Queen Victoria · Chapters

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Chapter companions for Queen Victoria by Lytton Strachey.

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Chapter 1
Queen Victoria
A comprehensive overview of Queen Victoria's life, reign, and the transformation of the British monarchy during the 19th century, highlighting her personal relationships, political challenges, and the evolution of public perception.
Chapter 2
I: Antecedents
The chapter opens with the death of Princess Charlotte in 1817, the only legitimate heir to the British throne, plunging the succession into crisis. It recounts her unhappy upbringing, her failed engagement to the Prince of Orange, her brief affair with Prince Augustus, and her eventual marriage to Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg. The narrative then introduces Christian Friedrich Stockmar, Leopold's physician, who witnesses Charlotte's tragic death in childbirth. With the succession uncertain, the elderly and childless sons of George III scramble to produce an heir. The Duke of Kent, after a long relationship with Madame St. Laurent, marries Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (Leopold's sister), a widow with two children. The chapter closes with the birth of their daughter, the future Queen Victoria, in 1819, and the Duke's death shortly after.
Chapter 3
I
The chapter explores Queen Victoria's private life in her later years, focusing on her family dynamics, her devotion to Balmoral, and her unique relationship with John Brown. It details her handling of family affairs after King Leopold's death, her concerns over the Prince of Wales's conduct, and her reliance on John Brown as a personal attendant and emotional anchor, which sparked both devotion and controversy.
Chapter 4
Chapter II
This chapter details the transformation of Queen Victoria's later years, marked by personal tragedies, a shift in public sympathy, and her growing alignment with popular political sentiment. It covers the assassination attempts on her life, the legal changes they prompted, and her eventual public resurgence culminating in the Golden Jubilee.
Chapter 5
III
This chapter describes the final period of Queen Victoria's reign, characterized by her personal triumph and the nation's prosperity. It details her domestic life, her strict court etiquette, her evolving independence from the memory of Prince Albert, and her authoritative role within her family, including her tense relationship with the Prince of Wales. The chapter also touches on her involvement in a diplomatic family crisis involving the marriage of Prince Alexander of Battenberg and her confrontation with Bismarck.

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Queen Victoria

I: Antecedents

I

Chapter II

III