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katherinejayne's review against another edition
3.0
Like most historical biographies, it can get a bit heavy with information and having to remember all of the names of the various connections to the Duchess. But an insightful account of her life, and story.
juliegoonie's review against another edition
5.0
This was such a fascinating read! Highly recommended!
adolwyn's review against another edition
4.0
A fascinating book written with what seems like level-headed accuracy and an understanding of the roles women held in the 18th century. Obviously, the Duchess of Devonshire was made famous in the recent movie, "The Duchess" starring Kiera Knightley, but the Duchess in this book was at once more interesting, more multi-faceted and more engaging than the character from the movie. The Duchess in this book was a study in paradoxes; completely irresponsible and deceitful while at the same time, loving and generous in her behaviours. Any person interested in the lives and times of 18th century England owes this book his or her time.
prof_pelon's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book after seeing the movie adaptation and as usual found the book to be so much better. It is a fun and engaging biography that covers a woman and the society she belonged to. I was deeply moved by her gambling addiction as well as the way in which she allowed others to control her emotional health. The style of writing was approachable to not only the historically savy but the novice as well.
librarianonparade's review against another edition
5.0
I don't know why it's taken me so long to read this. I live not far from Chatsworth, I've met the current Duke once or twice at work events, I was even in the film The Duchess (only as an extra, and the scene was cut in the end, alas). I suppose it's partly because Georgian history has never been an era I've been especially interested in, but after reading Lady Worsley's Whim, in which Georgiana is mentioned a few times, I was in the mood for more.
I knew a bit about Georgiana, of course - mainly that there was some curious ménage à trois going on and a bit about the scandals and her affair and unhappy marriage. But this book was quite a revelation to me - Georgiana wasn't a bit the fickle, flighty society matron I'd expected. Or rather she was, but that was more playing a role that was expected than who she really is, and she saw through much of the hypocrisy of the ton, as the elite social circles of the aristocracy were known. Her involvement with and influence on the major political figures of the day - from the Prince of Wales to Charles Fox, Pitt the Younger and Charles Grey - to her position as a leading light of the Whig Party was fascinating, particularly when combined with her apparently contradictory role as the doyenne of fashion and frivolity.
As Foreman points out in the conclusion to this book, the tendency of academic disciplines to operate within strictly defined spheres means that political historians have ignored the role of women at court and in politics, and feminist historians have focused on female occupations and domestic roles and ignored politics. Georgiana's life demonstrates ably how fluid and interlocking these spheres are in reality and how, at least before the Victorian era, upper-class Georgian women in particular were able to play a real and meaningful role in public life. I'd recommend this book for anyone interested in either field, or indeed for anyone who has wandered around Chatsworth and marvelled in its grandeur and beauty.
I knew a bit about Georgiana, of course - mainly that there was some curious ménage à trois going on and a bit about the scandals and her affair and unhappy marriage. But this book was quite a revelation to me - Georgiana wasn't a bit the fickle, flighty society matron I'd expected. Or rather she was, but that was more playing a role that was expected than who she really is, and she saw through much of the hypocrisy of the ton, as the elite social circles of the aristocracy were known. Her involvement with and influence on the major political figures of the day - from the Prince of Wales to Charles Fox, Pitt the Younger and Charles Grey - to her position as a leading light of the Whig Party was fascinating, particularly when combined with her apparently contradictory role as the doyenne of fashion and frivolity.
As Foreman points out in the conclusion to this book, the tendency of academic disciplines to operate within strictly defined spheres means that political historians have ignored the role of women at court and in politics, and feminist historians have focused on female occupations and domestic roles and ignored politics. Georgiana's life demonstrates ably how fluid and interlocking these spheres are in reality and how, at least before the Victorian era, upper-class Georgian women in particular were able to play a real and meaningful role in public life. I'd recommend this book for anyone interested in either field, or indeed for anyone who has wandered around Chatsworth and marvelled in its grandeur and beauty.
ezzab126's review against another edition
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
4.5
Incredibly interesting to see how the Duchess was so involved in the politics of the time - basically a puppeteer. A true feminist icon. Shows her weaknesses as well as her triumphs. An emotional and beautiful real story.
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction
bluepuppy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.75
Fascinating historical study of Georgiana based on letters and other archives in the British museum and Chatsworth etc. Really well written and interpreted and a fabulous insight into the politics and life of an amazing woman in the late 1700s.
mandarchy's review against another edition
3.0
I really liked reading about the lifestyle. The politics were a little boring, but they way people treated each other based on class and gender is fascinating.
book_bear's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to like this book. I really did! I got about 60% in before I had to put it down. It is less about Georgiana and more about the politics of her day. I understand that she was big into politics, but this book goes into every single tiny detail of English politics between 1760 and 1810. It gets very tedious and boring to read. Bits of Georgiana's personal life are briefly sprinkled in, but its more about politics and her personal debts, going on and on and on.
shalms's review against another edition
4.0
Vivid portrait of a vivid woman and a period in English history I didn't know much about (aside from that whole American Revolution thing...). The author really brought her and her society alive. I appreciated learning more about how active wealthy noblewomen were in politics and also about their rather libertine personal lives.