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Born to Rule: Five Reigning Consorts, Granddaughters of Queen Victoria
Julia Gelardi's Born to Rule is an historical tour de force that weaves together the powerful and moving stories of the five royal granddaughters of Queen Victoria. These five women were all married to reigning European monarchs during the early part of the 20th century, and it was their reaction to the First World War that shaped the fate of a continent and the future of the modern world.
Here are the stories of Alexandra, whose enduring love story, controversial faith in Rasputin, and tragic end have become the stuff of legend; Marie, the flamboyant and eccentric queen who battled her way through a life of intrigues and was also the mother of two Balkan queens and of the scandalous Carol II of Romania; Victoria Eugenie, Spain's very English queen who, like Alexandra, introduced hemophilia into her husband's family-with devastating consequences for her marriage; Maud, King Edward VII's daughter, who was independent Norway's reluctant queen; and Sophie, Kaiser Wilhelm II's much maligned sister, daughter of an Emperor and herself the mother of no less than three kings and a queen, who ended her days in bitter exile.
Born to Rule evokes a world of luxury, wealth, and power in a bygone era, while also recounting the ordeals suffered by a unique group of royal women who at times faced poverty, exile, and death. Praised in their lifetimes for their legendary beauty, many of these women were also lauded-and reviled-for their political influence. Using never before published letters, memoirs, diplomatic documents, secondary sources, and interviews with descendents of the subjects, Julia Gelardi's Born to Rule is an astonishing and memorable work of popular history.
Here are the stories of Alexandra, whose enduring love story, controversial faith in Rasputin, and tragic end have become the stuff of legend; Marie, the flamboyant and eccentric queen who battled her way through a life of intrigues and was also the mother of two Balkan queens and of the scandalous Carol II of Romania; Victoria Eugenie, Spain's very English queen who, like Alexandra, introduced hemophilia into her husband's family-with devastating consequences for her marriage; Maud, King Edward VII's daughter, who was independent Norway's reluctant queen; and Sophie, Kaiser Wilhelm II's much maligned sister, daughter of an Emperor and herself the mother of no less than three kings and a queen, who ended her days in bitter exile.
Born to Rule evokes a world of luxury, wealth, and power in a bygone era, while also recounting the ordeals suffered by a unique group of royal women who at times faced poverty, exile, and death. Praised in their lifetimes for their legendary beauty, many of these women were also lauded-and reviled-for their political influence. Using never before published letters, memoirs, diplomatic documents, secondary sources, and interviews with descendents of the subjects, Julia Gelardi's Born to Rule is an astonishing and memorable work of popular history.
480 pages, Hardcover
First published March 19, 2005
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April 26, 2017
A prominent sub-theme that has become apparent during this biography binge would have to be the long reach of the English monarchy around Europe. It came up in a piece on George III's daughters, as well as a biography of Queen Victoria (a George III granddaughter), and now with Julia Gelardi's piece on five granddaughters of Queen Victoria who rose to prominence as consorts in various kingdoms. Gelardi offers a wonderful look into the lives of Princesses Alix (Russia), Maud (Norway), Sophie (Greece), Marie (Romania), and Ena (Spain), weaving together their personal lives with some of the historical goings-on in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. That these cousins were both so similar and vastly different is greatly apparent in this book, which boasts an interconnected biography of each. Below I will offer only a very brief snapshot, in hopes of luring others into reading and discovering many more details about these five women of monarchical prominence. Gelardi's attention to detail and smooth narrative are not lost on the attentive reader. Perfect for those who love history and how small nuances can cause revolutionary change in short order.
* Alix Victoria Helena Louise Beatrice (eventually Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna) is likely the most well-known of the Consort Five. A feisty child and close to her grandmother, Alix was soon won over by the eventual Tsar Nicholas II in 1894. As Gelardi notes, Alix was required to convert to Orthodoxy in order to marry and eventually serve as Empress. She did so with little fuss and never looked back. Russia was a powerful entity in Europe and held much sway going into the 20th century. Alix was able to make much headway with her Russian family and gave birth to five children, the youngest, Alexei, who inherited the haemophilia gene. It was around the time of Alexei's struggles that Alix sought the help of a peasant preacher, the now infamous Rasputin. Their connection, while not sexual, proved to open a tear in the marriage with Tsar Nicholas II. As the people of Russia began uprisings, the role of the Tsar and the Romanov Empire dwindled, leaving Nicholas to stand down and dissolve his autocratic power. Russia was in the middle of fighting the Great War, a battle they were forced to leave to deal with the revolution in full swing at home. In the spring of 1918, after having handed power over to the people, Alix and her entire family were brutally assassinated. As Gelardi writes, perhaps one of the most gruesome and draw-out political assassinations ever undertaken. She made her mark, though paid the ultimate price.
* Marie Alexandra Victoria (eventually Queen Marie of Romania) was born in 1875 and played a powerful role as well. An early love interest to England's Prince George (eventually George V), Marie had a life-long affinity for the great monarch, her cousin. Marrying Ferdinand I of Romania in 1892, Marie helped support the kingdom by supporting her husband, though their marriage was strained from the early stages. While Marie did have six children, Gelardi posits that at least one came from a lover, though Ferdinand was by no means free from his own indiscretions. Marie attempted to remain above the fray, but did push for a strong Romania, especially in territorial expansion at the turn of the 20th century, when she sought the acquisition of Transylvania. With the onset of the Great War, Marie and Ferdinand had to make a choice about entering the fight and on whose side, with the Balkan sentiment rooted in Russia, but Marie having strong ties to her homeland and Kaiser Wilhelm II. The winds of change also blew as revolution amongst the people grew and eventually the monarchs were forced to abdicate and flee. Thankfully, their lives were spared, leaving the country in the hands of the next generation, as Gelardi recounts in her narrative.
* Sophia Dorothea Ulrica Alice (eventually Queen Sophie of Greece) was another German-born princess whose early years were strongly influenced by her upbringing and her brother, Kaiser Wilhelm II, pushed for a strong support of her homeland. When she married Constantine I of Greece, the couple soon began their family, which numbered six children. After Constantine's father was assassinated, they rose to the Throne and faced a similar struggle to that of Marie, on which side to place their support during the Great War. Equally troubling was the Greek people's revolutionary fervour, as Gelardi emphasises, which saw Constantine I abdicate and leave the country as Greece flirted with a republic. Sophie fought hard to stand by her husband, but also struggled with her nationalistic lineage, which found her torn between Germany and England. While Constantine was briefly welcomed back to Greece, he was forced to leave again in 1922, never to return. Sophie spent her latter years liaising with family in England and trying to bask in what glory remained at her disposal.
