Synopsis:
Perfect for fans of the BBC’s Victoria, Alison Pataki’s The Accidental Empress, and Daisy Goodwin’s Victoria, this debut novel tells the gripping and tragic story of Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter, Victoria, Princess Royal.
To the world, she was Princess Victoria, daughter of a queen, wife of an emperor, and mother of Kaiser Wilhelm. Her family just called her Vicky…smart, pretty, and self-assured, she changed the course of the world.
January 1858: Princess Victoria glides down the aisle of St James Chapel to the waiting arms of her beloved, Fritz, Prince Frederick, heir to the powerful kingdom of Prussia. Although theirs is no mere political match, Vicky is determined that she and Fritz will lead by example, just as her parents Victoria and Albert had done, and also bring about a liberal and united Germany.
Brought up to believe in the rightness of her cause, Vicky nonetheless struggles to thrive in the constrained Prussian court, where each day she seems to take a wrong step. And her status as the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria does little to smooth over the conflicts she faces.
But handsome, gallant Fritz is always by her side, as they navigate court intrigue, and challenge the cunning Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, while fighting for the throne—and the soul of a nation. At home they endure tragedy, including their son, Wilhelm, rejecting all they stand for.
Clare McHugh tells the enthralling and riveting story of Victoria, the Princess Royal—from her younger years as the apple of her father Albert’s eyes through her rise to power atop the mighty German empire to her final months of life.
Rating: 4-stars
Review:
A Most English Princess by Clare McHugh is fascinating historical novel. It instantly took me back in history. A time of troubling conflict between countries and a young female ruler having to deal with them all. It’s not easy being a princess. With it, comes hard times, politics, and enough drama to last a life time. This book is perfect for fans of Queen Victoria and Downton Abbey. I loved how this writer, Clare McHugh, brought history to life in this novel. It was amazing. The details and characterization for a project like this is a tough one and she did well. I loved the powerful tale that was similar to Queen Victoria’s story. Her daughter, the princess, is now having to navigate through the the same type of political messes as her mother and father once treaded. Royalty is no walk in the park. But these characters make duty, love, and honor look like a piece of cake. I could not get enough of this drama nor the tensions that ran high. Overall, this piece was well-researched and entertaining.
Urban Book Reviews 