Entrusted by His Majesty the King with the duty of making a selection from Queen Victoria's correspondence, we think it well to describe briefly the nature of the documents which we have been privileged to examine, as well as to indicate the principles which have guided us throughout. It has been a task of no ordinary difficulty. Her Majesty Queen Victoria dealt with her papers, from the first, in a most methodical manner; she formed the habit in early days of preserving her private letters, and after her accession to the Throne all her official papers were similarly treated, and bound in volumes. The Prince Consort instituted an elaborate system of classification, annotating and even indexing many of the documents with his own hand. The result is that the collected papers form what is probably the most extraordinary series of State documents in the world. The papers which deal with the Queen's life up to the year 1861 have been bound in chronological order, and comprise between five and six hundred volumes. They consist, in great part, of letters from Ministers detailing the proceedings of Parliament, and of various political memoranda dealing with home, foreign, and colonial policy; among these are a few drafts of Her Majesty's replies. There are volumes concerned with the affairs of almost every European country; with the history of India, the British Army, the Civil List, the Royal Estates, and all the complicated machinery of the Monarchy and the Constitution. There are letters from monarchs and royal personages, and there is further a whole series of volumes dealing with matters in which the Prince Consort took a special interest. Some of them are arranged chronologically, some by subjects. Among the most interesting volumes are those containing the letters written by Her Majesty to her uncle Leopold, King of the Belgians, and his replies.1 The collection of letters from and to Lord Melbourne forms another hardly less interesting series. In many places Queen Victoria caused extracts, copied from her own private Diaries, dealing with important political events or describing momentous interviews, to be inserted in the volumes, with the evident intention of illustrating and completing the record.

The Letters of Queen Victoria: A Selection from Her Majesty's Correspondence offers readers an intimate and captivating glimpse into the life and reign of the iconic Queen Victoria. Written in a refined and eloquent style, the letters provide a firsthand account of historical events, personal relationships, and political decisions during her time as the Queen of Great Britain. This collection of correspondence not only showcases Victoria's wit and intelligence but also reveals her emotions and vulnerabilities, making it a compelling read for history enthusiasts and literary scholars alike. Queen Victoria's deep commitment to her royal duties and her profound influence on British society are evident in the meticulous detail and genuine emotion found within her letters. Her unique perspective as a female monarch in a male-dominated world adds depth and richness to the narrative, making this book a valuable resource for anyone interested in Victorian history or the personal life of one of Britain's most famous monarchs. I highly recommend The Letters of Queen Victoria to readers looking to explore the inner workings of the Victorian era through the authentic voice of the legendary Queen herself. This meticulously curated selection of correspondence offers a rare opportunity to engage with history in a personal and meaningful way, shedding light on the complexities of power, love, and loss in Queen Victoria's world.