From inside cover: Her book ... is essentially a plea for the preservation of her kindgom. It is also a portrayal of the life and customs of 19th-century Hawaii -- and, incidentally, of the United States and Europe -- seen through the eyes of the shrewd and observant eyes of an internationally famous person who was basically a sympathetic and understanding woman ... it is a compelling account of the last years of a monarchy ... Told with pride in, and love for, her royal predecessors as well as her people, the facts of the queen's story do not differ from those of other writers ... but her presentation, naturally enough, is colored by her deep affection and loyalty.