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Queen Victoria's Mysterious Daughter
- A Biography of Princess Louise
- Narrated by: Jennifer M. Dixon
- Length: 16 hrs and 2 mins
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Summary
Spirited and lively, Queen Victoria's Mysterious Daughter is richly packed with arguments, intrigues, scandals, and secrets, and is a vivid portrait of a princess desperate to escape her inheritance.
The secrets of Queen Victoria's sixth child, Princess Louise, may be destined to remain hidden forever. What was so dangerous about this artistic, tempestuous royal that her life has been documented more by rumor and gossip than hard facts? When Lucinda Hawksley started to investigate, often thwarted by inexplicable secrecy, she discovered a fascinating woman, modern before her time, whose story has been shielded for years from public view.
Louise was a sculptor and painter, friend to the Pre-Raphaelites and a keen member of the Aesthetic movement. The most feisty of the Victorian princesses, she kicked against her mother's controlling nature and remained fiercely loyal to her brothers - especially the sickly Leopold and the much-maligned Bertie. She sought out other unconventional women, including Josephine Butler and George Eliot, and campaigned for education and health reform and for the rights of women. She battled with her indomitable mother for permission to practice the "masculine" art of sculpture and go to art college - and in doing so became the first British princess to attend a public school.
The rumors of Louise's colorful love life persist even today, with hints of love affairs dating as far back as her teenage years, and notable scandals included entanglements with her sculpting tutor Joseph Edgar Boehm and possibly even her sister Princess Beatrice's handsome husband, Liko. True to rebellious form, she refused all royal suitors and became the first member of the royal family, since the 16th century, to marry a commoner. She moved with him to Canada when he was appointed Governor-General.
What listeners say about Queen Victoria's Mysterious Daughter
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- Hayley McCoy
- 03-08-18
quite good.
A very well researched book, which uses many primary sources to give an insight into Princess Louise's life. although there is a great deal of speculation the author cannot be blamed for this, it is quite obvious from the authors own investigations that there has been some kind of cover up regarding the Princess' illigetimate child, marriage infidelity or her unbecoming ways in such a strict era. Either way this book gives you all the history and the rumours and leaves you to make up your mind.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Orvieto
- 19-07-24
Very informative read
I have long been interested in Princess Louise, and had read Elizabeth Longford’s Darling Loosey, but this was a more gossipy book, with more insight into the real person, however as the author is appears to be a huge fan I felt it was possibly rather bias at times. Sadly the narrator read very robotic which ruined an otherwise good book
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1 person found this helpful
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- Book Lover
- 13-04-23
Lovely royal biography a
I loved how this was read. I found it all very interesting. It’s all what you might expect it to be. Thank you Lucinda and Jennifer.
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- Julieb
- 28-08-23
Interesting Biography of a Victorian Royal
Great Narration which made this all the more easy to listen to.. Still a few unknowns about her life especially her early years but food for thought never the less.
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- Maria I
- 30-08-23
A ripping yarn but terrible narration
I almost abandoned this book after about 10 mins as I didn't think I could manage hours and hours of being read to by a computer-generated voice with weird phrasing and many mispronunciations. I'm glad I stuck with it - the story is great and I got used to the (human? who knew?) narration.
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- Louisa P
- 23-06-23
Wonderful story!
Absolutely loved this. Very well written and researched and so interesting. Narrator has some odd pronunciations but overall absolutely great book
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- carl hollingworth
- 02-09-24
princess louise
Very interesting to learn about not just the factual details of royalty but interpretations of the characters and views of the monarchs. We presume that Royals lead a sheltered and comfortable life!
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- Teacher 1
- 24-08-19
Fascinating, well researched & credible
This fascinating, well researched & credible revelation of Princess Louise, Victoria’s daughter who moved in bohemian society; was a renowned sculptor & artist, was a riveting read & would highly recommend for people who adore history & read biographies in particular. Have already recommended to friends & only criticism is a personal preference for a more engaging & animated narrator.
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- Anonymous User
- 27-03-23
insightful
I really enjoyed this book. It was insightful and very interesting, the writer really brought Princess Louise to life.
Princess Louise was a colourful person, ahead of her time but by the confines of royality wasn't allowed to reach her full potential.
The only downside to the book is the narrator can sound dull and drowns on at times.
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- RosePetal86
- 13-06-23
Hidden Gem
Loved this story. I have very limited information on the past royals so always wanted to learn about them. This book helped me to understand the human side of both Louise and Queen Victoria great research.
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