- Paperback: 464 pages
- Publisher: Phoenix (20 Aug 2009)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0753825953
- ISBN-13: 978-0753825952
- Product Dimensions: 3.8 x 14 x 21.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 484,043 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
'Crystalline prose and unsentimental partisanship distinguish this biography' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH 'A window on the world of the aristocracy at a pivotal time in history.' DAILY EXPRESS 'The first biography of her shows how deeply her joyful bearing was touched by fear of inherited depression.' OBSERVER 'Ettie emerges as a curiosity to be marvelled at - which she probably would have liked' -- Kate McLoughlin TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT
Review
Crystalline prose and unsentimental partisanship distinguish this biography (SUNDAY TELEGRAPH )
A window on the world of the aristocracy at a pivotal time in history. (DAILY EXPRESS )
The first biography of her shows how deeply her joyful bearing was touched by fear of inherited depression. (OBSERVER )
Ettie emerges as a curiosity to be marvelled at - which she probably would have liked (Kate McLoughlin TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT )
A window on the world of the aristocracy at a pivotal time in history. (DAILY EXPRESS )
The first biography of her shows how deeply her joyful bearing was touched by fear of inherited depression. (OBSERVER )
Ettie emerges as a curiosity to be marvelled at - which she probably would have liked (Kate McLoughlin TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT )
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The beauty of this well written book is its value as social history in a broad sense, not simply pertaining to the immediate concerns of Lady Desborough. Its illustrations of a life of privilege are fascinating to the modern reader, but it also sheds light on an unfamiliar Zeitgeist, namely the respect accorded to politicians,the status enjoyed by Britain in the world, and the devastation wrought by two World Wars.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is an engagingly written biography of an aristocratic hostess, set mainly in the late 19th and early twentieth centure. Ettie Desborough obviously had great charm and wit, and oiled the wheels of society. The book is sympathetic towards her - perhaps too sympathetic towards her two eldest sons, both killed in the Great War and whilst evidently popular with many of their own social circle, were clearly arrogant young men who bullied others, killed animals and regarded Germans as vermin to be shot (although one, Julian Grenfell, wrote some superb poetry). The book does acknowledge some of these downsides. I think the main problem is that the subject of the book was evidently very popular but ultimately didn't DO anything.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Ettie is the story of an ambitious social hostess who moved in the highest echelons of political and literary life in Edwardian England.
In an extraordinary life the most striking aspect is how constantly it was touched by bereavement, in a book that brings home the losses suffered by families in World War I.
Whilst some of the lists of dinner party companions pall, particularly when unleavened by anecdotes, as sometimes occurs, her steeliness comes through strongly and is extraordinary.
In an extraordinary life the most striking aspect is how constantly it was touched by bereavement, in a book that brings home the losses suffered by families in World War I.
Whilst some of the lists of dinner party companions pall, particularly when unleavened by anecdotes, as sometimes occurs, her steeliness comes through strongly and is extraordinary.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
The idle rich.
If ever anyone epitomised the life of the idle rich this lady did. So she lost two sons in the Great War; so did a great many other people of far less monied circumstances. Read more
Published on 16 May 2010 by P. Saunders
blah
Couldn't wait to read this book BUT it is way too hard. Too much detail, just too hard to get into
Published on 20 Feb 2010 by N. Heap
Florid style obscures the real story.
Oh Dear, sorry but Mr Davenport-Hines needs a good strong sub editor. I am well into the book but find his over bearing archness slightly sickening. Read more
Published on 10 Nov 2009 by A. M. Glenville
New Panshanger & Cowper history
The Cowpers have a national significance in our history, not just a local Hertfordshire interest, and this book very successfully adds to previous material published. Read more
Published on 29 Jan 2009 by Michael Clark
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