{"product_id":"the-queens-knight-9780593054857","title":"The Queen's Knight","description":"\u003cp\u003eUnique and engrossing  this is a true story of suppressed passion and domestic intrigue at the heart of Victorias court.  After an illustrious military career in the Crimean War  during which he won a Victoria Cross  Howard Elphinstone was appointed guardian to Queen Victorias favourite son  Prince Arthur  later Duke of Connaught  who was Governor General of Canada from 1911-16. Martyn Downers book includes a fascinating account of Arthurs first trip to Canada in 1869  which took place despite the threat of his assassination by Fenian terrorists intent on revenging the Irish famine. During his eventful tour  Arthur took part in the defence of Canada following the Fenian raid at Saint John in May 1870. With relations between Britain and the United States at low ebb  Elphinstone also took the prince on a controversial tour of America which culminated in a frosty reception from President Ulysses Grant at the White House.  Elphinstone remained in Court until 1890 when he was drowned in a tragic accident. During this period he became one of Queen Victorias closest confidants and a father figure to her nine children. His journals and remarkable correspondence with the Queen  much of which is published here for the first time  shed fascinating and intimate new light on the world of the Victorian Court.  The Queens Knight is a captivating portrait of the close and affectionate relationship between Victoria and Elphinstone  and sheds new light on the frail human being at the heart of a vast empire.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67948348112949,"sku":"ByrdShop_0593054857","price":48.46,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-queens-knight-9780593054857","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}