The Queen and I

A Magnificent Obsession
Helen Rappaport
History

I’m not sure when I started getting into history books as recreational reading, but it definitely started sometime in college (probably after I took that American History class and got one of my very few As at the end of the semester). Needless to say, I’m not a certain period snob, either. I love reading about everything—the American Civil War, both World Wars, the Renaissance era…you name it and give me an interesting book on the subject and I’ll read it. So when I saw this book, read the awesome title, and realized it was about English Royalty? I was in, baby. All in.

A Magnificent Obsession is about Queen Victoria and her obsessive, undying love for her beloved husband (and cousin), Prince Albert. According to the author, Helen Rappaport, much has been written about Victoria and Albert’s love story and about Victoria’s legacy after he died, but not much information has been given about the period of time starting from Albert’s decline until about ten years after his death. This book delves into all that, leaving no detail unturned.

I struggle sometimes with history books. I am a dialogue person, through and through. When I start reading a page, my eyes immediately go to the white parts because that’s where the action is usually happening. So reading these kinds of books is hard for me, especially if they’re really dense and dull. Thankfully, this book was not. Despite the lack of dialogue, I found myself intrigued. Rappaport gives an in-depth, fascinating look at a Queen whose entire life hinged on her husband and when he died, she fell apart. And while Prince Albert did not feel entirely comfortable living up to his wife’s worshipful image of him, he pulled the strings behind the scenes. She wanted his opinion and advice on everything when it came to running the country. Victoria was what we would call these days coda. As in co-dependent. One part of the book quotes her as saying she could barely stand her kids, always preferring the company of her husband. Where was a good marriage counselor when you needed one?

Rappaport uses letters and historical documents from Victoria and Albert, as well as their children, friends, colleagues, and subjects to paint a picture of a devastating time for England and Europe. Her writing is tight and crisp and she creates tension nicely while building to Albert’s death. History buffs and English enthusiasts in general will like this book. And if they don’t? Off with their heads! Or maybe, since they'd stopped doing beheadings by then, off to the dungeon!