An Indiscreet Princess : A Novel of Queen Victoria's Defiant Daughter #Review

 

In Georgia Blalock's An Indiscreet Princess, we travel back into Queen Victoria's reign, and to the life of Princess Louise.

As the fourth daughter of the perpetually in-mourning Queen Victoria, Princess Louise’s life is more a gilded prison than a fairy tale. Expected to sit quietly next to her mother with down-cast eyes, Louise vows to escape the stultifying royal court. Blessed with beauty, artistic talent, and a common touch, she creates a life outside the walled-in existence of the palace grounds by attending the National Art Training School—where she shockingly learns to sculpt nude models while falling passionately in love with famed sculptor Joseph Edgar Boehm.

But even as Louise cultivates a life outside the palace, she is constantly reminded that even royal rebels must heed the call of duty—and for a princess that means marriage. Refusing to leave England, she agrees to a match with the Duke of Argyll, and although her heart belongs to another, she is determined to act out her public role perfectly, even if her private life teeters on the brink of scandal. But when a near fatal accident forces Louise back under her mother’s iron rule, she realizes she must choose: give in to the grief of lost love or find the strength to fight for her unconventional life.

My Thoughts

 This well researched novel takes a look at the family life of Queen Victoria in the later years of her reign, when she was living in seclusion yet seeking to control the lives of her adult children. The central character is Princess Louise, who feel her life is constrained by the Victorian court and who seeks to  find fulfilment through her love of sculpture and drawing. With an independent spirit, she seems in some ways to have aspirations from a more modern time and has to reconcile how she can live the life of a Princess and follow her desires. The contrast between the life in a royal court and the artistic scene is striking.

    There are some unexpected similarities between Louise and her mother, Victoria, and the relationships between the siblings add layers to the story. Appearances can be deceptive and the public and private lives are often a contrasting experience. For women, marriage was a way of gaining some independence but for Louise, this is not a total solution as her mother's expectations remain. You are clearly shown how constricted Louise and her siblings are because of their royal rank. Nevertheless, you get a real feel for an independent and forward thinking princess.

In short: victorian court life comes alive

About the Author

Georgie Blalock is an amateur historian and movie buff who loves combining her different passions through historical fiction, and a healthy dose of period piece films. When not writing, she can be found prowling the non-fiction history section of the library or the British film listings on Netflix. Georgie writes historical romance under the name Georgie Lee. 

You can follow Georgie here: Website

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Book link: Amazon UK

Thanks to Georgie Blalock,  and Anne Cater of Random Things Tours for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.

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