Description
Book SynopsisQueen Victoria fell in love with the Riviera when she discovered it on her first visit to Menton in 1882 and her enchantment with this 'paradise of nature' endured for almost twenty years. Victoria's visits helped to transform the French Riviera by paving the way for other European royalty, the aristocracy and the very rich, who were to turn it into their pleasure garden. Michael Nelson paints a fascinating portrait of Victoria and her dealings with local people of all classes, statesmen and the constant stream of visiting crown heads. In the process, we see an unexpected side to Victoria: not the imperious, petulant, mourning widow but rather an exuberant girlish old lady thrilled by her surroundings. "Queen Victoria and the Discovery of the Riviera" is an absorbing and revealing account that makes an important contribution to both our understanding of Victoria's character and personality and our view of the late Victorian period.
Trade Review"Michael Nelson fully appreciates the subtle relationships between the private and the public, even in the life of imperial sovereigns, and his highly readable book will interest different kinds of readers. For me it is rich in texture as, I believe, it will be for them." Asa Briggs "A distinctly original contribution to the studies of Queen Victoria. Those sections covering the extraordinary people the Queen met on the Riviera are most moving and human." Elizabeth Longford"
Table of ContentsList of illustrations Foreword Acknowledgements Note on text Map of the French Riviera Introduction 1 Prologue: The Queen's delight with France 2 1882: Menton. The first visit to the paradise of nature 3 1887: Cannes. A pilgrimage to mourn the death of son Leopold 4 1891: Grasse. The Rothschild gardens and Duleep Singh's confession 5 1892: Hyeres: The Royal Resort 6 1895: Nice. The young officers and the Battle of Flowers 7 1896: Nice. Royal visitors, including King Leopold of the Belgians 8 1897: Nice. The courtiers revolt over the Munshi 9 1898: Nice. The agonies of King Leopold's daughters 10 1899: Nice. The Fashoda Incident threatens the visit 11 Epilogue: The cancelled visit
Note on the Queen's journal Notes Chronology Selected Dramatis Personae Bibliography Index
