Queen Victoria

Queen Victoria, born Alexandrina Victoria (1819 - 1901) ruled the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 1837 until her death. At the age of 18 she inherited the throne, ruling for 63 years, longer than any other British monarch - the longest reign of any female monarch in history. She is remembered for her strict and stodgy moral standards, not to mention having an era named after her. Lytton Strachey (1880 - 1832) is remembered not only for his brilliant biography of Queen Victoria, but for changing the nature of biography all together. His new school approach incorporated psychological insight and a touching sympathy, coupled with a detached irreverence for his subject. Until this time, biographies - especially of dead monarchs - were dull, drawn-out eulogies with very little artistic flair.