Life With Queen Victoria: Marie Mallet's Letters From Court, 1887-1901 By Victor Mallet
Life With Queen Victoria: Marie Mallet's Letters From Court, 1887-1901 By Victor Mallet
Hardcover
ISBN 719517834
Publisher: John Murray 1968
Used-Very Good+, The DJ has some limited signs of wear and tear. Internally clean,foxing of pages,excellent binding,no inscriptions. The book is now protected with a cellophane cover.
"When Marie Adeane was first appointed a Maid-of-Honor to Queen Victoria in 1887, she was expressly told she must not keep a journal. From the very start, however, she wrote long letters to her mother, a former lady-in-waiting, and later to her husband, Bernard Mallet, A.J. Balfour's private secretary. Marie's trained artist's eye and quick wit produced a series of brilliant sketches of life in the royal households at home and abroad, showing that beyond doubt the court circle was far from 'Victorian.' The clowning and dramatics of Alick Yorke, the 'psychological experiment,' the music, the hazardous bicycling--these were background to the visits of Royalties and famous public figures, and the formal routine. And woe to anyone, however exalted, who did not know how to behave--his shortcomings were quickly noted! Woe, too, to the ladies of the court who were expected to keep pace with the Queen's iron constitution, whether by trotting in snowstorms behind her chaise, by racing through sumptuous meals, or by being on duty at all hours. Yet while keeping an eagle eye on matters domestic, political or foreign, the aging Victoria remained a much-loved center of all activities, never failing to display humanity and personal thoughtfulness to her staff. Her interest in her godson--editor of these priceless letters--is characteristic. When at last the Queen died and the new court came to Windsor, it was for Marie not only the end of an epoch but of a very intimate friendship."
