The Victorian Era: A Captivating Guide to the Life of Queen Victoria and an Era in the History of the United Kingdom Known for Its Hierarchy-Based Social Order (Exploring England's Past)

Book Review Written January 25, 2020The Victorian Era: A Captivating Guide to the Life of Queen Victoria and an Era in the History of the United Kingdom Known for Its Hierarchy-Based Social Order, By Captivating HistoryKindle Edition (122 Pages)This is a concise biography of Queen Victoria and a chronicle of the period she reigned in 19th Century Great Britain, commonly known as the Victorian Era. When Queen Victoria stepped onto the throne of Great Britain and Ireland in 1837, gone were the days when the monarch had supreme authority over the kingdom. Victoria ruled at the head of a government with which she was meant to converse, debate, and ultimately guide, and it was a job she sometimes struggled to perform. Victoria described herself as an emotional creature and blamed her gender for what she believed were her shortcomings as a monarch. The queen suffered emotionally during her childhood and also in the early part of her rule, but despite a few dramatic scandals at court, Victoria came to be loved and respected by the majority of her subjects across the vast British Empire. An unprecedented number of important social and economic changes occurred during Victoria’s 63-year reign, and that span of time has come to signify Britain’s coming of age into modern history. One of the most important changes experienced within Great Britain between 1837 and 1901 was a great population explosion. When Victoria was crowned, there were about 13.9 million Britons; by the time she died, there were an estimated 32.5 million. Historians attribute this sharp increase to modernized methods of medical treatment, sanitation, and social welfare, but each of those industries was far from perfection during the 19th century. Nevertheless, the birth rate increased and the mortality rate fell. During this era the British Empire burst onto the world stage ,extending from Scotland and England to Canada, India, Africa, and Australia, accepting no boundaries and no higher authority than itself. It was not only the World's first true Superpower, but also the largest empire in history. Victoria’s realm was the richest in Europe, as well as the first to industrialize. While capitalists and the aristocracy brought in more money than ever, the burden on Britain’s poor grew ever heavier. In the cities of the realm, people could find jobs in factories and receive a wage, but the working conditions were often horrifying and wages too small. Millions of poor people were rounded up and given jobs in workhouses where their labor was exchanged for meager meals and a spot in the warehouse to sleep. One might say that the underlying theme of the Victorian era was the search for a balance between tradition and modernity, Christianity and spirituality, and wealth and poverty.This book provides an excellent, straight forward narrative that is engaging and readily comprehensible. It's content is obviously well researched and is presented in a clear, informative, and well written manner, while maintaining an unbiased perspective. The biographical information about Victoria is supplemented by excerpts from a journal she maintained throughout her life and the author provides a number of keen insights into the personality of the reclusive Queen. Further, the author brings London and the people of Victoriaa's realm to life while providing s a wealth of information regarding social , economic, political, religious, and other cultural developments that emerged during the period. The chapters regarding the revolutionary changes in sanitation, Victorian interests in Spiritualism, Egyptology and the emergence of the Science Fiction genre were particularly fascinating, as well as revealing. This book provides the reader with a front row seat into the emergence of the modern world. I strongly recommend this book to any one that is at least a little curious about history or whom enjoys a good, nonfiction story, well told.. I really enjoyed this book because of the quality of the narrative and the information it provides.

This book covers a lot of material in 122 pages including references. It was a fascinating time and Queen Victoria was part of it directly of indirectly for 63 years as the queen of Great Britain. Although I had some general knowledge of those years this book went into some interesting and in some cases, strange events that took place. It was a good read with a lot of information and well worth it.

Very interesting and informative. Covers diverse subjects, yet concise enough as to avoid being burdensome.Highly recommended as an introduction to 19th century Britain.

First off I must declare that I don't read a lot of history books. I read this one because I have always been fascinated by the Victorian era especially literature and art.The book gave a good overview of the main topics of the Victorian age. I especially loved the chapters on literature and the occult.

This tome was well worth reading. It was one of the best in the series. It moved along quickly and held my interest.

A lot of interesting information, my husband and I enjoyed it very much, large print and a fairly quick read, each chapter stands on its own, so it’s easy to put down and pick up again.

While the period in question is commonly (and logically) called the 'Victorian Era' as she was queen for so long - she did not seem to actually DO anything. Then there were times while she was in mourning for lost loved ones when she was not even doing that.Odd how, for hundreds of years Britain (and other European countries) deemed is perfectly logical to just move into a foreign country, usually thousands of miles away, and just take it over!That said - the book covers a wide range of aspects during the Victorian Era in an easy-to-read format while imparting a plethora of interesting information.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Easy reading with such interesting information about the Victorian era. History class in school would have been so enjoyable if presented like this.

It's a great, easy to read 101 class on Victorian era. Totally recommend it to anyone who wants who doesn't know where to start

Das Heftchen - Buch ist es meiner Ansicht nach keins - gibt einfach nur einen Überblick über die Viktorianische Epoche, mit dem einen und bestenfalls anderem Detail.Es wirkt, als hätte jemand diverse Wikipedia-Einträge zusammengetragen (auch wenn dem so nicht ist, aber beim lesen entstand bei mir dieser Eindruck).4 Sterne weil für meine Zwecke passend, einen Stern Abzug da aus meiner Sicht überteuert.Vergleichbare Werke kosten normalerweise ~7,99.

A So-So read. Wasn't very much impressed.