This 1991 English first edition, published by Basil Blackwell, offers an intimate and scholarly look at the formative years and reign of Queen Victoria, drawing extensively from her private journals and letters. The author, Monica Charlot, was a distinguished French historian and professor of British civilization who received international acclaim for her ability to humanize the sovereign while maintaining rigorous historical context. This volume is particularly significant for its focus on Victoria’s transition from a solitary childhood into a powerful monarch, balanced by the resilience she displayed during political crises and her complex relationship with Prince Albert. The book appears to be in very good condition, featuring a well-preserved hardcover with a vibrant blue dust jacket that shows only minor shelf wear along the edges, while the internal pages remain clean, crisp, and securely bound.