as I only knew about the link between Princess Beatrice, her daughter Princess Victoria Eugenie and Empress Eugenie - I didn't realise about how far back it went to the Second Empire itself. My one criticism would be that after Queen Victoria passed it would have been interesting to know what contact / support Empress Eugenie gave her god daughter Victoria Eugenie who was of course by then the Queen of Spain in very turbulent times - with herself being Spanish and herself dealing with the over throw of a Monarchy.
February 13, 2014
This is a interesting glimpse into a somewhat unlikely friendship. I enjoyed reading about the relationship between Queen Victoria, Napoleon III and Eugenie as it puts historical events into a slightly different context.
May 29, 2018
Theo Aronson's latest work, Queen Victoria and the Bonapartes, explores the personal relationships between Queen Victoria, Emperor Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie of France. It opens a wide window on a colourful and somewhat surprising series of encounters between monarchs that influenced relations and perceptions of each other in the eyes of the public. The Second Empire re-established Napoleonic aspirations in France and rekindled a sense of glory and elan superbly captured by Aronson. The revanchist ideals of the Bonapartist dynasty represented all that the British royal family should have been threatened by, yet a lasting (although sometimes fraught) personal relationship was established that influenced Anglo-French political relationships.
Relying primarily on correspondence between the Queen, Empress, Emperor and other family members and officials - much of it previously unpublished, Aronson delivers another superbly readable and engaging history. Uniquely capturing the emotional, familial and personal relationships, it sets them within the larger context of the times and explores some of the wider public implications of these intimate exchanges.
Like the author's previous works, the results are eminently readable and adeptly draw from a wide variety of sources, tying them together in a well-paced narrative. Generally well-balanced in the treatment of the personages concerned, special attention is paid to the relationship between the two Empresses. Both revealing and thoughtfully considered it sheds new light on a relationship that was equally significant to each and rather unique in history. Both monarchs experienced early grief in their lives and together supported one another through challenges, and dealing with that grief in unique and different ways.
This remains a biography of relationships of a more personal nature and limits discussion of the greater political implications of these monarchical machinations. On the occasion of French involvement in the Crimean War, Aronson addresses the influence of Victoria over the Emperor and attempts to dissuade him from personal involvement. However, one remains curious of the wider influence of triangle of influence between Victoria, Albert, her daughters and German-French-English relations and details of French national and political reaction to the continuing close relationship between the English monarchy and the deposed Bonaparates.
I was particularly struck and impressed by Aronson's interpretation of the appeal to Victoria of the charming Emperor and the elegant Empress and the impact they had on her. This forms a significant part of this work and is deftly handled.
In all this is another superb contribution by Theo Aronson to a gap in the scholarship worthy of exploration. It is readable and highly recommended.
Relying primarily on correspondence between the Queen, Empress, Emperor and other family members and officials - much of it previously unpublished, Aronson delivers another superbly readable and engaging history. Uniquely capturing the emotional, familial and personal relationships, it sets them within the larger context of the times and explores some of the wider public implications of these intimate exchanges.
Like the author's previous works, the results are eminently readable and adeptly draw from a wide variety of sources, tying them together in a well-paced narrative. Generally well-balanced in the treatment of the personages concerned, special attention is paid to the relationship between the two Empresses. Both revealing and thoughtfully considered it sheds new light on a relationship that was equally significant to each and rather unique in history. Both monarchs experienced early grief in their lives and together supported one another through challenges, and dealing with that grief in unique and different ways.
This remains a biography of relationships of a more personal nature and limits discussion of the greater political implications of these monarchical machinations. On the occasion of French involvement in the Crimean War, Aronson addresses the influence of Victoria over the Emperor and attempts to dissuade him from personal involvement. However, one remains curious of the wider influence of triangle of influence between Victoria, Albert, her daughters and German-French-English relations and details of French national and political reaction to the continuing close relationship between the English monarchy and the deposed Bonaparates.
I was particularly struck and impressed by Aronson's interpretation of the appeal to Victoria of the charming Emperor and the elegant Empress and the impact they had on her. This forms a significant part of this work and is deftly handled.
In all this is another superb contribution by Theo Aronson to a gap in the scholarship worthy of exploration. It is readable and highly recommended.
March 21, 2018
Lovely book!
As an history lover, this book has some details correct and is actually well detailed that makes you get there to "watch" it.
Lovely book from an extraordinary era where the world was changing.
As an history lover, this book has some details correct and is actually well detailed that makes you get there to "watch" it.
Lovely book from an extraordinary era where the world was changing.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews