A Victorian Love Story

The 2009 film The Young Victoria
is a lush and lovely portrayal of the
relationship between Victoria and Albert.

Writing historical romance is one of my favorite endeavors because it means that I get to spend a good deal of my time reading about the Victorian era. Obviously love stories of the era draw my particular attention. When I considered this month’s blog theme of favorite love story or romance, I couldn’t help think of the many Victorian couples I have read about during my research. One among them necessarily stands out.

Queen Victoria and her Prince Consort, Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, were the Victorian era’s power couple. In terms of setting cultural standards, social standing, and literal power, they were the couple to watch. As an eighteen-year-old queen, many vied for Victoria’s hand and there were two main contenders: her cousin Albert and Prince Alexander of the Netherlands. On visits to her court, Albert made a lasting impression. No one can blame her for preferring the handsomer of the two front runners. In letters to her uncle, Victoria enthused over her choice, saying that Albert had every quality necessary to make her happy and added that he had “the most pleasing and delightful exterior and appearance you can possibly see."

The famous 1846 Winterhauer portrait of Queen Victoria,
 Prince Consort Albert, two of their sons, and three of their daughters.

Victoria kept a diary and wrote in it nearly every day of her life, which is a rich boon for historians. Most of her entries are pretty tame and detail the mundane and repetitive activities of daily life. However, her entry after her wedding night is the stuff of romance novels. She writes that she “NEVER, NEVER spent such an evening!!!” The capitalization and exclamation marks are all those of the twenty-year-old queen.

By all accounts, the royal marriage was one of close companionship and sincere affection. Albert became a key advisor and powerful influence on Victoria during the early decades of her reign. Though he was initially unpopular with the British public, the tide eventually turned and the relationship between the queen and her prince became an iconic symbol, a shining example of ideal love. Their marriage was a fruitful one too, with nine children born during the first seventeen years of their marriage.  Tragically, four years after the birth of their ninth child in 1861 Albert contracted typhoid fever and died, leaving Victoria a widow at just forty-one years old.

Albert in 1842, two years
 after his marriage to Victoria.

Queen Victoria was devastated by the loss of her husband, lover, friend, and closest confidante. She wore black for the reminder of her days and significantly reduced her public appearances after Albert’s death. Some criticized her continuing seclusion, and the popularity of the monarchy waned among the British public. However, Victoria continued on the throne until the turn of the century, becoming the longest reigning British monarch in history. She ruled for six decades, but she only had Albert by her side for twenty-one of those years.

The love story of Victoria and Albert is such a compelling one, not just because it was so visible and emblematic of the era, but because it includes all of the hallmarks of a great romance: attraction, passion, a successful partnership, and commitment that endures despite the pressures and challenges of life. So many marriages of the Victorian era, particularly those among the wealthy or titled, were arranged for social and material gain. Marriage for love alone was a rarity. In Albert, Victoria managed to find a husband (she proposed to him) that both satisfied the expectations of others and also answered the desires of her heart.

www.christycarlyle.com

Are there any love stories from history that particularly inspire you?

Women of Influence

Judith Ashley

This month, Genre-istas are blogging about ‘women of  influence’. Linda Lovely suggested the topic and I’m looking forward to reading each one. Here’s my contribution with help from my friend, Judith Hobbs.

Growing up, the women in my life who were not relatives were teachers. When we got a television in the-50’s I remember Betty Furness in the commercial for a kitchen product. Not sure if it was Westinghouse, GE, Frigidaire…but I clearly remember her standing by the appliance and telling all women watching about its features.

There were no women news anchors or reporters.

There were no women principles or superintendents in the schools.

There were no women/girls sports in school.

I never saw a woman doctor or dentist until much later in my life.

So where were the women who influenced me?

I had a couple of teachers, Mrs. Good and Miss Hutchinson are names I remember but they were not the only women teachers I admired, looked up to, and who influenced my decision to become a teacher. Do you know how hard it is to learn to spell Llewellyn when you are in the first grade?

The heroines in the books I read. The princess in the tower waiting for her shining knight to rescue her (a lovely fantasy that provided lots of day dreams but in my real life he’s not shown up … yet).

