Looks like an interesting book about Queen Victoria

[KB]

Didn't realize she survived 8 assassination attempts!

Paul Thomas Murphy used to teach “a variety of disciplines” at the University of Colorado, Boulder. I would like to have been taught by him. He’s the most free-spirited of scholars. “Shooting Victoria” rambles uninhibitedly and learnedly through 19th-century history into literature, penology, constitutional theory and even ballistics, stimulating highly topical thoughts along the way.

Victoria’s 63-year reign brought about what Murphy sees as the now familiar “redefinition” of the British monarchy: “The royal weddings, the Jubilees, the walkabouts and openings, the triumphal appearances on the royal balcony are Victorian creations.” Victorian, that is, both in terms of the period and the character of the indomitable little woman who created Britain’s modern, exceptionally serviceable royal institution.

Victoria did it at considerable personal risk. There were eight attempts on her life between 1840 and 1882. She survived, and, more important, the British monarchy survived. Its triumphant durability was evident to the world on June 3, 2012: Diamond Jubilee Sunday and the great London river pageant. A downpour of St. Swithin’s Day glumness did not prevent a million loyal “subjects” from lining the Thames to cheer their queen to the echo. Would they, the British press sardonically inquired, have turned out to be soaked for Herman Van Rompuy, the president of the European Council?

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/29/bo..._r=1&src=rechp

[Kiiski]

Didn't realize she survived 8 assassination attempts!

Victoria’s 63-year reign brought about what Murphy sees as the now familiar “redefinition” of the British monarchy: “The royal weddings, the Jubilees, the walkabouts and openings, the triumphal appearances on the royal balcony are Victorian creations.” Victorian, that is, both in terms of the period and the character of the indomitable little woman who created Britain’s modern, exceptionally serviceable royal institution.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/29/bo..._r=1&src=rechp

Haven't read that one.

One that I have and would recommend to readers of the forum is "Victorias War's" by Saul David.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Victorias-Wa.../dp/0670911380

It tells the stories of Britains wars from Crimea to China starting from Victoria's coronation (1838) to the death of her husband, Prince Albert (1861).

The book claims that many of her early successes (and those of Britain) were due to the brilliance of her husband (a German prince and her cousin as well).
Some quotes in the book (including one by Prime Minister Disraeli) are quite convincing.

Well, who wouldn't want a German as Chief of staff

[23EightySix]

Haven't read that one.

One that I have and would recommend to readers of the forum is "Victorias War's" by Saul David.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Victorias-Wa.../dp/0670911380

It tells the stories of Britains wars from Crimea to China starting from Victoria's coronation (1838) to the death of her husband, Prince Albert (1861).

The book claims that many of her early successes (and those of Britain) were due to the brilliance of her husband (a German prince and her cousin as well).
Some quotes in the book (including one by Prime Minister Disraeli) are quite convincing.

Well, who wouldn't want a German as Chief of staff

Hmm. Why does the UK amazon have the kindle version while the US does not?

[pocoloco]

That's a great read Kiiski, I have had the book for years already. There is also "Queen Victoria´s Little Wars" by Byron Farwell of the same subject matter, it even seems that Saul David has copied the idea for his book from Farwell. Some of the British soldiers depicted in the book are tough as nails, one chap manages to get wounded in every tour/campaing he takes part in, for example.

I guess "Eminent Victorian Soldiers: Seekers of Glory" would provide more insight to the era´s soldiering.