It should be no shock to anyone that my first book read of 2023 would be historical fiction. My ears always perk up when I hear Princess Louise mentioned, and doubly so when she is the main subject. Louise was Queen Victoria’s fourth daughter; she was a tad different from her siblings. A sculptor and artist, she flourished in the art scene away from court. I saved this audiobook for the break to enjoy, and enjoy it I did. For the first Book Bite of 2023, let’s get into An Indiscreet Princess by Georgie Blalock.
An Indiscreet Princess: A Novel of Queen Victoria’s Defiant Daughter, Georgie Blalock
As the fourth daughter of the perpetually in-mourning Queen Victoria, Princess Louise’s life is more a gilded prison than a fairy tale. Expected to sit quietly next to her mother with downcast eyes, Louise vows to escape the stultifying royal court. Blessed with beauty, artistic talent, and a common touch, she creates a life outside the walled-in existence of the palace grounds by attending the National Art Training School—where she shockingly learns to sculpt nude models while falling passionately in love with famed sculptor Joseph Edgar Boehm.
Although Louise cultivates artist friends, artistic success, and a life outside the palace, she quickly learns that even royal rebels must heed the call of duty. For twenty years, Louise fights to maintain her relationship with Joseph and what freedom she can glean within the strict requirements of Queen Victoria’s court. When a near-fatal accident forces her back under Queen Victoria’s iron rule, Louise must choose between surrendering to the all-consuming grief of lost love and dreams that plagued her mother or finding the strength to keep fighting for her unconventional life.
Why You Should Read This…
This is one of the best fictional tellings of Princess Louise’s adulthood that I’ve read, for a few reasons. Firstly, I think that Blalock has captured the feelings and vibe of the London art scene in the mid-nineteenth century. (It is not a stuffy group; think Benedict from Bridgerton). Louise was a creative and unconventional person, and you can definitely feel the tension between her and her mother. (Although Victoria is not as conventional as you might think here…)
Secondly, Blalock chose not to focus on the question of Lorne’s sexuality. Many tellings of Louise’s life (both fictional and non-fictional) tend to dedicate quite a bit of word space to his possible male companions. In a biography or book focused on Lorne, I think it is more than a fair question, but I think it shortchanges Louise’s own fascinating life and story. This is firmly a story dedicated to Louise.
This is the first time I’ve listened to any audiobooks narrated by Ann Marie Gideon but I think she was wonderful. She handled all of the different characters well, and infused a lot of emotion into her reading.
Is An Indiscreet Princess by George Blalock on your to-read list?
Cheers,
The Historian
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