In the Shadow of a Queen

Moore (The Paper Daughters of Chinatown) crafts an intriguing portrait of the independently minded Princess Louise and her tensions with the English royal family, notably her mother, Queen Victoria. After Louise’s father, Prince Albert, dies when Louise is 13, she grows concerned by her mother’s depression and requirement that family members restrict their laughter or displays of happiness. As she pursues her art and sketching, she remains hopeful that she’ll study sculpture, something her mother believes is not suitable for a royal. Later, Louise considers the possibility of marrying John Campbell, Marquess of Lorne and heir to the Duke of Argyll, which elicits the wrath of her older brother, Bertie, as John is considered a commoner because his title originated in Scotland. Then the queen offers John an English title, and Louise must decide whether she will still marry John if he rejects the offer. Moore sets the stage with meticulous research, and she expertly combines fact with fiction, with psychological insights on Victoria’s mercurial moods and the impact of her controlling nature. It adds up to a worthy portrait of a woman divided by duty and self-determination. (Oct.)