The real life heroines: Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Victoria, Joan of Arc, Pocahontas come to mind. I remember reading Marie Curie’s biography and crying at the end. She struggled in the male dominated world of science and research. In some ways we’ve not progressed as far as I’d like. Think the Lily Ledbetter Law…

Political heroines? Barbara Jordan, Barbara Boxer, Nancy Pelosi, and other women who breached the all-male world of Congress as well as local women in politics. My home town has had women mayors and my home state has had a woman governor as well as women in other high ranking offices. Then there is Hilary Clinton: a political spouse, a U.S. Senator, and currently Secretary of State, and a former candidate for President of The United States.

Gloria Steinem and other women of the 70’s and 80’s brought women’s issues into the headlines. 

While I don’t remember her name, it was a woman who founded MADD. Due to the efforts of that organization and the laws they’ve championed, thousands of people are alive today.

While it is true I grew up in a male dominated world (my career options were teacher, nurse, secretary, beautician, wife/mother), there were women close to home whose influence I’ve come to appreciate. My mother put her dreams on hold forever when she married my father. So many women of her generation did because that was what was expected. It took me a very long time to see the sacrifice she made for her husband’s career and her children’s lives.

I’ve long-lived aunts (one is 103), who’ve shown me through the daily living of their lives how to age with grace and gratitude.

I’ve friends who’ve overcome enormous odds in their childhoods and adult lives to be special people because of or in spite of their backgrounds.

And lastly, my granddaughters, age 16 and 22, influence me by showing me a different world than the one I grew up in. They invite me into their diverse, tolerant worlds where they see a bright future full of many different options. Career choices? There is very little closed to them if they want it and are willing to work for it. It isn’t unusual for me to wonder ‘what if’ about my own life after spending time with them, listening to them chatter with friends about their lives.

I find this time of year to be one of reflection – grey cloudy days often with wind and rain – days to sit by a fire with a good book or in front of the computer writing one. When I look back over my life I see the influence of many women - at different times, through different experiences, for different reasons. And I know my life is richer because of them.

On this day (11/01/2012) I’m adding a P.S. to honor a man who influenced my life in so many ways. Elmo B. Lambert died on 10/16/2012. He was 72. We shared the same birth date (the 19^th) and grew up listening to the same music. Severely injured when he was 20, confined to a wheelchair, dependent on others for food, shelter, clothing, hygiene, etc., he lived a full life in many ways. He was always focused on the people around him and while, due to a head injury, his memory was very poor, he’d remember the people who helped him and cared for him. His laugh was infectious and even when his speech was intelligible, those of us around him would be laughing with him. Elmo was my first private care management client, my first ward as a professional guardian and over 31+ years, we formed a tight-knit team. He taught me many things during our time together. I miss him as a person and I miss all he stood for in my life. Rest In Peace, Elmo.

www.JudithAshleyRomance.com

www.JudithAshley.blogspot.com

www.FreeReadsFromTheGenre-istas.blogspot.com

© 11/2012 Judith Ashley

Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee

When it came to celebrations, the Victorians knew how to do it with maximum pomp and some serious circumstance. In particular, any celebration related to the British monarchy was always attended with maximum fanfare. They still are, in fact. How many of us tuned in recently to watch the lavish and romantic wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton?

It’s good to be king. Or a prince, for that matter. And, as a monarch, what could be a better reason to celebrate than to mark the fact that you have held the British throne longer than any other king or queen? In June of 1897, Queen Victoria did just that. She and the rest of Britain celebrated her Diamond Jubilee to mark sixty years on the throne.

How did they celebrate? For starters, Queen Victoria rode in a lovely carriage pulled by cream-colored horses in a grand processional that went from Buckingham Palace, through London, and ended at St. Paul’s Cathedral. At seventy-eight years old, the queen found it difficult to walk and it was decided the service should be held outside so that she did not have to maneuver the cathedral’s steps. After the cathedral, a lavish luncheon was held at Buckingham Palace for royals and dignitaries.  

Over the two days of the Jubilee, various celebrations were held throughout the country and Queen Victoria made several official visits where she gave out medals, listened to school children sing, and was presented with a poem written for her by England's poet laureate of the time. Bonfires were lit around the country and it is difficult to imagine that anyone failed to join in the celebration.

Queen Victoria seemed to confirm this when she wrote in her diary of her processional and the air of celebration she witnessed.:

“No one ever, I believe, has met with such an ovation as was given to me, passing through those 6 miles of streets, including Constitution Hill. The crowds were quite indescribable and their enthusiasm truly marvellous and deeply touching. The cheering was quite deafening and every face seemed to be filled with joy.”