* Maud Charlotte Mary Victoria (eventually Queen Maud of Norway) was the youngest daughter of Edward VII, making her a sister of England's George V. An intellectual child, Maud eventually agreed to marry Prince Charles of Denmark (her mother's country of birth) and began a somewhat quiet life. When Charles was asked to become King of Norway after the country sought independence from Sweden, they rose to become King Haakon VII and Queen Maud of Norway. Remaining far from the battlefields of the Great War, Gelardi posits that Maud was likely the only consort who was never forced to entertain entering the war. Watching the tumult around them, Haakon and Maud interacted with their relations, but were spared bloodshed and revolution throughout their time on the Norwegian Throne.
* Victoria Eugenie Julia Ena (eventually Queen Victoria Eugenie of Spain), known as Ena to her family, was the youngest and likely entered the consort fray much after her other cousins. Content to remain at home, Ena eventually caught the eye of King Alfonso XIII and agreed to marry him. Unlike the required conversion that her cousin Alix underwent, Ena's marriage required that she denounce her Protestant past and accept Catholicism. Ena did so, though received much criticism by the British and even her own family. Marrying Alfonso came also with accepting his philandering ways, though she sought to put this aside and reign as best she could. Six children joined their family and they weathered the storm of the Great War without being required to send troops to the front lines. Instead, they sought to begin an imperial exploration of Africa. With the revolutionary sentiments building across Europe, Alfonso XIII left Spain without abdicating in 1931 for a life of exile. Ena was left with her children to determine how Spain might see another generation return to reign. Ena got her wish when her grandson, King Juan Carlos I, ascended at the end of Franco's fascist rule in 1975.
While only a snippet of the biographical information provided, Gelardi presents the reader with much on which to ponder. As noted briefly above, there were two other cousins who played a particularly powerful role during these times, George V of England and Wilhelm II of Germany. That these seven of Victoria's grandchildren proved to be so prominent in 20th century politics is no small feat. What might be interesting to the reader is that the various consorts and rulers mingled with such ease and regularity. I admit that I am not up on my royal lineage or correspondence, but one does not likely see that nowadays. Still, as Geraldi argues throughout, the interconnectedness of the five female consorts shows both the strong parallels and obvious differences in their reigns throughout Europe. That the continent was shaped in vastly different ways is not lost on the observant reader. Gelardi said it best in this book: “Maud of Norway, Sophie of Greece, Alexandra of Russia, Marie of Romania, and Victoria Eugenie of Spain may have been marked out by their illustrious positions and glittering marriages. But it is ultimately their dignity, devotion to duty, strong sense of responsibility, and steadfastness in the face of adversity that distinguishes them and makes their stories both compelling and timeless.”
Gelardi's brilliant piece offers readers a wonderful glimpse into the lives of these five women as well as the continent's vast array of political and social differences. With a strong narrative that ushers the story forward, Gelardi weaves together a strong biography of all five consorts, using detailed research and history as her guide. Each chapter is full of interesting tidbits and superimposes the lives of all five, rather than offering individual glimpses. Gelardi should be praised for this, as it strengthens the argument of the connection these cousins had, even if their lives differed greatly. I found myself wanting to know more and yet stunned at all that I did ascertain from this piece. The perfect piece for me that offers a wonderful survey of Europe at the time, which is bolstered with what little knowledge I have. Geraldi is surely one historian to keep in mind when looking to expand one's horizons.
Kudos, Madam Gelardi for such a wonderful biography. I wish I had found this sooner in my journey, though am now left to scramble to read more about these women, their lives, and the other royals who influenced them at the time. You are now on my permanent radar for biographical pieces.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
* Alix Victoria Helena Louise Beatrice (eventually Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna) is likely the most well-known of the Consort Five. A feisty child and close to her grandmother, Alix was soon won over by the eventual Tsar Nicholas II in 1894. As Gelardi notes, Alix was required to convert to Orthodoxy in order to marry and eventually serve as Empress. She did so with little fuss and never looked back. Russia was a powerful entity in Europe and held much sway going into the 20th century. Alix was able to make much headway with her Russian family and gave birth to five children, the youngest, Alexei, who inherited the haemophilia gene. It was around the time of Alexei's struggles that Alix sought the help of a peasant preacher, the now infamous Rasputin. Their connection, while not sexual, proved to open a tear in the marriage with Tsar Nicholas II. As the people of Russia began uprisings, the role of the Tsar and the Romanov Empire dwindled, leaving Nicholas to stand down and dissolve his autocratic power. Russia was in the middle of fighting the Great War, a battle they were forced to leave to deal with the revolution in full swing at home. In the spring of 1918, after having handed power over to the people, Alix and her entire family were brutally assassinated. As Gelardi writes, perhaps one of the most gruesome and draw-out political assassinations ever undertaken. She made her mark, though paid the ultimate price.
* Marie Alexandra Victoria (eventually Queen Marie of Romania) was born in 1875 and played a powerful role as well. An early love interest to England's Prince George (eventually George V), Marie had a life-long affinity for the great monarch, her cousin. Marrying Ferdinand I of Romania in 1892, Marie helped support the kingdom by supporting her husband, though their marriage was strained from the early stages. While Marie did have six children, Gelardi posits that at least one came from a lover, though Ferdinand was by no means free from his own indiscretions. Marie attempted to remain above the fray, but did push for a strong Romania, especially in territorial expansion at the turn of the 20th century, when she sought the acquisition of Transylvania. With the onset of the Great War, Marie and Ferdinand had to make a choice about entering the fight and on whose side, with the Balkan sentiment rooted in Russia, but Marie having strong ties to her homeland and Kaiser Wilhelm II. The winds of change also blew as revolution amongst the people grew and eventually the monarchs were forced to abdicate and flee. Thankfully, their lives were spared, leaving the country in the hands of the next generation, as Gelardi recounts in her narrative.
* Sophia Dorothea Ulrica Alice (eventually Queen Sophie of Greece) was another German-born princess whose early years were strongly influenced by her upbringing and her brother, Kaiser Wilhelm II, pushed for a strong support of her homeland. When she married Constantine I of Greece, the couple soon began their family, which numbered six children. After Constantine's father was assassinated, they rose to the Throne and faced a similar struggle to that of Marie, on which side to place their support during the Great War. Equally troubling was the Greek people's revolutionary fervour, as Gelardi emphasises, which saw Constantine I abdicate and leave the country as Greece flirted with a republic. Sophie fought hard to stand by her husband, but also struggled with her nationalistic lineage, which found her torn between Germany and England. While Constantine was briefly welcomed back to Greece, he was forced to leave again in 1922, never to return. Sophie spent her latter years liaising with family in England and trying to bask in what glory remained at her disposal.
