Quote:
Originally Posted by Bookworm_Girl
And, there was also the unusual and close relationship that she developed with her Indian servant Abdul Karim. I bought the book Victoria and Abdul by Shrabani Basu last year but haven't read it yet.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12670110
I find it interesting that she was so fascinated with India yet never visited there. She added a wing to Osborne in 1890 which contained the Durbar Room intended for state functions. She commissioned John Lockwood Kipling (Rudyard's father) who then enlisted the architect Bhai Ram Singh to design the interior. It now contains items celebrating her jubilees in display cases. A quick Google search brings up loads of photos if you want to see how intricate and beautiful this room was.
Osborne House also has on display a collection of paintings which Queen Victoria commissioned from Rudolf Swoboda. These paintings are of Indians resident or visiting Briain in the 19th Century and other Indian scenes observed during the artist's travels. While in India he stayed with Kipling. |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stephjk
I've only ever given up on a book once and that was this summer!
The book wasn't really what I expected, not enough information about Victoria for me, there seemed to be far more about the people around her (which I suppose is fair as they did influence her).
I like to get a real feel for a person when I read a biography but didn't get that from this book so it was a bit of a disappointment for me.
Maybe I've read too many modern biographies/autobiographies where it seems much easier to know a person due to media attention etc.
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I am reading
Victoria and Abdul now and am quite liking the book.
(thanks Bookworm_girl)
It is quite fascinating to read about this relationship, which is documented in Queen Victoria's journals and the paintings she commissioned of Abdul Karim.