Victoria Vilein - The jewel of the emperor

Can the imaginative Victoria save Castle Wissekerke, together with the animals?

- Based on the young life of Countess Marie-Louise-Victoire Vilain, who can talk to animals and who is the sister of one of the authors of the Belgian Constitution.
- The Dutch author Maartje van der Laak has been living in Belgium for several years and wrote a thrilling story about the Belgian Revolution, and the role of friendship, courage and equal rights.

Victoria seems to be a very fortunate child. She gets everything she wants, eats expensive chocolate every day, and dreams that she can fly. The servants think she is too loud and have a hard time with her ‘vile side’. Only animals seem to really understand her. When the revolution in Belgium breaks out, Victoria’s life is turned upside down. She has to leave the city, ends up in an uncanny castle with mysterious inhabitants, and makes unexpected friendships there. But betrayal, theft and even famine lurk around the corner. Can Victoria put her hubris aside, and use her mother’s family gem to save the castle?

Themes: animals, rebellion, revolution, working together, perjudice

Reviews:
'A wonderful magical adventure story unfolds in which Victoria's unexpected friendships with animals will ensure that famine is averted. [...] A beautiful edition laced with beautiful black-gray illustrations by Kristien Dieltiens that capture the atmosphere of the story wonderfully well.' (Youth Book Site Ghent, Jan Stevens, April 2024)

'Van der Laak has a smooth pen, seemingly effortlessly taking her readers back to the early nineteenth century. [...] On children's terms, she touches on various themes from the grown-up world: profiteering, corruption, democracy and cooperation. Her sparkling story is, as it were, a reflection of that 'real' world. (Hebban.co.uk, Greet Braem, April 2024)

'An imaginative story about a girl who outgrows her spoiled nature and sets herself up as the protector of others. A story that also has a deeper background.' (Pol Van Damme, Pluizuit, November 2023)