Why a Booktrail?
1850: A novel inspired by the remarkable life of Queen Victoria’s African Goddaughter
The Other Princess
What you need to know before your trail
A ship sets sail from the West coast of Africa, bound for the distant shores of England. It carries on board a young princess who, at seven years old, has faced unimaginable trauma in her homeland, and must brave an uncertain future. Aina will disembark under grey skies as Sarah Forbes Bonetta, an exotic trophy to be presented to Queen Victoria as a ‘gift’.
Locations
Reset- England - London
- A: Buckingham Palace
- B: Windsor Castle
- C: St. James's Palace
- West Africa
- D: Nigeria - Lagos - Badagry
- E: Benin - Abomey
Travel Guide
London and West Africa
This is the story of Sarah Forbes Bonetta, the African orphan who became the protégée of Queen Victoria. She was born in West Africa, in what is now south-west Nigeria, and was captured as a child and held in captivity by the King of Dahomey before she was gifted to a British naval captain.
Once in England, Queen Victoria took her under her wing. By the time she had reached adulthood she’d tbecome a central figure in Victorian high society and even become a bit of a celebrity.
However, a black woman in Victorian England was not always well received or understood.
BookTrail Boarding Pass: The Other Princess
Destination/location: London, West Africa Author/guide: Denny S. Bryce Departure Time: 1850s
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