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This book is a well-written, interesting biography of Queen Victoria's eldest daughter, Princess Victoria.
Contains an account of Kaiser Wilhelm II as a bouncing baby:
"I must tell you of my wonderful good fortune—I have actually seen this precious child in his father’s arms! You will ask me what this child of so many prayers and wishes is like. They say all babies are alike: I do not think so: this one has a beautiful complexion, pink and white, and the most lovely little hand ever seen! The nose rather large; the eyes were shut, which was as well, as the light was so strong. His happy father was holding him in his arms, and himself showed traces of all he has gone through at the time. The child was believed to be dead, so you may conceive the ecstasy of everyone at his first cry."
Awwwww. Shame how they grow up.
The Princess Royal's an intelligent, educated woman, who takes plenty of interest in life and good government and family. I liked this passage about her hobbies:
[T]he Princess drew and painted with real industry, now sketching the unequalled treasures of the past, now studying the effects of light or shade on the canals or in the square of St. Mark’s. The painter was astonished, not only at the Princess’s powers of technique, but also at her artistic sympathy and feeling. She seemed to know intuitively what would make a fine sketch. On the evening of her departure, he says, this artist Princess carried away with her an unforgettable picture. The Grand Canal was covered with a fleet of gondolas, each lighted with torches, while the full moon shed her radiance over the noble palaces and the Rialto Bridge.
She's also not anti-Semitic.
But perhaps the Crown Princess most surprised and offended her husband’s future subjects by her pro-Jewish attitude. In this she showed extraordinary courage and breadth of view. For example, she accepted the patronage of the Auerbach schools for the education of Jewish orphans, and that at a time when the whole of Berlin, from the great official world to the humblest tradesman, was taking part in the Judenhetze.
Later, her eldest son will win the 'definitely less anti-Semitic than Hitler' award by announcing that Kristallnacht made him feel for the first time ashamed to be a German.
She was only the Empress Frederick for a brief while before her husband died--approximately a hundred days. But throughout her life she was active, interested, and well-liked by many. This biography of her is an enjoyable read.
Contains an account of Kaiser Wilhelm II as a bouncing baby:
"I must tell you of my wonderful good fortune—I have actually seen this precious child in his father’s arms! You will ask me what this child of so many prayers and wishes is like. They say all babies are alike: I do not think so: this one has a beautiful complexion, pink and white, and the most lovely little hand ever seen! The nose rather large; the eyes were shut, which was as well, as the light was so strong. His happy father was holding him in his arms, and himself showed traces of all he has gone through at the time. The child was believed to be dead, so you may conceive the ecstasy of everyone at his first cry."
Awwwww. Shame how they grow up.
The Princess Royal's an intelligent, educated woman, who takes plenty of interest in life and good government and family. I liked this passage about her hobbies:
[T]he Princess drew and painted with real industry, now sketching the unequalled treasures of the past, now studying the effects of light or shade on the canals or in the square of St. Mark’s. The painter was astonished, not only at the Princess’s powers of technique, but also at her artistic sympathy and feeling. She seemed to know intuitively what would make a fine sketch. On the evening of her departure, he says, this artist Princess carried away with her an unforgettable picture. The Grand Canal was covered with a fleet of gondolas, each lighted with torches, while the full moon shed her radiance over the noble palaces and the Rialto Bridge.
She's also not anti-Semitic.
But perhaps the Crown Princess most surprised and offended her husband’s future subjects by her pro-Jewish attitude. In this she showed extraordinary courage and breadth of view. For example, she accepted the patronage of the Auerbach schools for the education of Jewish orphans, and that at a time when the whole of Berlin, from the great official world to the humblest tradesman, was taking part in the Judenhetze.
Later, her eldest son will win the 'definitely less anti-Semitic than Hitler' award by announcing that Kristallnacht made him feel for the first time ashamed to be a German.
She was only the Empress Frederick for a brief while before her husband died--approximately a hundred days. But throughout her life she was active, interested, and well-liked by many. This biography of her is an enjoyable read.