* Maud Charlotte Mary Victoria (eventually Queen Maud of Norway) was the youngest daughter of Edward VII, making her a sister of England's George V. An intellectual child, Maud eventually agreed to marry Prince Charles of Denmark (her mother's country of birth) and began a somewhat quiet life. When Charles was asked to become King of Norway after the country sought independence from Sweden, they rose to become King Haakon VII and Queen Maud of Norway. Remaining far from the battlefields of the Great War, Gelardi posits that Maud was likely the only consort who was never forced to entertain entering the war. Watching the tumult around them, Haakon and Maud interacted with their relations, but were spared bloodshed and revolution throughout their time on the Norwegian Throne.
* Victoria Eugenie Julia Ena (eventually Queen Victoria Eugenie of Spain), known as Ena to her family, was the youngest and likely entered the consort fray much after her other cousins. Content to remain at home, Ena eventually caught the eye of King Alfonso XIII and agreed to marry him. Unlike the required conversion that her cousin Alix underwent, Ena's marriage required that she denounce her Protestant past and accept Catholicism. Ena did so, though received much criticism by the British and even her own family. Marrying Alfonso came also with accepting his philandering ways, though she sought to put this aside and reign as best she could. Six children joined their family and they weathered the storm of the Great War without being required to send troops to the front lines. Instead, they sought to begin an imperial exploration of Africa. With the revolutionary sentiments building across Europe, Alfonso XIII left Spain without abdicating in 1931 for a life of exile. Ena was left with her children to determine how Spain might see another generation return to reign. Ena got her wish when her grandson, King Juan Carlos I, ascended at the end of Franco's fascist rule in 1975.
While only a snippet of the biographical information provided, Gelardi presents the reader with much on which to ponder. As noted briefly above, there were two other cousins who played a particularly powerful role during these times, George V of England and Wilhelm II of Germany. That these seven of Victoria's grandchildren proved to be so prominent in 20th century politics is no small feat. What might be interesting to the reader is that the various consorts and rulers mingled with such ease and regularity. I admit that I am not up on my royal lineage or correspondence, but one does not likely see that nowadays. Still, as Geraldi argues throughout, the interconnectedness of the five female consorts shows both the strong parallels and obvious differences in their reigns throughout Europe. That the continent was shaped in vastly different ways is not lost on the observant reader. Gelardi said it best in this book: “Maud of Norway, Sophie of Greece, Alexandra of Russia, Marie of Romania, and Victoria Eugenie of Spain may have been marked out by their illustrious positions and glittering marriages. But it is ultimately their dignity, devotion to duty, strong sense of responsibility, and steadfastness in the face of adversity that distinguishes them and makes their stories both compelling and timeless.”
Gelardi's brilliant piece offers readers a wonderful glimpse into the lives of these five women as well as the continent's vast array of political and social differences. With a strong narrative that ushers the story forward, Gelardi weaves together a strong biography of all five consorts, using detailed research and history as her guide. Each chapter is full of interesting tidbits and superimposes the lives of all five, rather than offering individual glimpses. Gelardi should be praised for this, as it strengthens the argument of the connection these cousins had, even if their lives differed greatly. I found myself wanting to know more and yet stunned at all that I did ascertain from this piece. The perfect piece for me that offers a wonderful survey of Europe at the time, which is bolstered with what little knowledge I have. Geraldi is surely one historian to keep in mind when looking to expand one's horizons.
Kudos, Madam Gelardi for such a wonderful biography. I wish I had found this sooner in my journey, though am now left to scramble to read more about these women, their lives, and the other royals who influenced them at the time. You are now on my permanent radar for biographical pieces.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
May 31, 2007
I enjoyed this book - it was a fascinating glimpse at the intertwined and separate lives of these five women.
At times, however, I was disappointed at how much had been glossed over. Some of that, I grant, was necessary as discussing the complete lives of five women in a reasonable-sized book could not have been done in any great detail.
It could have, however, been improved in a few ways
1 - put a complete rather than simplified family tree - when the author was referring to other cousins, uncles, mothers, offspring, grandchildren, siblings etc., I kept going back to the family tree only to find that they weren't designated. Perhaps a simplified family tree on the main page followed by more detailed family trees of each branch of royalty could've served the purpose.
2 - USE JUST ONE NAME - Alexandra Romanov, for example was referred to as Alecky, Alix, Alexandra, Alexandra Feodorovna among other names - similarly, Marie of Romania was both Missy and Marie and then later Meddy.
3 - Maps - As these cousins were spread out all over Europe and the landscape thereof has changed substantially since the time of their reigns, maps of their countries at the time (and how they changed - Marie of Romania's land nearly doubled following WWI) would've given me a better picture of the situation.
At times, however, I was disappointed at how much had been glossed over. Some of that, I grant, was necessary as discussing the complete lives of five women in a reasonable-sized book could not have been done in any great detail.
It could have, however, been improved in a few ways
1 - put a complete rather than simplified family tree - when the author was referring to other cousins, uncles, mothers, offspring, grandchildren, siblings etc., I kept going back to the family tree only to find that they weren't designated. Perhaps a simplified family tree on the main page followed by more detailed family trees of each branch of royalty could've served the purpose.
2 - USE JUST ONE NAME - Alexandra Romanov, for example was referred to as Alecky, Alix, Alexandra, Alexandra Feodorovna among other names - similarly, Marie of Romania was both Missy and Marie and then later Meddy.
3 - Maps - As these cousins were spread out all over Europe and the landscape thereof has changed substantially since the time of their reigns, maps of their countries at the time (and how they changed - Marie of Romania's land nearly doubled following WWI) would've given me a better picture of the situation.
September 29, 2021
Incredible research and tracking for all the women in the title group.
It's amazing how different and how in such varying cultures/cultural mores/ religion that these women lived and ended within. Most of the marriages were successful too in the sense of compatibility and offspring. But not all were.
There are literally 100's of relatives in constant intermix and most of those have numerous names/title designations or association to branches. So some back knowledge of Queen Victoria, her era, her family, and her residences is probably a large help to take this on.
These 5 granddaughters all were from different Queen Victoria offspring. One of each's parent was in the group of Queen Victoria's 8 offspring. The legacy of hemophilia too plays out here. And which daughters and granddaughters were carriers.
