The Girlhood of Queen Victoria

6R Selections from Her Majesties Diaries 1832-1840. Edited by Viscount Esher. London: John Murray, 1912. In two volumes. 

Notes

The Girlhood of Queen Victoria: A Selection from Her Majesty’s Diaries Between the Years 1832 and 1840 offers a remarkable firsthand account of the early life of one of Britain’s most influential monarchs. The work draws upon Queen Victoria’s personal journals, beginning when she was just thirteen years old and continuing through her accession to the throne in 1837, her early years as sovereign, and her marriage to Prince Albert in 1840. Through intimate observations of family life, court society, travel, and political affairs, the diaries reveal the personality of a young woman navigating extraordinary responsibilities while experiencing the ordinary emotions and uncertainties of adolescence. Particularly fascinating are Victoria’s candid impressions of the people around her and her developing understanding of her royal duties. Published more than a decade after her death, the collection provides an invaluable glimpse behind the formal image of the Victorian monarchy, preserving the youthful voice of a queen whose reign would define an era.

Queen Victoria was one of the most significant monarchs in British history, reigning for more than 63 years from 1837 until her death in 1901, a period of extraordinary industrial, political, and imperial expansion that became known as the Victorian era. Born at Kensington Palace, Victoria ascended the throne at just eighteen years old following the death of her uncle, King William IV. In 1840, she married her beloved cousin Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, with whom she had nine children, many of whom married into European royal families, earning her the nickname “Grandmother of Europe.” Her reign witnessed the expansion of the British Empire, rapid technological innovation, and profound changes in social customs, literature, and the arts. Following Albert’s premature death in 1861, Victoria entered a prolonged period of mourning that became a defining feature of her public image. 

Description 

Blue canvas binding with ornate gilt details and white canvas section on the upper cover with Queen Victoria’s initials in gilt in the center. Gilt lettering to spines. Original gray and navy blue dust jackets. Some minor sun fading to jacket spines. Gilt top edges. Illustrations throughout. Ownership bookplate pastedowns to first free endpaper. Fine condition.