We Two

Victoria and Albert: Rulers, Partners, Rivals

By: Gillian Gill

Narrated by: Rosalyn Landor

New York Times best seller.

It was the most influential marriage of the 19th Century - and one of history’s most enduring love stories. Traditional biographies tell us that Queen Victoria inherited the throne as a naïve teenager, when the British Empire was at the height of its power, and seemed doomed to find failure as a monarch and misery as a woman until she married her German cousin Albert and accepted him as her lord and master. Now renowned chronicler Gillian Gill turns this familiar story on its head, revealing a strong, feisty queen, and a brilliant, fragile prince working together to build a family based on support, trust, and fidelity, qualities neither had seen much of as children. The love affair that emerges is far more captivating, complex, and relevant than that depicted in any previous account.

The epic relationship began poorly. The cousins first met as teenagers for a few brief, awkward, chaperoned weeks in 1836. At 17, charming rather than beautiful, Victoria already “showed signs of wanting her own way”. Albert, the boy who had been groomed for her since birth, was chubby, self-absorbed, and showed no interest in girls, let alone this princess. So when they met again in 1839 as queen and presumed prince-consort-to-be, neither had particularly high hopes. But the queen was delighted to discover a grown man, refined, accomplished, and whiskered. “Albert is beautiful”! Victoria wrote, and she proposed just three days later. As Gill reveals, Victoria and Albert entered their marriage longing for intimate companionship, yet each was determined to be the ruler. This dynamic would continue through the years - each spouse, headstrong and impassioned, eager to lead the marriage on his or her own terms. For two decades, Victoria and Albert engaged in a very public contest for dominance. Against all odds, the marriage succeeded, but it was always a work in progress. And in the end, it was Albert’s early death that set the Queen free to create the myth of her marriage as a peaceful idyll and her husband as Galahad, pure and perfect.

As Gill shows, the marriage of Victoria and Albert was great not because it was perfect but because it was passionate and complicated. Wonderfully nuanced, surprising, often acerbic - and informed by revealing excerpts from the pair’s journals and letters - We Two is a revolutionary portrait of a queen and her prince, a fascinating modern perspective on a couple who have become a legend.

©2009 Gillian Gill (P)2009 Random House

Big and Brilliant

Don't be put off by the size of this tome. You'll miss something really special if do. Instead, devour it like an elephant - one bite at a time.

Equal parts biography and history lesson, We Two is a captivating read. The relationship between Queen Victoria and Prince Albert simultaneously defines dichotomy and symbiosis.

Love the narrator, Rosalyn Landor

I am currently in the process of buying every book that Rosalyn Landor has been the narrator for, she's lovely and not jarring if you're listening in bed but not too "sleepy" if you're listening in your car. She strikes the right balance of both. The book is informative, but yet not boring, and give some juicy details that keeps you interested in dry history. Highly recommend! Happy listening! :)

Ugh!

The narrator has a pleasant pitch but horrible inflection. It’s quite grating after a couple of chapters.

I found it extremely moving.

I really enjoyed this one. Rosalynn Landor is one of my favorite narrators and this title was really worthy of her.

Gillian Gill manages to create a picture of Victoria and Albert that I had never seen. She provides us the portrait of a marriage between two people, not between an icon of queenly dignity and her idolized mate. I actually cried a little when Albert died. That's pretty rare for me with historical non-fiction.

Perfect

Gosh I enjoyed this SO much. It is a riveting audio book, narrated wonderfully by Ms. Landor. I loved it.

Honest account of mythical marriage

This book gives an accurate view of the ups and downs in the Queen's marriage and an alarming view of the ambition and power the Prince wrested from the Queen. It is possibly a blessing that his life was cut short as he was determined to change England to suit his German ambitions. I was disappointed in Victoria's lack of interest in her position and what a contrast to our present Queen who has been a true monarch with unfailing loyalty and dedication.

Fascinating

This book allows the reader/listener to see Albert and Victoria as human, flawed as we all are. It was a fascinating read/listen.

Educational and entertaining

Very informative portrayal of the youths and married lives of not only Alfred and Victoria, but also of those most influential in their stories: Leopold and Charlotte, the Duchess of Kent and Conroy, the range of Prime Ministers, household members, servants, royal uncles, and their own children. All of these facts and characters are woven together in a telling that is easy to follow and very captivating. Listening to this book brought imagery and people to life in my imagination and kept me eager to hear more.

The book is focused on these two together. The backstories and histories of each and of those around them enlighten and increase the understanding of their tale as a couple. However, the book ends with that same focus, telling only slightly of Victoria’s life after Albert’s death, and only as it related back to them as one. This is completely acceptable given the scope of the book. I personally truly loved this telling of their lives together and thought it was a wonderful way to share their story.

I guess she doesn't like Prince Albert

Read from March 27 to April 20, 2012

3.5 stars

Audiobook read by Rosalyn Landor (excellent reader). Started 3/27/12. Stopped listening 4/20/12 (after the chapter on the Great Exhibition). Gill is NOT a fan of Prince Albert and paints him as a power-hungry, controlling misogynist, quite different from Victoria's romanticized version. But it was good to hear about English society's negative view of him/the Great Exhibition.

without Rosalyn Landor's reading.......

This could have been a completely different review. It is very well written and relaxing to listen to......But: In a historical context I feel Gillian Gill glossed over the major power strugle that went on between them. Yes it was mentioned here and there but never really got into it. I feel that was a major issue and something that deserved more of a mere mention and then all of a sudden she can't pick out a dress or bonet without his approval. That is a complete 180 from a very willfull girl and strong albiet stubborn woman. Something major had to crack for her to change like that and I do not feel this book helps us understand more than most of us history nuts already know.

If your new to Victoria and Albert, this is a great place to start. If you already have read about them, skip it, this is just a gentle refresher.

Enjoy!