Honestly, I am surprised that there were not worse genetic occurrences for the negative or other abnormal condition. Because the intermarriage with cousins and second cousins was the background history of "usual". In one case a 1st cousin marriage desire/proposal was denied- and it was NOT mostly for those genetic history of ancestor reasons.
The photos are 5 star plus. Most are from the earliest years of the 1900's up to 1961. But there are quite a few from 1880-1900.
Remarkable record of 1000's of minutia details that mattered. And much of actual lifestyle and history until their last days on earth. I should give possible readers this clue too. This author does not suffer fools and you need to be up on European history and title designations. She switches often between the title names or positions/ nicknames used for the various 10 key players. And those are numerous.
It's amazing how different and how in such varying cultures/cultural mores/ religion that these women lived and ended within. Most of the marriages were successful too in the sense of compatibility and offspring. But not all were.
There are literally 100's of relatives in constant intermix and most of those have numerous names/title designations or association to branches. So some back knowledge of Queen Victoria, her era, her family, and her residences is probably a large help to take this on.
These 5 granddaughters all were from different Queen Victoria offspring. One of each's parent was in the group of Queen Victoria's 8 offspring. The legacy of hemophilia too plays out here. And which daughters and granddaughters were carriers.
Honestly, I am surprised that there were not worse genetic occurrences for the negative or other abnormal condition. Because the intermarriage with cousins and second cousins was the background history of "usual". In one case a 1st cousin marriage desire/proposal was denied- and it was NOT mostly for those genetic history of ancestor reasons.
The photos are 5 star plus. Most are from the earliest years of the 1900's up to 1961. But there are quite a few from 1880-1900.
Remarkable record of 1000's of minutia details that mattered. And much of actual lifestyle and history until their last days on earth. I should give possible readers this clue too. This author does not suffer fools and you need to be up on European history and title designations. She switches often between the title names or positions/ nicknames used for the various 10 key players. And those are numerous.
July 29, 2010
This book goes into minute detail of the lives of five of Queen Victoria's granddaughters who were also queens of varying importance and tenure on their respective thrones. One has to have some knowledge of the family tree; otherwise, the names/nicknames can become interchangeable and confusing.
The royal cousins lived in courts that were unsurpassed for their glamour, wealth, and treachery. Their lives, although sumptuous, were, in the main, unhappy and their futures often in peril. The book follows these lives from childhood till death and offers some interesting insights into the politics of the times.
The royal cousins lived in courts that were unsurpassed for their glamour, wealth, and treachery. Their lives, although sumptuous, were, in the main, unhappy and their futures often in peril. The book follows these lives from childhood till death and offers some interesting insights into the politics of the times.
October 8, 2014
Much more scholarly than I would have liked. One of the problems I had with this book is that the author approaches it almost with the assumption that the reader is going to be a 3rd year European history major who has a lot of “pre” knowledge of this subject. An example of this is almost each person had multiple names they were known by, officially, personally, intimately, etc. She refers to a person flipping flopping between all their names indiscriminately and with almost no explanation so the reader finds themselves confused over who the author is referring to. The other assumption she makes it that the reader has taken a year or two of French and therefore there is no need to translate the French statements she includes in the book.
On the other hand the book is just chock full of information on the European dynasties. I came away with a better picture of the interfamily relationships as well as a better understanding of the first world war.
Probably the biggest eye opener of this book was just how inbred these royal families are. I mean I knew there was inbreeding but not to the level this book details. I mean jeepers creepers, how these people aren’t mutants missing essential body parts is beyond me. Thank goodness Prince William married a commoner. They need some new DNA running through their families.
On the other hand the book is just chock full of information on the European dynasties. I came away with a better picture of the interfamily relationships as well as a better understanding of the first world war.
Probably the biggest eye opener of this book was just how inbred these royal families are. I mean I knew there was inbreeding but not to the level this book details. I mean jeepers creepers, how these people aren’t mutants missing essential body parts is beyond me. Thank goodness Prince William married a commoner. They need some new DNA running through their families.
May 26, 2021
Eaay reading, iverly eurocentric view during world war bothered me. Otherwise viewpoint a bit monarchist.
December 26, 2018
A quintuple biography of Victoria's five queenly granddaughters, this book was neither particularly well written not particularly scholarly, but did provide a helpful overview of all five lives. Here we get to know -
Sophie of Greece, the sister of Wilhelm II who hated his war but got blamed for it anyway and who had a front row seat to some of the worst Allied atrocities of WWI (they so often get swept under the rug);
Maud of Norway, who together with her Danish husband only agreed to become the sovereigns of Norway after a democratic referendum which shocked their snobbish royal relatives, and who used to go out and do her own shopping, and whose husband was known as "Mr King", and who generally seems to have been rather chill and awesome.
Marie of Romania, a theatrical drama queen who would not have been out of place in The Prisoner of Zenda. Liked to get around dripping with Byzantine splendour and taking a series of lovers, pig-headedly insisted Romania get involved in WWI on the Allied side, yet her A1 publicity skills made her adored by the people. Would later write a lot of florid letters and autobiographies, all of them fulsomely praising herself for her selfless activity and diplomatic acumen. I may have taken an instant dislike to her purely on the basis of Gelardi's fangirling.
Alexandra of Russia, whom you will likely not learn anything new about here. Shy, awkward, and thick as a brick. Gelardi, who constantly refers to these five women as "Queen Victoria's VERY SPECIAL granddaughters" wants you to know what a tragedy it was for Alix and Nicky to give their country a tiny, grudging little bit of self-government after 300 years of outrageous exploitation. Humph!
Ena Victoria of Spain, who after being nearly blown up on their wedding day, quietly put up with her husband's lotharing for decades until Spain threw them out, upon which she kicked him out and lived to a fabulously fashionable old age and brokered her grandson Juan Carlos's return to the throne after Franco's death.
All of it is a fascinating glimpse into twentieth century history, but I found Gelardi's pro-royal bias a bit difficult to take. From the things I know she glossed over, I'm not sure how much of what she says can be trusted at all.
Sophie of Greece, the sister of Wilhelm II who hated his war but got blamed for it anyway and who had a front row seat to some of the worst Allied atrocities of WWI (they so often get swept under the rug);
Maud of Norway, who together with her Danish husband only agreed to become the sovereigns of Norway after a democratic referendum which shocked their snobbish royal relatives, and who used to go out and do her own shopping, and whose husband was known as "Mr King", and who generally seems to have been rather chill and awesome.
