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The Queen, Her Lover and the Most Notorious Spy in History cover art

The Queen, Her Lover and the Most Notorious Spy in History

By: Roland Perry
Narrated by: Deidre Rubenstein, David Tredinnick
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Publisher's Summary

Long before her successful marriage to Prince Albert, Princess Victoria had an affair with the dashing Scottish 13th Lord Elphinstone. After the liaison was exposed, Elphinstone was banished to India, appointed Governor of Madras, which allowed Victoria's mother to engineer a royal union for her with Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg. After five years of pining for Elphinstone, Victoria finally gave in and married Albert.

Despite a successful marriage, Victoria never forgot Elphinstone and after a decade in India he returned to her side as Lord-in-Waiting at Court. He only left her to take up the critical role of Governor of Bombay during the Indian Uprising of 1857. Elphinstone died soon after in June 1860 from a fever.

Many attempts were made to bury the memory of Lord Elphinstone, his long-running relationship with the monarch and his grand service for the Empire, but Victoria recorded it in letters to her confidant, her first-born, the Princess Royal: 'Vicky'. The revealing correspondence, like a ticking time-bomb, sat in a German castle attic until 1945 when King George VI, Victoria's great-grandson, sent a courtier, MI5 operative Anthony Blunt, on seven special missions to gather the letters.

©2014 Roland Perry (P)2014 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Critic Reviews

"Compelling and wholly absorbing." (Bob Carr)

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Who said history was dull!

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I was surprised at how intriguing this story was, it kept me interested all the way through

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Victoria's Secret

The talents of narrators continues to impress me...they bring characters and stories to life
This story was interesting but i struggled with the end
...all the fuss about Victoria's lover seemed a bit passe in 2015.
but i suppose it was easier to read as audiobook than novel
An interesting snapshot of history and review of the Royal family

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.