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holly_117's review against another edition
3.0
Georgiana was a very interesting lady - on one hand, she was terribly insecure in her personal relationships and spent ridiculous amounts of money on gambling, while on the other, she was a loyal friend and shrewd politician in an age where women didn't have much power. She managed to hold her own kind of political power for about 30 years, by supporting the Whig party.
If you're interested in the political culture of England around the time of the American and French Revolutions, this book gives a good account through the lens of Georgiana's life. If you're looking for something like a romance novel, this isn't the book for you.
If you're interested in the political culture of England around the time of the American and French Revolutions, this book gives a good account through the lens of Georgiana's life. If you're looking for something like a romance novel, this isn't the book for you.
ailurophile_bibliophile89's review against another edition
4.0
4 Stars
Thoroughly researched, meticulously detailed without being dry, and just a fascinating subject overall, Amanda Foreman makes it difficult to put the book down.
Like many people, I discovered Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire, through the 2008 Kiera Knightly film, The Duchess, without realizing until later that it was based off a biography written by Amanda Foreman. I also just recently realized that The Favorite (2018) is adapted from a biography on Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough and I am only slightly ashamed to admit this – but I digress.
After watching the film for the 20th time (I’m clearly a sucker for period dramas – also THE COSTUMES! *swoons*) and reading through the credits, it dawned on me that it was adapted from Foreman’s work. This fact shouldn’t surprise me, considering nothing in Hollywood is original anymore, but I admit, I was pleasantly surprised because it meant I had another book to add to my To Read List.
I bought my copy second hand at a local bookstore, and I am so glad I did! Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire had been on my To Read list for far too long. Thoroughly researched, meticulously detailed without being dry, and just a fascinating subject overall, Foreman makes it difficult to put the book down.
Georgiana was both a woman of her times and a woman before her time. She was beautiful, flawed, compassionate, insecure, and intelligent. She was quick to deny her flaws (gambling) but at the same time she was quick to defend those who relied on her despite misreading their character completely (Lady Elizabeth Foster). Married to a wealthy duke at a young age, a man who was incapable of communicating effectively, her life was filled with countless joys and numerous disappointments.
Her addiction to gambling would follow her to the grave, while her love of fashion and enjoyment of politics made her a figure to love, hate, and envy. She loved with all her heart (whether that person deserved that love and loyalty is a question that is and will most likely continue to be debated for time eternal), and even at her most triumphant she was gracious and kind to rivals.
Amanda Foreman takes this woman and presents her as a typical human being: a woman whose strengths are almost equal to her flaws; who could never escape the role in which she was thrust into; and whose insecurities and fear ruled her decisions almost as much as her interests and loves.
Thoroughly researched, meticulously detailed without being dry, and just a fascinating subject overall, Amanda Foreman makes it difficult to put the book down.
Like many people, I discovered Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire, through the 2008 Kiera Knightly film, The Duchess, without realizing until later that it was based off a biography written by Amanda Foreman. I also just recently realized that The Favorite (2018) is adapted from a biography on Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough and I am only slightly ashamed to admit this – but I digress.
After watching the film for the 20th time (I’m clearly a sucker for period dramas – also THE COSTUMES! *swoons*) and reading through the credits, it dawned on me that it was adapted from Foreman’s work. This fact shouldn’t surprise me, considering nothing in Hollywood is original anymore, but I admit, I was pleasantly surprised because it meant I had another book to add to my To Read List.
I bought my copy second hand at a local bookstore, and I am so glad I did! Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire had been on my To Read list for far too long. Thoroughly researched, meticulously detailed without being dry, and just a fascinating subject overall, Foreman makes it difficult to put the book down.
Georgiana was both a woman of her times and a woman before her time. She was beautiful, flawed, compassionate, insecure, and intelligent. She was quick to deny her flaws (gambling) but at the same time she was quick to defend those who relied on her despite misreading their character completely (Lady Elizabeth Foster). Married to a wealthy duke at a young age, a man who was incapable of communicating effectively, her life was filled with countless joys and numerous disappointments.
Her addiction to gambling would follow her to the grave, while her love of fashion and enjoyment of politics made her a figure to love, hate, and envy. She loved with all her heart (whether that person deserved that love and loyalty is a question that is and will most likely continue to be debated for time eternal), and even at her most triumphant she was gracious and kind to rivals.
Amanda Foreman takes this woman and presents her as a typical human being: a woman whose strengths are almost equal to her flaws; who could never escape the role in which she was thrust into; and whose insecurities and fear ruled her decisions almost as much as her interests and loves.
lakecake's review against another edition
4.0
Really well-written, lively account of the life of Georgiana Spencer Cavendish, the Duchess of Devonshire. It gave a great look at not only the life of a real, vibrant, flawed, amazing woman, but also the times which made her and allowed her to flourish. It was a nice look at all of the events of the time (1750-1820's or so)--American Revolution and French Revolution--from the perspective of the British aristocracy.
jmpemberton's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
joannavaught's review against another edition
3.0
i liked what i read of it, but i could have probably done without the week-by-week accounts of her life. they weren't THAT fascinating, especially the entire years where she just gambled.
melissakuzma's review against another edition
3.0
This is a great story, but I only gave it three stars because it was too much history for me. I really just wanted to know more about Georgiana's fascinating personal life. You get one paragraph on her illegitimate daughter with the love of her life and then 10 pages on the Whig party. I can't believe I'm saying this but I liked the movie better.