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Product Description
Product Description
One of Britain's most popular writers and comedians journeys through the British Empire - as seen on BBC TV. Victoria Wood was named after Queen Victoria. So who better to take us on a journey through the British Empire? The story of the Empire is a key part of the story of Queen Victoria's reign and the Empire was the largest the world had ever known, covering a fifth of the earth's surface and including a quarter of its population. Victoria's mammoth journey takes in the beauty and splendour of Hong Kong, Borneo, Ghana, Jamaica, Newfoundland, New Zealand and Australia before she finishes at the Victoria Falls in Zambia.'Britain used to be top country. English was top language and pink was the colour on the maps. Now when people talk about it, the Empire's an embarrassment, something slightly regrettable'. With those thoughts, Victoria didn't know what she would find, or what welcome she would get from those countries that have evolved since being colonised, and that was her journey: tip-toeing round the remnants of the Empire to all those places named after the grumpy-looking monarch who never went further than the Isle of Wight. "Victoria's Empire" is read by Victoria Wood and Russell Boulter and is a worldwide journey of a lifetime seen through the eyes of one of our most popular celebrities.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I really wanted to like this, but what a let down! This book styles itself as a companion to the BBC television programme of the same name, which I watched and throughly enjoyed. Victoria Wood visits countries which were once part of the vast British Empire and in particular pays special attention to those places named after the monarch and Wood's namesake. But the book is nothing like the programme. Instead it felt more like an overly long history lesson, with lots of facts about the places and in particular the years when they were under British occupation and/or rule.
I appreciate that much of the historical information from the programme had to be covered in the book, but the major problem I had with it was the pure lack of comedic writing from Wood. Each chapter started with a short piece about her experience of this or that place, but that was it. Nothing more. As a result I felt it totally lacked the more personal touch the programme had and you almost felt like the book was being written by someone else entirely. Which might have been the case when you consider that Fanny Blake and Frank Welsh are also cited as authors.
There's also a distinct lack of references to the places named after Queen Victoria, which I thought was supposed to be whole point of the book!! As a result I gave up at page 201 (there's 284 pages in total) which I hate doing, but I just couldn't stand anymore of the droning history book type writing.
I appreciate that much of the historical information from the programme had to be covered in the book, but the major problem I had with it was the pure lack of comedic writing from Wood. Each chapter started with a short piece about her experience of this or that place, but that was it. Nothing more. As a result I felt it totally lacked the more personal touch the programme had and you almost felt like the book was being written by someone else entirely. Which might have been the case when you consider that Fanny Blake and Frank Welsh are also cited as authors.
There's also a distinct lack of references to the places named after Queen Victoria, which I thought was supposed to be whole point of the book!! As a result I gave up at page 201 (there's 284 pages in total) which I hate doing, but I just couldn't stand anymore of the droning history book type writing.
Format:Paperback
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it really interesting with some good history but was rather disappointed to find the contributions from Victoria Wood were limited to a page or so at the beginning of each section. It doesn't say who did each part of the rest,though the co-authors are shown on the front cover. a little dishonest I thought. As I said at the beginning I enjoyed it but was expecting more of Victoria's humour.
7 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Victoria Wood to the main parts of the British Empire including Australia, New Zealand and India to name a few. Her mission is to find out what the British Empire was all about, how it had come about and what the people thought about their country being part of the British Empire; with particular interest in Queen Victoria as they both share the same first name.
The book only covers nine colonies, which is a shame, however they are taken into much detail as the book is almost three hundred pages long. Everything is explained simply without much jargon as Victoria herself is learning most of the information herself! As a comedienne, she has made the book quite witty and it is a pleasure to read.
This book is one of the few modern ones you will be able to find on the subject of Empire, as our country dares not talk about it's imperial past, embarrased of it. It would go well with the DVD which is an added bonus.
I would recommend this book to anyone with some form of interest in the British Empire or commonwealth or how modern life is shaped around the British ways. Five stars.
The book only covers nine colonies, which is a shame, however they are taken into much detail as the book is almost three hundred pages long. Everything is explained simply without much jargon as Victoria herself is learning most of the information herself! As a comedienne, she has made the book quite witty and it is a pleasure to read.
This book is one of the few modern ones you will be able to find on the subject of Empire, as our country dares not talk about it's imperial past, embarrased of it. It would go well with the DVD which is an added bonus.
I would recommend this book to anyone with some form of interest in the British Empire or commonwealth or how modern life is shaped around the British ways. Five stars.
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