Marie of Romania, a theatrical drama queen who would not have been out of place in The Prisoner of Zenda. Liked to get around dripping with Byzantine splendour and taking a series of lovers, pig-headedly insisted Romania get involved in WWI on the Allied side, yet her A1 publicity skills made her adored by the people. Would later write a lot of florid letters and autobiographies, all of them fulsomely praising herself for her selfless activity and diplomatic acumen. I may have taken an instant dislike to her purely on the basis of Gelardi's fangirling.
Alexandra of Russia, whom you will likely not learn anything new about here. Shy, awkward, and thick as a brick. Gelardi, who constantly refers to these five women as "Queen Victoria's VERY SPECIAL granddaughters" wants you to know what a tragedy it was for Alix and Nicky to give their country a tiny, grudging little bit of self-government after 300 years of outrageous exploitation. Humph!
Ena Victoria of Spain, who after being nearly blown up on their wedding day, quietly put up with her husband's lotharing for decades until Spain threw them out, upon which she kicked him out and lived to a fabulously fashionable old age and brokered her grandson Juan Carlos's return to the throne after Franco's death.
All of it is a fascinating glimpse into twentieth century history, but I found Gelardi's pro-royal bias a bit difficult to take. From the things I know she glossed over, I'm not sure how much of what she says can be trusted at all.
August 19, 2016
A wonderful overview of the five women who managed to somehow survive the tumultuous years when the modern era didn't just break down Victorian ideals and mores, but smashed them completely to bits. Because the book is a story about these five women - Maud of Norway, Sophie of Greece, Alexandra of Russia, Marie of Romania, and Victoria Eugenie of Spain - by its very nature, it's more vague at times, lacking some of the more detailed examination which would come with a single-focus biography. However, despite the more generalized tone, the author still does an excellent job illuminating the lives of these women as well as the greater whole of European history and change into which they were thrust. Also, because the stories are told chronologically, there's no no individual chapter devoted to each queen. Instead, as the years unfold, a portion of each queen's story is threaded into the next, much like a braid - as we see Alexandra pursued by Nicholas, we then turn to Marie who, during that same time, was struggling to adjust to life in the Romanian court; as the pursuit draws to a close, we turn back to Alexandra as she deals with the fallout over converting to the Russian Orthodox religion. It makes for a more dynamic and yet intimate telling.
The only flaws in the book came from the inserts. While a family tree was provided at the front of the book, for some inexplicable reason it was abbreviated. Which meant that there were times when siblings, children, cousins, etc. were mentioned and I'd flip to the front to look them up only to find they'd been left out. I can understand having the main tree, where the five women were listed, slightly compressed for simplicity's sake, but it would've been nice to have had an expanded tree, perhaps a detailed breakdown for each woman, on the following pages. Speaking of the family tree, the author would often use family nicknames for certain individuals, most especially when referring to Alexandra's sister, Victoria ("Ducky") and Sophie's sister, Margrete ("Mossy"). It would've been nice, had there been an expanded family tree, to also have those nicknames alongside as I kept forgetting who exactly was who whenever Ducky or Mossy was mentioned. Even without that expanded family tree, it still would've been nice to have had those nicknames somewhere up front as a helpful reminder. As another reviewer mentioned, maps of Europe, especially showing the changes to the borders of certain countries pre- and post-WWI, would've been extremely helpful in understanding the massive political changes wrought by the war. Lastly, for my part, as I'm a very visual person, I wish there'd been a few dozen more photos than what was provided; looking online, I found weddings photos for each of the five women showing their gowns (which were utterly exquisite) and was quite surprised those same photos weren't included in the book.
I think the most fascinating aspect of the entire book was how much freedom all the women were given when it came to marriage. Though duty was always uppermost in the selection, they were able to choose their own husbands based on love and affection as well, something emphasized by Queen Victoria, inspired, I'm sure, by the happiness she found in her marriage to Albert. In turn, each of these five granddaughters of Victoria passed on the same advice to their daughters, continuing the tradition of marrying for both love and duty, something which I believe continues even now in the many descendants of these five remarkable women.
The only flaws in the book came from the inserts. While a family tree was provided at the front of the book, for some inexplicable reason it was abbreviated. Which meant that there were times when siblings, children, cousins, etc. were mentioned and I'd flip to the front to look them up only to find they'd been left out. I can understand having the main tree, where the five women were listed, slightly compressed for simplicity's sake, but it would've been nice to have had an expanded tree, perhaps a detailed breakdown for each woman, on the following pages. Speaking of the family tree, the author would often use family nicknames for certain individuals, most especially when referring to Alexandra's sister, Victoria ("Ducky") and Sophie's sister, Margrete ("Mossy"). It would've been nice, had there been an expanded family tree, to also have those nicknames alongside as I kept forgetting who exactly was who whenever Ducky or Mossy was mentioned. Even without that expanded family tree, it still would've been nice to have had those nicknames somewhere up front as a helpful reminder. As another reviewer mentioned, maps of Europe, especially showing the changes to the borders of certain countries pre- and post-WWI, would've been extremely helpful in understanding the massive political changes wrought by the war. Lastly, for my part, as I'm a very visual person, I wish there'd been a few dozen more photos than what was provided; looking online, I found weddings photos for each of the five women showing their gowns (which were utterly exquisite) and was quite surprised those same photos weren't included in the book.
I think the most fascinating aspect of the entire book was how much freedom all the women were given when it came to marriage. Though duty was always uppermost in the selection, they were able to choose their own husbands based on love and affection as well, something emphasized by Queen Victoria, inspired, I'm sure, by the happiness she found in her marriage to Albert. In turn, each of these five granddaughters of Victoria passed on the same advice to their daughters, continuing the tradition of marrying for both love and duty, something which I believe continues even now in the many descendants of these five remarkable women.
May 20, 2010
I've been vascillating between a two-star and a three-star rating....I finally went with the three star just on the strength of the subject matter but the way it's laid out is confusing and the writing style less-than-stellar (every section of the book is cliff-hangered with some form of "shattering" as in earth-shattering or a life was shattered or peace was shattered, etc.).
While I liked the premise, and each of the five women are amazing in their own right, the book felt sloppy. In the "Dramatis Personae" (which I loathe in any non-fiction book) all the marriages of the next generation (the five princesses children) - including second marriages, etc - are noted but not the marriage of King Olav V of Norway, son of Maud of Wales, nor are his children noted. That's a big miss; Olav and his son Harald were heavily involved in the Allied effort during WWII, the omission makes it seem like the Norweigan line died out nearly as soon as the dynasty started. The reader could also have been helped by some maps of Europe at the time of the women's marriages and maps showing how the various wars and treaties changed boundaries (another helpful footnote could have pointed out HRH Prince Philip's father was Prince Andrew, brother of King Constantine of Greece, who was forced to flee Greece when Philip was an infant - there were only endnotes, not footnotes).
