- Hardcover: 224 pages
- Publisher: Sutton Publishing Ltd; illustrated edition edition (20 July 2000)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0750922524
- ISBN-13: 978-0750922524
- Product Dimensions: 24.2 x 16.4 x 2.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
647,072 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #21 in Books > History > Britain & Ireland > British Heads of State > Victoria
- #60 in Books > Biography > British Royalty > Victoria
John Brown: Queen Victoria's Highland Servant
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Product Description
Review
"...the latest [biography of John Brown] supersedes all previous efforts. It is a work of scholarship and research based on new sources and highly readable...After this excellent biography there is no need for another.' Robert Blake, Sunday Telegraph"
Product Description
A century after Queen Victoria's death, debate still rages surrounding her relationship with her gillie, John Brown. Were they ever married? What was the extraordinary hold he had over her? This biography aims to shed new light on these questions and to discover the truth behind Brown's hold on his royal employer. Following the death of Prince Albert in 1861, the Queen found solace in the companionship of John Brown, who had commenced his royal employment as a stable hand. He became "The Queen's Highland Servant" in 1865 and rose to be the most influential member of the Scottish Royal Household. While the Queen could be brusque and petulant with her servants, family and ministers, she submitted to Brown's fussy organization of her domestic life, his bullying and familiarity without a murmur. Despite warnings of his unpopularity with her subjects by one Prime Minister, the Queen was adamant that Brown would not be sacked. The Queen's confidence was rewarded when Brown saved her from an assassination attempt, after which he was vaunted as a public hero. The author reveals the names of republicans and disaffected courtiers who related gossip about Queen Victoria and John Brown and their purported marriage and child, and identifies those who plotted to have Brown dismissed. Based on research in public, private and royal archives, as well as diaries and memoirs of those who knew Brown and interviews with his surviving relatives, this text analyzes the relationship between Queen Victoria and Brown.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
What an interesting book! I read it to get the background after seeing the film which I thought was very good. I found myself very sympathetic to someone needing such a character in their life and surprised that the Queen was so open to real working people and their families on her Scottish estate-her eldest son looked very snobbish in his attitudes by comparison. She clearly enjoyed visiting the families and everything about Scottish tradition.The relationship with Brown is the central concern. What is so interesting is that people in power like Royalty often have 'favourites' on whom they feel they can rely who then become objects of jealousy for others. Clearly the British public felt the same until Brown helped save her from one of the 7 attempts on her life. He seemed to be more aware of the possible dangers and rather ahead of his time in taking security more seriously than the others around the Queen. He never married and it could be argued his devotion was a cost to his health and stress levels.
It is very well written. The photographs are fascinating. I really recommend it.
It is very well written. The photographs are fascinating. I really recommend it.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3 reviews
30 of 32 people found the following review helpful
A Devoted Servant
6 Oct 2000
Format:Hardcover
The release of the well-regarded film _Mrs. Brown_, about Queen Victoria and her gillie John Brown, indicated there was still interest in the story of the Queen and her devoted servant. The full story of their relationship will never be known, but in _John Brown: Queen Victoria's Highland Servant_ (Sutton Publishing), Raymond Lamont-Brown sifts through what can be known to give as good a picture as we are likely to get of the servant beloved by the Queen and detested by so many others. It is a small but successful study of the Queen as honest and loyal, with a love of the outdoors, and with a sense of humor (when will the opposite legend go away?) which Brown must have frequently tickled. They were a good match. He impressed both Albert and the Queen with his knowledge of game and hunting, and a strong friendship grew between the gillie and his Queen. He liked jokes and gossip, and the Queen liked to hear his stories. There are many illustrations here of their familiarity. When the royal family went out on jaunts, John Brown usually brewed the Queen's pot of tea. Early in his service, she remarked that this was "the best cup of tea I ever tasted." "Well, it should be, Ma'am," came Brown's reply. "I put a grand nip o' whisky in it."
There is little doubt that the Queen idealized Brown in a way no one else did, but especially after Albert's death, no one tended her as he did. A courtier wrote, "Others had tended her as their Queen and mistress. John Brown protected her as she was, a poor, broken-hearted bairn who wanted looking after and taking out of herself." Many around the Queen disapproved. Brown took his duties so seriously he would deny even her family access to her. His gruffness with others made few friends. Sent to convey the Queen's invitation to dinner to the Lords-in-Waiting, Brown pushed open the door of the billiard room, eyed the aristocrats, and bawled, "All what's here dines with the Queen." The Prince of Wales particularly disliked him, always referring to "that brute" rather than using his name. He obliterated all the busts and mementoes of Brown after the Queen's death, but he was never able to wipe out the rumors that Brown and the Queen were lovers, or that they had a morganatic marriage, or that Brown was her guide in spiritualism. Such evidence as there is shows that they were nothing but devoted friends as well and mistress and servant. This readable book well illustrates the relationship, with ample quotations from the Queen's diary and from remarks of those who knew both parties well.
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Not as interesting a topic as you'd think.
30 Jun 2001
Format:Hardcover
This book is about Queen Victoria's unusual relationship with her highland servant, John Brown. Most are familiar with the story because of the well-received movie, "Mrs. Brown". While the story made a very interesting movie, for most recreational readers the topic doesn't merit a full book. Raymond Lamont-Brown has certainly done excellent research, and I do not doubt that his account of Mr. Brown and his relationship with the queen is as accurate as possible. Unfortunately, oneof Queen Victoria's daughters drastically edited the Queen's personal papers when it came to the topic of Mr. Brown, so much of the historical record is irretrievably lost. Nevertheless, it seems clear that it is unlikely that there was a scandalous relationship and that the Queen simply considered Mr. Brown to be a completely devoted servant . She consequently kept him in constant attendance and was tolerant of his brusque manner. No matter how hard Mr. Lamont-Brown tries to find some actual drama, most of the relationship (and therefore most of the book) revoloved around the mundane routine of the royal household - daily ponyrides, picnics in the Scottish countryside, below-stairs jealousies, etc. Any excitement in the book is the result of speculation, not historical fact. If you have a serious interest in Queen Victoria, you will find this book worthwhile. Otherwise, see the movie.
Queen Victoria's Mystery Man
23 Mar 2011
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, it is not difficult to get through it. Very, very interesting. I have been on a Queen Victoria kick since I saw "Mrs. Brown" and I wanted to know more about John Brown. Was happy to find this biography. Very well documented, very well explained, I enjoyed it and read it right through...it fulfilled all my curiosity about this good man that stood by Queen Victoria when she felt so alone. It is not a "heavy" book, very factual and interesting.
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