Queen Victoria's Granddaughters: 1860-1918

By: Christina Croft

Narrated by: Fleur Edwards

On 6 July 1868, when told of the birth of her seventh granddaughter, Queen Victoria remarked that the news was "a very uninteresting thing for it seems to me to go on like the rabbits in Windsor Park". Her apathy was understandable - this was her 14th grandchild, and, though she had given birth to nine children, she had never been fond of babies, viewing them as "frog-like and rather disgusting...particularly when undressed".

The early years of her marriage had, she claimed, been ruined by frequent pregnancies, and large families were unnecessary for wealthy people since the children would grow up with nothing worthwhile to do. Nevertheless, her initial reaction to the birth of Princess Victoria of Wales belied the genuine concern that Queen Victoria felt for each of her 22 granddaughters. "As a rule," she wrote, "I like girls best," and she devoted a great deal of time to their well-being and happiness, showering them with affection she had seldom shown her own children.

By 1914, through a series of dynastic marriages, the queen's granddaughters included the empress of Russia; the queens of Spain, Greece, and Norway' and the crown princesses of Rumania and Sweden. As their brothers and cousins occupied the thrones of Germany, Britain, and Denmark, Prince Albert's dream of a peaceful Europe created through bonds of kinship seemed a real possibility. Yet in little more than a decade after Queen Victoria's death, the prince consort's dream would lie shattered in the carnage of the First World War. Royal cousins and even siblings would find themselves on opposing sides; two of them would die horrifically at the hands of revolutionaries, and several others would be ousted from their thrones. They had lived through the halcyon days of the European monarchies, but their lives, like the lives of millions of their people, would be changed forever by the catastrophe.

©2013 Christina Croft (P)2017 Christina Croft

Loved every minute!

Well written and researched with helpful summaries before each chapter. Liked it so much that I bought the hard copy as well for reference!

Tinny

The narrators voice is real tinny on this recording but the history is truly fascinating and extremely sad.

Great book, Bad production

Queen Victoria's Granddaughters is a well written book and throughly enjoyed it. However, the production is horrible. Often, the actress actress sounded as if she was speaking through an aluminum can. One part of the story Miss Edward's was possibly battling a cold. While, the voice work is distracting it does not take away from the story. If you're a Queen Victoria enthusiasts like myself there is no doubt you will enjoy the story of a time when her granddaughters sat on thrones all over Europe.

If you enjoy historical fiction this book is not for you.

The book is fine if you are taking a history class but it’s not relaxing and reading although the narrator did put me to sleep.

With 9 kids, 22 granddaughters 7 of them are named Victoria it’s impossible for me or anyone keep track of who’s who.

Wanted to like this book

This book is probably best read. It would have been interesting but simply isn't an easy narration. I have been trying to listen to it since 2017 and simply can't finish it.

Too wordy,Jumps around in family&between decades

I couldn't follow the jumps between family members and within each family. This book was not for me and I'm returning it.
I know it's a very large family, but every good story has a Beginning, a Middle, and an Ending. I just cannot get my teeth into it and follow it. It's like picking up War and Peace and just start reading any random page you happen to open...expecting to understand the literature's 'flow' from that.