Good subject matter, keeps you interested, but the execution was off.
While I liked the premise, and each of the five women are amazing in their own right, the book felt sloppy. In the "Dramatis Personae" (which I loathe in any non-fiction book) all the marriages of the next generation (the five princesses children) - including second marriages, etc - are noted but not the marriage of King Olav V of Norway, son of Maud of Wales, nor are his children noted. That's a big miss; Olav and his son Harald were heavily involved in the Allied effort during WWII, the omission makes it seem like the Norweigan line died out nearly as soon as the dynasty started. The reader could also have been helped by some maps of Europe at the time of the women's marriages and maps showing how the various wars and treaties changed boundaries (another helpful footnote could have pointed out HRH Prince Philip's father was Prince Andrew, brother of King Constantine of Greece, who was forced to flee Greece when Philip was an infant - there were only endnotes, not footnotes).
Good subject matter, keeps you interested, but the execution was off.
April 5, 2025
So glad I finally read this! The most famous of the women we follow in this book is Tsarina Alexandra, so I knew some of her story, and I was also familiar with Queen Maud as I am Norwegian. I wasn't aware of how cool she was though! She was the highlight of this book for me, I loved her quotes. I will be getting two Norwegian books that were heavily used as sources. I didn't know Queen Marie of Romania, Queen Sophie of Greece or Queen Victoria Eugenie of Spain. The book did get confusing at times as the author switches from using their full names to nicknames etc. It was interesting to read a bit about them too. Of course this book doesn't chronicle their entire lives, it just goes chronologically moving around between them going through the highlights (and lows). It gets a bit dry sometimes, but that is to be expected. The book is very well researched, the author used many primary sources like interviews with descendants that she conducted herself, letters and documents (she was even given permission from Queen Elizabeth II to use material) as well as countless books. There are A LOT of notes! It also includes your classic two inserts of glossy photographs of the royals. Overall a very good history book on these five unique granddaughters of Queen Victoria, perfect to learn a little about each one, and go on to do further reading if you're interested. I definitely will. Also, shoutout to the author who is Filipina, I am half myself!
May 25, 2020
This is the story of Victoria Eugenie (Spain), Marie (Romania), Sophie (Greece), Maud (Norway), and Alexandra (Russia) all granddaughters of Queen Victoria. I was torn between giving this one a two or three star rating. Parts were absolutely fascinating, such as their childhoods and relationships with Victoria, and parts were just tedious. Very little in the book was about Maud and not too much about Victoria Eugenie. I did learn a bunch about Greek and Romanian history in the modern age but the book hopped around from one to another so continuity was hard to maintain.
September 30, 2019
I am usually not the one for non fiction (or even fictional) history books, but this one was awesome to read. Lots and lots of interesting detail, rich description of interpersonal relation among many of the characters. I didn't know a lot of the historical facts that were inside but they were sure fun to read and discover.
December 13, 2019
A fascinating read. I knew about a couple of these queens, but some of the others were completely unknown to me. The book was well written, though a little dry at times-Gelardi does a good job balancing the stories. The book reads more as a survey of their reigns than anything else (which makes sense due to covering all 5 of them) but it provides a good starting off point from which deeper research can be conducted.
August 2, 2018
I have long heard the saying that if Queen Victoria's family had a reunion World War I may have been avoided. Gelardi does an admirable job making that point true.
This is a great book to illustrate just what a tinderbox Europe was when the Archduke Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated, which began World War I. Family relations across Europe were eroded and in poor shape; they were looking for excuses.
Gelardi focuses on the following:
Alexandra, Tsarina of Russia
Maud, Queen of Norway
Marie, Queen of Romania
Victoria Eugenie, Queen of Spain
Sophie, Queen of Greece
*Honorable mentions Mary, Queen of England, Wilhelm, Kaiser of Germany
These women did not lead the pampered life of their grandmother (Victoria). One had an attempted assassination on her wedding day, two forced in exile, one a prisoner who was eventually killed along with her whole family. Downside of this book--I had a hard time tracking people between the switching of formal names to nick names. At times it was a bit much.
This is a great book to illustrate just what a tinderbox Europe was when the Archduke Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated, which began World War I. Family relations across Europe were eroded and in poor shape; they were looking for excuses.
Gelardi focuses on the following:
Alexandra, Tsarina of Russia
Maud, Queen of Norway
Marie, Queen of Romania
Victoria Eugenie, Queen of Spain
Sophie, Queen of Greece
*Honorable mentions Mary, Queen of England, Wilhelm, Kaiser of Germany
These women did not lead the pampered life of their grandmother (Victoria). One had an attempted assassination on her wedding day, two forced in exile, one a prisoner who was eventually killed along with her whole family. Downside of this book--I had a hard time tracking people between the switching of formal names to nick names. At times it was a bit much.
January 5, 2019
For the most part, I did enjoy this book. I liked it and I found the topic interesting enough to stay up until 2am the night before the book was due back to the library to finish reading it.
But there were major problems with this book. It follows five queens, granddaughters of Queen Victoria, but it's not properly segmented and it skips between the five indiscriminately. In one sentence, it'll be talking about Maud and her love for Frank of Teck, and in the next sentence it'll be talking about Alix and her attachment to Protestantism. This book could have been significantly improved in this aspect.
Another problem was the repetitive usage of multiple names for the same person. I understand that in this period, many royals had multiple titles, but the author constantly flips between various titles and it makes it very difficult to follow the actual thread of what the author is saying.
Another problem was the excessive language that the author used. In my head I could constantly hear the dun dun dun cliffhanger music from Eastenders (and I haven't watched that in many years) because of the constant forewarning the author gave. It was like the end of every paragraph would be something along the lines of "Sophie would come to regret this" or "Marie would not know the importance of this mistake for years to come" etc etc etc.
The writing itself came across as a mix between late 1800s letter writing, cheap thriller writing and a fantasy novel. This book did not feel like a nonfiction book and that simply makes me question if everything was actually correct.