Wish you could share in the pomp and jubilation of a Diamond Jubilee but don't have a time machine handy? You’re in luck! There is another British monarch who has sat on the throne for sixty years. Hint: She is also a woman. 

This year Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her Diamond Jubiliee. Take even a quick peek at British newspapers right now and you’ll see that folks are pretty excited about the second Diamond Jubilee. Though the central weekend for celebrations will be June 2-5, there are also events and visits planned by Queen Elizabeth and other members of the royal family throughout the year. Remember, this is also a very special year for London because the Olympics will be kicking off there soon. 

Lots to celebrate in Britain!

You can find out more about QueenElizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee here. If you’re a lover of history, Victorian in particular, you can find out more about Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee here.

You can even watch footage of Queen Victoria’s processional!

Which official celebration, inauguration, or the like, now or in the past, would you like to attend? Personally, I'd love to witness a royal wedding first hand.

A Little Present for The Holidays

Welcome to my December post for Romancing the Genres. As a small holiday present I thought I'd share some of my writing with you. It's not very often that I get to do something of this magnitude with my writing. Yet. The little excerpt is from my completed manuscript, which I am shopping around.

Phoenix Warriors: The Key of Magic is set within 1880. In my alternate history world, Prince Albert has survived his bout of Typhoid Fever and has come to rule alongside Queen Victoria.

"That's an airship." Callie couldn't believe her luck.
She stood on the ground staring up at the delightful invention outlined against the full moon. It stood as tall as the old sailing ships the Royal Navy used to use with their tall masts and sails. The airship was much like those ships on the bottom. But it was the top part of the machine that amazed her the most. It was like a giant puffy blue cloud against the dark night sky. The material ruffled in the wind for a second before a blast of heat blew the slack material taut.
"Have you ever ridden on one before?" Imogen's amused voice came up from her right.
Callie shook her head, a little intimidated at the thought of being so high. Anything could happen in the sky.
"Don't worry. Captain Hanks is great. He's been flying for years."
"I thought they were new." Callie looked to the deck of the ship.
One set of the crew were loading supplies from the deck while shouting and joking with each other. Another set of men then took the supplies down into the hold. Not only was Dante up there, but Blaise and his men were working right beside him. She had spotted several crates of interesting inventions coming aboard. Dante had told her there was even a place she could tinker with her clockworks in the hull.
"New only to those in London." Imogen spoke, but something in her voice told Callie she was hiding something.
Callie resettled her two bags on her shoulder and started up the wooden steps to the deck. Dante was waiting for her when she got to the top step holding his hand out to help her.

What do you envision an airship should look like? Would you ever ride one?

Can Steampunk mix with Romance?

Good morning. As those of you who follow this blog probably already know Steampunk Romance is still so new to the industy that most don't quite know what it is. If you're new to this particular blog, I hope to introduce to you to this really great concept.

What is the first thing you think of when you hear the word "Steampunk"? Besides the what is that? For me, I envision copper, steam engines, large steel boilers, and coal. All hard objects, right? Steampunk is about the elements of life that are hard, working in places you'd rather not just to afford how you live, to deal with people you'd rather avoid or to suffer through something because it needs to be done.

But there is another side to Steampunk most people don't initially think about. The softer side of life. Romance is that side of life. Romance give us hope for the future and an escapism from our hard lives. We see romance in the culture of steampunk, by way of the do-it-yourself projects to the language reminiscent of Victorian times.

You can ask any steampunker do they believe romance can mix with Steampunk and the answer'll you'll more than likely will get will be, "I don't see why not". Why not? Victorian era was all about romance mixing with the indutrial revolution. A perfect example would be women's fashion. They were required to wear corsets, yet the material for their dresses were soft and had at least one ruffle somewhere. Queen Victoria herself wore strickly black after her husband died yet it was usually tafetta, silks and velvets. Hard colors within soft fabrics.
Now, I ask can Steampunk and Romance mix? I have to say yes, wholeheartedly. Where would life be without the romance, the hope for the future?



What are your hopes for the future? Find a hard spot in your life and think of something soft, romantic, you can put in that spot. What would it be and why?