WE TWO Victoria and Albert: Rulers, Partners, Rivals

Gill's book covers the lives of the nineteenth-century English queen and her prince consort up to and through their marriage, going briefly beyond Albert's early death. Rosalyn Landor's almost-formidable British accent and her cool tone are appropriate to a history of British royalty, their relatives, and Europe at the time. Still, she conveys the emotions and judgments inherent in the text, including ironic disapproval (there's much to disapprove of!) and sympathy, fully but with restraint and finesse. She provides character voices, male and female, for direct quotations, even differentiating Victoria at various ages. Her German accent, often called into play, is excellent. Overall, Landor’s voice, pacing, expressiveness, and intelligence enhance a story that is fascinating in itself. W.M. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2009]