Finally, the author wrote this as a book about five queens. But it feels like she dedicated more time to Alix than any of the others. She is the most written about, which isn't a surprise considering who she was and what happened to her, and unfortunately I found her to be the most boring. I found myself skimming all of the Rasputin details (mainly because the author was contributing nothing to my knowledge here) and skipping to Marie of Romania or Maud of Norway, who I found way more interesting. I didn't find Sophie all that interesting, until the final few chapters about Helen and Carol. I really liked learning more about Maud, Marie and Ena, and I definitely want to look more into them. I just wish that this book had actually said more about them. Especially Maud, who the author seems to have forgotten existed at one point. I think she covered Maud's death in 2 pages where the other queens got their own chapters.
But there were major problems with this book. It follows five queens, granddaughters of Queen Victoria, but it's not properly segmented and it skips between the five indiscriminately. In one sentence, it'll be talking about Maud and her love for Frank of Teck, and in the next sentence it'll be talking about Alix and her attachment to Protestantism. This book could have been significantly improved in this aspect.
Another problem was the repetitive usage of multiple names for the same person. I understand that in this period, many royals had multiple titles, but the author constantly flips between various titles and it makes it very difficult to follow the actual thread of what the author is saying.
Another problem was the excessive language that the author used. In my head I could constantly hear the dun dun dun cliffhanger music from Eastenders (and I haven't watched that in many years) because of the constant forewarning the author gave. It was like the end of every paragraph would be something along the lines of "Sophie would come to regret this" or "Marie would not know the importance of this mistake for years to come" etc etc etc.
The writing itself came across as a mix between late 1800s letter writing, cheap thriller writing and a fantasy novel. This book did not feel like a nonfiction book and that simply makes me question if everything was actually correct.
Finally, the author wrote this as a book about five queens. But it feels like she dedicated more time to Alix than any of the others. She is the most written about, which isn't a surprise considering who she was and what happened to her, and unfortunately I found her to be the most boring. I found myself skimming all of the Rasputin details (mainly because the author was contributing nothing to my knowledge here) and skipping to Marie of Romania or Maud of Norway, who I found way more interesting. I didn't find Sophie all that interesting, until the final few chapters about Helen and Carol. I really liked learning more about Maud, Marie and Ena, and I definitely want to look more into them. I just wish that this book had actually said more about them. Especially Maud, who the author seems to have forgotten existed at one point. I think she covered Maud's death in 2 pages where the other queens got their own chapters.
September 18, 2021
While the author's research and thesis is fascinating, the book skips between the 5 rulers indiscriminately. It caught me off guard and I would end up re-reading paragraphs to make sure I wasn't imagining things. I understand the author's intention with the sections, trying to compare and contrast the Queen's conversions to their new national religion, but it was very confusing. I would have preferred a much more structured book. On audiobook its even more jumbled.
February 9, 2025
While at times difficult to follow
—jumping between people, names and timelines—I enjoyed this book as it offered much more than a glimpse into the lives of royal women whose stories tended to be overshadowed by their male counterparts. Queen Victoria‘s daughters‘ and granddaughters‘ commitment to duty, especially vis-a-vis the men in power, was truly remarkable.
—jumping between people, names and timelines—I enjoyed this book as it offered much more than a glimpse into the lives of royal women whose stories tended to be overshadowed by their male counterparts. Queen Victoria‘s daughters‘ and granddaughters‘ commitment to duty, especially vis-a-vis the men in power, was truly remarkable.
November 16, 2018
I was enthralled by this book, I found it very insightful. My only quibble with this book is that I wish each person had chapters dedicated to each lady, instead of bouncing back and forth in chapters. I love this book.
November 22, 2021
Five concise biographies in one takes the reader through the intersecting lives of Queen Maud of Norway, Queen Marie of Romania, Queen Sophie of the Hellenes, Empress Alexandra of Russia and Queen Victoria Eugenie of Spain.
November 21, 2018
Wow - this book was everything I hoped it would be! An excellent well-researched piece dealing with the granddaughters of Queen Victoria who became queens themselves was a fascinating look at five women who found themselves thrust, whether by choice or fortune, into countries and royal families that were nothing like the one they had grown up in. Gelardi's choice of the five women: Sophie of Greece, Marie of Romania, Maud of Norway, Alexandra of Russia and Ena of Spain was inspired as I knew very little about any of them apart from Alexandra. The author did a great job at highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the women, as well as the similarities and differences they faced in foreign royal courts. At times, it was heavily focused on Sophie and Marie, but this did not really bother me as I found them captivating and was excited to discover more about them. Poor Maud does fall into the background quite a bit, but that is probably how she herself would have liked it.
A fantastic book - I can't wait to read more by this author. 5 stars!
A fantastic book - I can't wait to read more by this author. 5 stars!
February 4, 2016
I was taken in right away by the easy storytelling style of the author. This is a personal bio of the 5 granddaughters, so major historical events are covered only as they effect the lives of the queens. This may be as intimate a glimpse as we can get of these royal women. Queen Victoria, mentor and role model to the queens, looms in the background.
Some here felt it would be better to cover each queen separately, but I liked the chronological presentation. Because events of WWI interlocked, with this kind of organization more focus could be put on the situations of the queens without re-introducing the war and its politics.
I was surprised that the princesses had as much say as they did in selection of their husbands. Queen Victoria seems like a feminist in her attitutes from the direct quotes from her letters.
While the monarchy as an institution has been widely studied, I'm not aware of any treatment like this of the role of the married off princess. Young girls, who may be in love with men they hardly know, move, permanently to a country where they don't know the language and may have to change a religion. Travel and communication are not what they are today, and their local obligations will be consuming so the promise of seeing a family which may have indulged them is slim (unless, like Maud, they marry into a low key, not so prestigious situation). These teens or twentysomethings are thrust into a politics of which they have little awareness, and unless their husbands mentor them, are open to intrigue, gossip and worse. If they're from countries with which their new country is at war, things can hardly get better.
Maud has the most satisfying life, marrying a minor noble, who later agrees to become an elected king. The royalists are losing support in at this time in history making the lives of the others profiled stressful, but Maud is happy in her modest court and country.
Marie is the only one to make a silk purse from a sow's ear, (but it only goes back again). She does this by dropping her Victorian ways and doing as the Romanians do.
The author implies that Alexandra's stiff upper lip was a major factor in her family's ultimate tragedy. I'd be interested in informed opinion on this, as well as on Marie's actual influence on the course of events in Romania.
Some here felt it would be better to cover each queen separately, but I liked the chronological presentation. Because events of WWI interlocked, with this kind of organization more focus could be put on the situations of the queens without re-introducing the war and its politics.
I was surprised that the princesses had as much say as they did in selection of their husbands. Queen Victoria seems like a feminist in her attitutes from the direct quotes from her letters.
