Monday, July 30, 2018

Book Review: Victoria and Abdul: The True Story of the Queen's Closest Confidant

Victoria & Abdul (Movie Tie-In): The True Story of the Queen's Closest Confidant by [Basu, Shrabani]This is an interesting book. After Prince Albert died, the queen sought friendship in unconventional places. First their was her gilly at Balmoral. Then there was Abdul Karim, a young Indian Munshi. He arrived expecting to spend the year of her Jubilee  but then the Queen felt that she could not do without him at her side. He became her teacher, her counsel on Urdu and Indian affairs and a dear friend. The decade they were together was scandalous and her household did not like him or this closeness.
This book was written from letters and journals about this time. It left me at times puzzles and in awe of the lives of the people of that time. I felt the closeness and could understand it but I also felt the puzzlement felt by Queen Victoria's household.
This book was so well-written and filled with information. I highly recommend it.


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