Renowned writer A N Wilson who authored the biography of 'Victoria: A Life' goes through exclusive archives to construct a touching portrait of Queen Victoria.
With readings from actress Anna Chancellor, Wilson goes through Queen Victoria's private writings and journals to guide us through every stage of the monarch's extraordinary life from a fatherless girl wanting emotional and physical closeness to a passionate wife thrown into widowhood and then as a widow revelling in new found freedoms. We even get to hear about the numerous attempts made on her life and how the Queen would defy any threats to herself.
Her relationship with her Prime Ministers and the Empire which bestowed the tile of Empress of India is examined even though she never went to India although she would later acquire male servants one of whom seemed to act in a remarkably familiar way. However she was a frequent visitor to Germany and enjoyed spending time there.
Some of the letters were destroyed by her descendants to maintain her image of purity and shield questions away from some of her male friendships such as John Brown.
Wilson as always is authoritative and engaging who makes what could had been a dusty programme interesting and shows us someone who was more strong, passionate and frivolous.
With readings from actress Anna Chancellor, Wilson goes through Queen Victoria's private writings and journals to guide us through every stage of the monarch's extraordinary life from a fatherless girl wanting emotional and physical closeness to a passionate wife thrown into widowhood and then as a widow revelling in new found freedoms. We even get to hear about the numerous attempts made on her life and how the Queen would defy any threats to herself.
Her relationship with her Prime Ministers and the Empire which bestowed the tile of Empress of India is examined even though she never went to India although she would later acquire male servants one of whom seemed to act in a remarkably familiar way. However she was a frequent visitor to Germany and enjoyed spending time there.
Some of the letters were destroyed by her descendants to maintain her image of purity and shield questions away from some of her male friendships such as John Brown.
Wilson as always is authoritative and engaging who makes what could had been a dusty programme interesting and shows us someone who was more strong, passionate and frivolous.