Magnificent Obsession: Victoria, Albert and the Death That Changed the Monarchy
Helen Rappaport
Magnificent Obsession: Victoria, Albert and the Death That Changed the Monarchy
For the 150th anniversary of Albert's death, this book examines the circumstances leading up to it, the ritual of his funeral and obsequies, and offers new theories on what killed him. It will describe the overwhelming despondency of a country plunged into mourning: bells tolling, shops shuttered up, everyone - no matter how poor - clad in black. Albert's death and the Queen's demand for the most rigorous observance of mourning, while precipitating months of anxiety about its effect on business, also fostered an explosion in the funeral trade and mourning ephemera. The Whitby jet trade went into overdrive to cope with the demand for black jewellery. Over the next ten years, the Queen's single-handed mission to memorialise and commemorate her husband in perpetuity set in train plans for a range of artistic and cultural monuments that would transform the British landscape and set their visual stamp on the second half of her reign.
4.0 out of 5 based on 4 reviews
|
Omniscore:
|
| Classification |
Non-fiction |
| Genre |
History, Biography |
| Format |
Hardback |
| Pages |
352 |
| RRP |
£20.00 |
| Date of Publication |
November 2011 |
| ISBN |
978-0091931544 |
| Publisher |
Hutchinson |
| |
For the 150th anniversary of Albert's death, this book examines the circumstances leading up to it, the ritual of his funeral and obsequies, and offers new theories on what killed him. It will describe the overwhelming despondency of a country plunged into mourning: bells tolling, shops shuttered up, everyone - no matter how poor - clad in black. Albert's death and the Queen's demand for the most rigorous observance of mourning, while precipitating months of anxiety about its effect on business, also fostered an explosion in the funeral trade and mourning ephemera. The Whitby jet trade went into overdrive to cope with the demand for black jewellery. Over the next ten years, the Queen's single-handed mission to memorialise and commemorate her husband in perpetuity set in train plans for a range of artistic and cultural monuments that would transform the British landscape and set their visual stamp on the second half of her reign.
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Reviews
The Daily Express
Juliet Barker
"Magnificent Obsession is that rare creature; a scholarly book that wears its learning lightly and is written with clarity and insight. It is a fascinating subject and an even better read: a model of its kind."
27/11/2011
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The Daily Mail
AN Wilson
"Brilliant … Rappaport explodes the usual diagnosis of typhoid fever as cause of death, making out a strong case for his having suffered from the inflammatory bowel condition Crohn’s disease."
17/11/2011
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The Spectator
Jane Ridley
"Rappaport uses new sources to give a vivid account of Albert’s death … I would have liked a little more probing of Victoria’s pathological condition. Her extraordinary outbursts of grief suggest unresolved conflicts in her relationship with Albert which could interestingly have been explored ... Rappaport has written a valuable and insightful book which will change our view of Queen Victoria."
03/12/2011
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The Sunday Times
Miranda Seymour
"Fair-minded, thoughtful and rich in social detail, Rappaport’s book suffers only from her failure to consider what it was in Victoria’s nature that required such public displays of sorrow. She accuses her of narcissism; I wish she’d searched for deeper answers in the diaries and letters of the passionate, volatile, terrifying woman who survived bereavement to preside, alone, over an empire for almost half a century."
06/11/2011
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