Almost 200 years ago, the cries of a newborn baby echoed through the halls of London's Kensington Palace. No one who celebrated Princess Victoria's birth in the late spring of 1819 could have imagined that the little girl born fifth in line to the English throne would be the ruling monarch of the United Kingdom in just a few short years. The 19th century was a time of great change. For Princess Alexandrina Victoria, misfortune would strike early with the loss of her father, a lonely childhood, and a mother determined to control her. As teen queen, Queen Victoria ruled with stubbornness, strength, and humility that nourished the advancement of the Industrial Revolution, soothed the tempers of European warmongers, and changed life in England in diverse and sometimes controversial ways. Through her published journals and letters, this beloved figure has come to be known as more than just an aristocratic young woman with a crown, but a queen for the ages. Victoria ruled on her own terms for an astounding 63 years. She survived illness, political plots, the birth of nine children, assassination attempts, and a personal heartbreak that would transform her from a royal ruling mother into a mourning widow. Through it all, she maintained an iron determination to finish her course. Under her reign, the United Kingdom reached its historic peak of world power and dominion, influencing change and life around the globe. A small woman with glowing, round eyes and a ready wit, Queen Victoria is remembered today as the charming giantess who ruled while the sun never set on the British Empire. The newest entry in the simply outstanding 'People Who Changed The Course Of History' series from the Atlantic Publishing Group, The Story Of Queen Victoria 200 Years After Her Birth by Danielle Thorne (who is the author of a dozen historical and contemporary books and adventures) is impressively informed and informative, exceptionally well written, organized and presented. Enhanced with the inclusion of an eight-page glossary, a sixteen-page bibliography, and a two-page Index, The Story Of Queen Victoria 200 Years After Her Birth is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to high school, community college, and university library biography collections in general, and Queen Victoria supplemental studies lists in particular. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that The Story Of Queen Victoria 200 Years After is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.95). --Helen Dumont, Midwest Book Review Danielle Thorne is the author of a dozen historical and contemporary books and adventures. From pirates to presidents, and queens, too, she loves to blog, research, and travel the U.S. and Caribbean. Some of her work has appeared in places like Mississippi Crow, The Nantahala Review, and StorySouth. She has edited, co-chaired writing competitions, and judged contests for young adults and published authors. Mrs. Thorne loves meeting readers and writers of all ages from around the world through conferences and social media. She is a BYU-Idaho graduate, youth leader, certified diver, half-hearted runner, and unofficial foodie. Currently, she is working on a young adult pirate adventure while enjoying life south of Atlanta, Georgia, with a Mr. Thorne and fuzzy cat. Visit her at daniellethorne.com.