At Her Majesty's Request: An African Princess in Victorian England

by Walter Dean Myers

Book Overview

Biography of the African princess saved from execution and taken to England where Queen Victoria oversaw her upbringing and where she lived for a time before marrying an African missionary. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0590486691
• ISBN13: 9780590486699
• Release Date: February 1999
• Publisher: Scholastic Press
• Length: 146 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.8" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

Interesting enough

Unknown history and story of one woman spared racist treatment of the times due to special interest. Not exactly entertaining but still interesting about the hypocrisy of the life she led.

A book to read.

I have not begin to read it.

What I Think!

The book, At Her Majesty's Request was the most wonderful book I've read because it tells the story of how Sarah Bonetta overcomed so many problems. First w/ the horror of watching her parents being killed, and then almost being sacrificed by the slave holders because of who she was and where she lived.Then when she was saved by a white man whom she couldn't even understand becase she spoke a different language.And then soon after that she learned how to speak english and then she became friends w/ the Queen of England, Queen Victoria.So the book to me was very heart-warming and I hope you love the book too! Go Wells Wolverines!

Wow!

I'm 12, and I love reading. I can with out a doubt say this is one of the best books I've read, and I've read alot of other great books. Just the way he would put the letters, and the diary pages in the book, and the pictures were gorgeous. So, If you like historical books I would definatly recomend this book

WOW!

I'm 12 years old, and I love to read. I can absolutely say that this is with out a doubt one of the best books I've ever read, and I've read alot of great books. I love tthe way the author would put the letters, and the diary entries in the book, that way it let us see what the queen, and Sarah were going through. If you like historical books this is definatly on I would read.

A reader from Dallas, Texas

When deciding to buy some books for my kids in elementary school to read, I was intrigued by the title of this book, and I chose it. Reading this book for me was an exhiliarating experience, and I would highly recommend it. The author tried to do justice to the life and history of this admirable African or should I say Nigerian princess (I am biased here), and for the Yoruba folks, she was an Egbado. Her ancestory can be traced to present day Abeokuta, Nigeria.This book encapsulates the moving story of an African princess, who escaped death from a wicked king in the present day Republic of Benin (Dahomey) courtesy of a British Naval Captain (Frederick Forbes) during the early part of the 19th century. Captain Forbes brought her to England when she was about 6/7years old, where she had a first taste of the British Aristocrats and became known as Sarah Bonetta Forbes. She then had to be sent to Sierra Leone (West Africa) due to illness, having been thought to be unable to withstand the cold weather. In Sierra Leone, she was an astute student in the Female Institution there, and she maintained contact with Queen Victoria. She also met with the famous First African CMS Bishop, Samuel Ajayi Crowther. After about 4 years in Sierra Leone and now about 12 years old, Queen Victoria requested that she be sent back to England. She lived in England until she was about 19 years old. Reading her letters and her experience in England, gave me a personal satisfaction, as I had insight into a potential scholar the world did not really get to know. Sarah undoubtedly was an extremely bright kid, and Captain Forbes conceded that she was ahead of her contemporaries including the caucassian kids she schooled with. After much reluctance, she got married to a West African Business man, Mr Davis. Her marriage then took her back the second time to West Africa where she finally settled in Lagos (Nigeria). She lived and lectured here in another Female Institution until she was about 37/38 years, and had 3 children. Her first child Victoria was named after Queen Victoria, who was also her God-mother. Sarah Bonetta Davis as she became known had a tragic end, dying of Tuberculosis on a Portugese Island, where she was sent to recover. I wonder what happened to her husband Mr Davis and her three children. I think any information available on them and subsequent descendants would certainly complete the story. I congratulate the award winning author of this book, Walter Dean Myers for a job well done.