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Review
‘Mesmerizing.’ Antonia Fraser, Literary Review
‘Well-written, extensively researched and highly readable… Gripping.’ Stella Tillyard, Mail on Sunday
‘An outstanding debut by a young biographer fully in control of her sources, and with an easy and elegant writing style.’ Roy Strong, Sunday Times
‘A pungent, intimate blend of biography and history…a provocative contribution to our understanding of women of the past.’ Jenny Uglow, Independent
‘Packed with fascinating information and grippingly good.’ Lisa Jardine
‘Real-life glamour, peppered with a menage a trois and a dose of depression…Curl up and devour it.’ Elle
‘A gorgeous Whig romp…[and] a serious, as well as seriously enjoyable, historical biography.’ Antonia Fraser, Sunday Times
‘Excellent and fascinating.’ Sunday Telegraph
‘From this very entertaining account emerges a vibrant picture of late-eighteenth-century life and politics, and the portrait of a rare and highly talented woman.’ Observer
‘A sparkling biography.’ Marie Claire
‘Brilliantly researched, compellingly told, this is biography of the first order.’ Daily Telegraph
Antonia Fraser, Sunday Times
`A gorgeous Whig romp ... [and] a serious, as well as seriously enjoyable historical biography'
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I would probably not have chosen this title myself as something I would enjoy, but I was pleasantly surprised. Recently passed on to me by my daughter when she was clearing her bookshelves, this is history made palatable. Originally published in 1998 as Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, it has now been republished because of the recent film. Prior to reading this I only knew the very basic facts about her, mainly that she was like her descendant Diana, Princess of Wales publicly loved and personally very troubled.
A fascinating account and although normally I would not want to do so after reading the book, I would actually now like to see the film `The Duchess' and will be looking out to either hire the DVD or wait for it to appear on television.
Through the study of letters Amanda Foreman has managed to create for her readers a vivid portrayal of the life Georgiana lived as a young wife with a much older husband, whose mistress she was expected to accept. What a strange life they all seemed to live surrounded by scandals both at home and in politics. Georgiana herself succumbed to addiction and incurred huge gambling debts, from a very young age. She was also ill-fated to never be happy in love but she never lost sight of the fact that her children were the single most important factor in her life, she adored them. I found there were a number of comparisons to be made with the life of her descendant who was born just over two hundred years after her!
From what I have heard and read about the film I think having read this first will give me a much greater insight and understanding to the broader historical background.
A fascinating account and although normally I would not want to do so after reading the book, I would actually now like to see the film `The Duchess' and will be looking out to either hire the DVD or wait for it to appear on television.
Through the study of letters Amanda Foreman has managed to create for her readers a vivid portrayal of the life Georgiana lived as a young wife with a much older husband, whose mistress she was expected to accept. What a strange life they all seemed to live surrounded by scandals both at home and in politics. Georgiana herself succumbed to addiction and incurred huge gambling debts, from a very young age. She was also ill-fated to never be happy in love but she never lost sight of the fact that her children were the single most important factor in her life, she adored them. I found there were a number of comparisons to be made with the life of her descendant who was born just over two hundred years after her!
From what I have heard and read about the film I think having read this first will give me a much greater insight and understanding to the broader historical background.
43 of 48 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The film "The Duchess", while enjoyable enough, shouldn't be seen as simply the content of this book on screen. The book is a mere cupcake compared to the rich dark fruit cake of Foreman's biography!
Georgiana was married to the much older Duke of Devonshire at the age of 17, and during the rest of her life became a well known wit, fashion icon, political mover and shaker, and gambling and opium addict. Oh, and she also lived in a menage with her husband's mistress. Foreman charts the rise and fall of Georgiana's life, giving insight not only into the woman herself but the political and social word in which she lived.
Foreman's style is clear and illuminating, and the combination of clear-eyed historical detail and compassionate approach to her subject make this an unforgettable read.
Georgiana was married to the much older Duke of Devonshire at the age of 17, and during the rest of her life became a well known wit, fashion icon, political mover and shaker, and gambling and opium addict. Oh, and she also lived in a menage with her husband's mistress. Foreman charts the rise and fall of Georgiana's life, giving insight not only into the woman herself but the political and social word in which she lived.
Foreman's style is clear and illuminating, and the combination of clear-eyed historical detail and compassionate approach to her subject make this an unforgettable read.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Even though this edition is marketed as a film tie-in, with a rather nice picture of Keira Knightly on the front as the Dughess of Devonshire, this is not a novel and those that buy thinking it will be a screenplay may be disappointed.
Having said that, as a biography it is an excellent and detailed account of the Duchess' life. As a frequent visitor to Chatsworth House I could envisage the House and some of the people described from portraits at the House. I did, however, find it a little dry and must admit to skipping a few pages when the writer went into detailed descriptions of the politics and the Whigs. I am, I confess, one of those people that prefer a riproaring read to factual novels (after reading legal documents all day) and this I did find a little dry in places.
Having said that, as a biography it is an excellent and detailed account of the Duchess' life. As a frequent visitor to Chatsworth House I could envisage the House and some of the people described from portraits at the House. I did, however, find it a little dry and must admit to skipping a few pages when the writer went into detailed descriptions of the politics and the Whigs. I am, I confess, one of those people that prefer a riproaring read to factual novels (after reading legal documents all day) and this I did find a little dry in places.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Duchess
An outstanding book. The author did a lot of research, and even tells us where she got it from.Much better than the film I thought.
Published 2 months ago by LesS
Good historical book
I bought this book after watching the film although I normally read the book first. I'm not disappointed with my purchase. It's factual & backed up by historical references. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mrs G!
Very interesting and recommended
Full of details and political history in an entertaining and well-written book. If you enjoy this book, I recommend reading Aristocrats: Caroline, Emily, Louisa and Sarah Lennox... Read more
Published 5 months ago by World Traveller
ENCHANTING
Amanda Foreman was born in 1968 in London. After graduating Columbia University, she spent 5 years of her life devoted to researching Georgiana the Duchess of Devonshire. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Danny Gray
WELL RESEARCHED BIOGRAPHY
This was a very well researched biography of a remarlable 18th century woman. The biography was very readablre, but I was not sure Ireally wanted to be bombarded with all the... Read more
Published 18 months ago by bibliophile
Too much politics!
I bought this after reading 'England's Mistress, The Infamous Life of Emma Hamilton' which was brilliant and featured the character of the Duchess of Devonshire in it, so I thought... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Jennifer Ferri
No what I was expecting, but good...
I would like to start by making it clear that this is not a novel, as I assumed, but a biography. When I opened the book my heart fell a little. Read more
Published on 27 May 2010 by Agb2001
AN EIGHTEENTH CENTURY WOMAN OF NOTE...
This is much richer fare than the film adaptation of the book, which I saw before reading the book. The author does a remarkable job of creating a woman of flesh and blood out of... Read more
Published on 6 Oct 2009 by Lawyeraau
The Duchess
Excellent book just as I hoped it would be. I purchased after watching the film and thought the
film was adapted well from the book. Read more
film was adapted well from the book. Read more
Published on 13 Sep 2009 by Marion Argent
The Duchess
Just my type of book. It's history written in a way to make it interesting with all the references to search if you want to.
Published on 4 Aug 2009 by Mrs. V. A. Saunders
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