While the monarchy as an institution has been widely studied, I'm not aware of any treatment like this of the role of the married off princess. Young girls, who may be in love with men they hardly know, move, permanently to a country where they don't know the language and may have to change a religion. Travel and communication are not what they are today, and their local obligations will be consuming so the promise of seeing a family which may have indulged them is slim (unless, like Maud, they marry into a low key, not so prestigious situation). These teens or twentysomethings are thrust into a politics of which they have little awareness, and unless their husbands mentor them, are open to intrigue, gossip and worse. If they're from countries with which their new country is at war, things can hardly get better.
Maud has the most satisfying life, marrying a minor noble, who later agrees to become an elected king. The royalists are losing support in at this time in history making the lives of the others profiled stressful, but Maud is happy in her modest court and country.
Marie is the only one to make a silk purse from a sow's ear, (but it only goes back again). She does this by dropping her Victorian ways and doing as the Romanians do.
The author implies that Alexandra's stiff upper lip was a major factor in her family's ultimate tragedy. I'd be interested in informed opinion on this, as well as on Marie's actual influence on the course of events in Romania.
October 16, 2013
I feel like I've just finished a course in European History running from the Victorian Age to modern times. Author Julia P. Gelardi is thorough and it's obvious a lot of research went into this project. She traces the lineage of five of Queen Victoria's many grandchildren (the Queen and Prince Albert had nine children ensuring a huge next generation). Maud, Alix, Marie, Ena and Sophie were all fated to follow their grandmother's teachings as they all married into ruling families around Europe.
A scorecard and an active family tree with arrows would be helpful in reading this as we face more and more intermarriages among royal families many haunted by the specter of hemophilia affecting male heirs. In cases, like Alix who became the Tsarina Alexander the disease helped lead to murder and the downfall of a royal family.
Through many tragedies, betrayals and world events these women managed to stand tall and leave an impact on their countries. To a one, they're interesting and fascinating women.
A scorecard and an active family tree with arrows would be helpful in reading this as we face more and more intermarriages among royal families many haunted by the specter of hemophilia affecting male heirs. In cases, like Alix who became the Tsarina Alexander the disease helped lead to murder and the downfall of a royal family.
Through many tragedies, betrayals and world events these women managed to stand tall and leave an impact on their countries. To a one, they're interesting and fascinating women.
February 13, 2019
A lot of fascinating information in this book, but the story lines are mixed together..we jump from queen to queen to queen. The ladies were easy to keep track of in the beginning, when they are young, but as husbands and in-laws and children and grandchildren and maybe-lovers, etc. are thrown in and their lives became more and more complicated with war and uprisings and exiles it got to be a bit more confusing. (The ridiculous "simplified family tree" was a frustrating waste of time, each queen should have had her own detailed family tree, and it would have made it much easier to follow..now whose is the kid who ran off with a floozy and which kid is dead and which one is horrible to his mother?) Queen Maud, who had a very peaceful life in comparison to the others, is almost an nonentity, she makes so few appearances. ("She did her own shopping."!) but she could just not compete with the incredible dramas of the other four. I do think this would have been better told one story at a time.
The hardback cover is gorgeous.
The hardback cover is gorgeous.
February 13, 2016
A highly readable non fiction history. Follows the lives of five extraordinary and rather tragic women. Princesses who, although living in glittering palaces, experienced much sorrow in their personal lives and went through excruciating political turmoil. I enjoyed reading about all five women at the same time in order to reference how they all related to each other. However, I'm also interested in reading individual biographies for even greater detail. Other things I found intriguing were how intertwined the European royal families became, and the amount of intimate correspondence available to historians today. Only complaints are some failures on the editing as far as typos and a wrong date.
January 22, 2009
Ugh. I could not take this. I stopped when, about 40 pages after Alix/Alexandra/Alicky/Alice of Hesse/Russia got married to Tsar Nicholas, the author wrote "Immediately after she was joined in holy matrimony to Tsar Nicholas of Russia, Princess Alix of Hesse threw herself into absorbing Russian culture" or some crap like that. Seriously, write things IN ORDER. And while you are at it, this is NON FICTION. YOU DO NOT NEED TO WRITE LIKE YOUR SUBJECTS WOULD HAVE WRITTEN. YOU DO NOT LIVE IN THE VICTORIAN OR POST-VICTORIAN AGE. I couldn't take it anymore and am stopping reading it out of protest.
(I will say that portions of it were interesting but the writing drove me off the edge.)
(I will say that portions of it were interesting but the writing drove me off the edge.)
January 4, 2018
Fascinating History
This well researched history about five of Queen Victoria’s many grandchildren is worth the time because of the excellent understanding it offers of Europe and Russia politics in pre, during and post WWI times. These five remarkable young women have many challenges facing them in their marriages and then lives, not the least of which is being matched to men for political and monarchy continuation reasons, not love. Clearly, being a Princess -or a Queen - is not all it’s cracked up to be and especially at that time in history, a rather dangerous occupation. If you like history, well worth the time to read.
This well researched history about five of Queen Victoria’s many grandchildren is worth the time because of the excellent understanding it offers of Europe and Russia politics in pre, during and post WWI times. These five remarkable young women have many challenges facing them in their marriages and then lives, not the least of which is being matched to men for political and monarchy continuation reasons, not love. Clearly, being a Princess -or a Queen - is not all it’s cracked up to be and especially at that time in history, a rather dangerous occupation. If you like history, well worth the time to read.
August 7, 2010
A look at five granddaughters of Queen Victoria who would become consorts of five monarchs in Europe, just before the First World War. Each story is tragic is some way, happy in others, and none of them at all dull. Royalty fans will eat this one up.
For a more complete review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/Born_t...
For a more complete review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/Born_t...
November 12, 2010
"Queen Victoria, one of our more frumpy queens. They're all frumpy, aren't they? Because it's a bad idea when cousins marry." - Eddie Izzard
Fascinating book; not just about royalty but a different, more personal view of early 20th century European history through the direct lives of these five women. I couldn't help but feel the author was trying to get me to sympathize with these five queens - I didn't. I did, however, get a very clear view of how exactly all European royalty is related in some way to each other...
Fascinating book; not just about royalty but a different, more personal view of early 20th century European history through the direct lives of these five women. I couldn't help but feel the author was trying to get me to sympathize with these five queens - I didn't. I did, however, get a very clear view of how exactly all European royalty is related in some way to each other...
August 27, 2008
A fun way to read about European royals, as they related to each other. I really liked this book, and learned a lot about several rulers I was totally uninformed about.
November 14, 2024
Good overview of the reigning granddaughters of Queen Victoria.
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