Play Audiobook Sample
A Magnificent Obsession: Victoria, Albert, and the Death That Changed the British Monarchy Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(3.05) - 217 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
After the untimely death of Prince Albert, the Queen and her nation were plunged into a state of grief so profound that this one event would dramatically alter the shape of the British monarchy. For Britain had not just lost a prince: during his twenty year marriage to Queen Victoria, Prince Albert had increasingly performed the function of King in all but name. The outpouring of grief after Albert's death was so extreme, that its like would not be seen again until the death of Princess Diana one hundred and thirty-six years later.
Drawing on many letters, diaries and memoirs from the Royal Archives and other neglected sources, as well as the newspapers of the day, Helen Rappaport offers a new perspective on this compelling historical psychodrama—the crucial final months of the prince's life and the first long, dark ten years of the Queen's retreat from public view. She draws a portrait of a queen obsessed with her husband and—after his death—with his enduring place in history. Magnificent Obsession also sheds new light on the true nature of the prince's chronic physical condition, overturning for good the one hundred and fifty-year-old myth that he died of typhoid fever.
Download and start listening now!
"Splendidly researched and written. Imparts a deep understanding of the way in which Albert and Victoria inter-related, a detailed account of Albert's death and a very plausible differential diagnosis for his final and fatal affliction - the reason he died so young. Finally, the book goes into extreme detail concerning the way her greatly beloved's death affected one of the greatest queens the world has ever known - the devastating and catastrophic effect it had on a woman left alone to do a job she felt she could not handle, and the way in which she rose above all the ensuing confusion to become a truly great queen who lent her name to a whole era. Amazing."
— Christine (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
-
Absorbing account of the making of a queen through her awful, protracted grief.
— Kirkus
A Magnificent Obsession Listener Reviews
-
" Well-written informative read. Most interesting was the speculation on what actually killed Prince Albert. I very much liked that it acknowledged that the conclusion the author drew (pneumonia brought on by a flare up of Crohn's disease)was indeed speculation and didn't treat this idea as fact. "
— Amy, 2/3/2014 -
" Very interesting take on the effect on England, and his family, of Prince Albert's influence before & after his death. There has been so much written on this queen, and this book takes a very human view of the royal family, the prime ministers of the era and the common folk. very enjoyable. "
— Jule, 1/24/2014 -
" A really interesting look at the relationship between Queen Victoria and her husband Albert, Prince Consort and how his unexpected death impacted the whole royal court. I did not know much about Victoria's reign and the time period so this book was intensely interesting. Written in a narrative fashion, it makes for an easy enjoyable read if you like history. "
— Jessica, 1/17/2014 -
" The writing is rather bland, but it's an interesting examination of Victoria's withdrawal from public life due to her excessive grief over Albert's death. It does get a bit tedious after a while, though. "
— David, 1/12/2014 -
" What the author thinks Prince Albert really died of, what he had actually accomplished in his life, the way Victoria mourned him and all the memorials she built in his honor. Old Vicky did not handle things very well. Good book, very well researched. "
— Laura, 12/25/2013 -
" For not being a big history buff, I really liked this book. It is very well written, which made it hard to put down. I am looking forward to reading tho other books by Helen Rappaport. The only thing I missed was actually seeing the photo insert. It would have been nice to see the pics. "
— Tammy, 10/30/2013 -
" I came away from this book not liking Queen Victoria at all. What a selfish, deluded woman. I was, however, very interested in what happened to her daughters which proved to be a fascinating story on its own. "
— Bethany, 8/31/2013 -
" Excellent detailed history of Victoria and Albert, not dry at all. In fact, the royal couple, their children, and those around them were, to my great pleasure, brought to life in anecdote and factual narrative. Still, I did skim parts - I'm always impatient for the "good" parts. "
— Renee, 7/4/2013 -
" Very, very interesting. Totally gave me a different perspective of the Victorian age. "
— Marita, 5/2/2013 -
" Having a great love and interest in everything Victoria and Albert, I enjoyed this book very much. It might be a little much for someone with a mild or beginner's interest. "
— Jennifer, 9/10/2012 -
" Very good book and very educational. It is a true biography and is fully referenced. The ARC did not have any pictures but the hardcover version in stores does. This is an excellent lesson in this period in history and I recommend it. "
— Trish, 9/6/2012
About Helen Rappaport
Helen Rappaport is the author of a number of historical works. She studied Russian at Leeds University and is a specialist in Russian and Victorian history. Her book The Romanov Sisters was a New York Times bestseller. She was an actress who appeared on British TV and in films until the early 1990s, and then focused on writing. In 2003 she discovered and purchased an 1869 portrait of Mary Seacole that now hangs in the National Portrait Gallery, sparking a long investigation into Seacole's life and career. A fluent Russian speaker and a specialist in Russian history and nineteenth-century women's history, she has become well known as a Russian translator in the theater and has translated all seven of Anton Chekhov's plays.
About Wanda McCaddon
Wanda McCaddon (d. 2023) narrated well over six hundred titles for major audiobook publishers, sometimes with the pseudonym Nadia May or Donada Peters. She earned the prestigious Audio Award for best narration and numerous Earphones Awards. She was named a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine.