A Most English Princess: A Novel of Queen Victoria's Daughter

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"In this sweeping, immersive novel, Clare McHughdraws readers into the mesmerizing world of the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria Princess Vicky as she emerges into a powerful force in her own right and ascends to become the first German Empress. Marie Benedict, New York Times bestselling author of The Only Woman in the Room

Perfect for fans of the BBC's Victoria, Alison Pataki's The Accidental Empress, and Daisy Goodwin's Victoria,this debut novel tells the gripping and tragic story of Queen Victorias eldest daughter, Victoria, Princess Royal.

To the world, she was Princess Victoria, daughter of a queen, wife of an emperor, and mother of Kaiser Wilhelm. Her family just called her Vicky...smart, pretty, and self-assured, she changed the course of the world.

January 1858: Princess Victoria glides down the aisle of St James Chapel to the waiting arms of her beloved, Fritz, Prince Frederick, heir to the powerful kingdom of Prussia. Although theirs is no mere political match, Vicky is determined that she and Fritz will lead by example, just as her parents Victoria and Albert had done, and also bring about a liberal and united Germany.

Brought up to believe in the rightness of her cause, Vicky nonetheless struggles to thrive in the constrained Prussian court, where each day she seems to take a wrong step. And her status as the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria does little to smooth over the conflicts she faces.

Buthandsome, gallant Fritz is always by her side, as they navigate court intrigue, and challenge the cunning Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, while fighting for the throneand the soul of a nation. At home they endure tragedy, including their son, Wilhelm, rejecting all they stand for.

Clare McHugh tells the enthralling and riveting story of Victoria, the Princess Royalfrom her younger years as the apple of her father Albert's eyes through her rise to power atop the mighty German empire to her final months of life.

Reviews

"A rich indulgence!" People "In this sweeping, immersive novel, Clare McHughdraws readers into the mesmerizing world of the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria Princess Vicky as she emerges into a powerful force in her own right and ascends to become the first German Empress. Marie Benedict, New York Times bestselling author of The Only Woman in the Room "With an impeccable attention to research, sense of place, and filled with relatable characters, A Most English Princesswill sweep you away. A literary triumph with flavors of Daphne du Maurier, Edith Wharton, and Downton Abbey, this novel is poised to become a favorite for historical fiction lovers." Armando Lucas Correa, bestselling author ofThe German GirlandThe Daughter's Tale "The strength of one woman, Crown Princess Victoria, to influence the path of European history during turbulenttimes is striking in this stunning debut from Clare McHugh." Geri Krotow, bestselling author "The eldest daughter of Queen Victoria and mother of Kaiser Wilhelm, Princess Vicky deserves a novel of her own. Brimming withluxurious detail and vicious court intrigue, this is both a splendid portrait of a royal marriage and a woman whose dreams fell prey to the darkness of German history." Mariah Fredericks, author of Death of an American Beauty

Author Bio

Born in London, Clare McHugh grew up in the United States. She also grew up fascinated by this story as her great-grandfather was a coachman who actually drove Vicky's brother, the King of England, and her son, Kaiser Wilhelm. Clare went to Harvard, studied Bismarck, and taught high school history, before becoming a newspaper reporter at The New York Post. She served most recently as the Senior Director of Editorial Operations for Time Inc's News and Lifestyle brands, 12 in total, including Time, Fortune, Money, Real Simple, Essence, Southern Living, Travel & Leisure, and Food & Wine. In that capacity, she was responsible for an editorial staff of over 250 people. Married to a fellow editor, she now works as consultant to a number of prominent media companies in New York City and has two grown children. This is her first novel.