This is the romantic story of a queen's heart and a nation's destiny, and of the fierce conflict between love and duty. Few rulers were ever so worshipped, so imitated. No woman lived a more endearing love story.

At eighteen, when Victoria became queen, she displayed an amazing maturity in her understanding of her overwhelming responsibilities. She was thrilled by the glitter of society, loved the late dances and quickly became a favorite in international court circles. But she worked as hard as she played, demanding a voice in the government, keeping her fingers on the pulse of politics, and winning the loyal support of all of her subjects.

When her German cousin, Prince Albert, came to visit she fell in love with the tall, handsome young man, and though the idea of proposing — since she was the Queen — was distasteful, her greater fear was that he might not accept her. But he did — and madly in love she changed from an imperious monarch to a humble, adoring wife. She wore the crown but Albert was definitely head of the family. He became secretary, advisor and power-behind-the throne. In twenty-one happy years they raised nine children.

When Albert died, Victoria wrote "The world is gone for me." Grief-stricken she refused public appearances, avoided London. Her people were angry at Victoria for evading her responsibilities and finally Prime Minister Disraeli who had said "with Prince Albert we have buried our sovereign," made her realize that personal life was secondary to her role as Queen. Victoria's sixtieth year on the throne was celebrated as a Diamond Jubilee and she was universally mourned when she died four years later at the age of eighty-two.

Molly Costain Haycraft, following in the footsteps of her famous father, Thomas Costain, writes dramatically of people and historical events; her biography of Queen Victoria combines historical accuracy with a quickly-paced story that reads like a romantic novel.

From the book