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londonsoph's review against another edition
5.0
Really enjoyed this one. Whilst I agree a lot of the earlier stuff is padded out with a lot of what other women in her situation would have done, I still come away from it being fascinated by Lady Hamilton and her life. I knew next to nothing about Nelson and Emma before. Enjoyed the latter part of the book more than the first couple of chapters as it's more historically accurate. Thoroughly enjoyed!
sherwoodreads's review against another edition
For the longest time, biographical material about Emma Hamilton was difficult to find--either it was repressively short, as befitted a woman "no better than she should be" or else disgustingly salacious. Here's a biography that is sympathetic to women caught in the horrible position of being poor, with few options for earning daily bread.
In the 1770s, when Emma (then Amy) was pretty much on her own, she either had to work under grinding misery for abysmal wages--and could be dismissed on a whim, which she was--or she turned to the theater--or to the streets. Emma worked all three career choices before being taken up by Charles Greville, who kept her while she had another man's baby (she was in her mid-teens), and when he tired of her, passed her off to his older uncle, Sir William Hamilton, who treated her well, fell in love with her, and eventually married her. She proved to be the wife he needed--until Horatio Nelson sailed into port, after which Emma and Nelson became what the other needed, until Nelson's tragic death at Trafalgar. Emma outlived him by a little over ten years.
So much are the basic facts. A great deal was subsequently published about Emma, as she became a celebrity before she ever laid eyes on Nelson. Though she never hid her humble origins, she didn't talk much about them, and about poor women there is scant material, so what we get in the early part of this book is a vivid look at what life in London was like during the mid-century--and a whole lot of guesswork about what might have happened to Emma and her family, and what they might have thought. In fact, all the way through there are a lot of uncited glimpses into minds and motives--usually the playground of the fictioneer.
The book becomes more trustworthy once Emma moves to Naples, about which a great deal is known. Even more vivid is the picture Williams paints of Neopolitan life before and during the French Revolution, and the scary days when Napoleon's forces were on the march toward the south.
Equally descriptive is the Hamilton/Hamilton/Nelson menage, but once again I was surprised to see nothing said about Winifred Gerin's careful work proving that Emma had twins, and that she kept only one of the girls. (There is a reference in the Williams book to one of Nelson's letters that refers to twins, which Williams blithely explains is a sexual reference. Where did she get that?)
So to sum up, I'd say: this eminently readable biography blurs the line between fact and fiction. It does have a splendid biography, and is full of interesting photos.
In the 1770s, when Emma (then Amy) was pretty much on her own, she either had to work under grinding misery for abysmal wages--and could be dismissed on a whim, which she was--or she turned to the theater--or to the streets. Emma worked all three career choices before being taken up by Charles Greville, who kept her while she had another man's baby (she was in her mid-teens), and when he tired of her, passed her off to his older uncle, Sir William Hamilton, who treated her well, fell in love with her, and eventually married her. She proved to be the wife he needed--until Horatio Nelson sailed into port, after which Emma and Nelson became what the other needed, until Nelson's tragic death at Trafalgar. Emma outlived him by a little over ten years.
So much are the basic facts. A great deal was subsequently published about Emma, as she became a celebrity before she ever laid eyes on Nelson. Though she never hid her humble origins, she didn't talk much about them, and about poor women there is scant material, so what we get in the early part of this book is a vivid look at what life in London was like during the mid-century--and a whole lot of guesswork about what might have happened to Emma and her family, and what they might have thought. In fact, all the way through there are a lot of uncited glimpses into minds and motives--usually the playground of the fictioneer.
The book becomes more trustworthy once Emma moves to Naples, about which a great deal is known. Even more vivid is the picture Williams paints of Neopolitan life before and during the French Revolution, and the scary days when Napoleon's forces were on the march toward the south.
Equally descriptive is the Hamilton/Hamilton/Nelson menage, but once again I was surprised to see nothing said about Winifred Gerin's careful work proving that Emma had twins, and that she kept only one of the girls. (There is a reference in the Williams book to one of Nelson's letters that refers to twins, which Williams blithely explains is a sexual reference. Where did she get that?)
So to sum up, I'd say: this eminently readable biography blurs the line between fact and fiction. It does have a splendid biography, and is full of interesting photos.
thehappybooker's review against another edition
5.0
Recipe for a great historical biography: Four years of careful, extensive, expensive research, plus a writing style that reads as easily as a novel. Stir in sympathy for the foibles, failings, and fabulous strengths of characters, but don't fawn over the main focus character. Cook until delicious.
Kate Williams seemingly found every primary, secondary, and tertiary source on Emma Hamilton/Amy Lyon. She mixes her storytelling skills with sleuthing skills, especially when talking about Emma's early life. I don't mind that she takes some leaps into speculation and extrapolation during Emma's early life, such as admitting that there is very little evidence for Emma's everyday life as a maid in a particular household. She shores up her speculations about what it was probably like by examining the household records of another house nearby.
She dug up tax records, parish records, rare books in libraries from California to Scotland, original, unpublished manuscripts, legal records, diaries, hundreds of previously undiscovered letters, illustrations from obscure periodicals, and memorabilia such as Nelson trinkets and one of Emma's actual dresses from her 6th-generation descendant. Her "select" bibliography takes up nine pages. Kate Williams did her homework and by the time she sat down to write, she had earned an encyclopedic understanding of her subject and the setting.
One of the hardest things about knowing so much about a topic is to edit it into a readable account with a lot of detail but also with a clear purpose. For instance, Williams uncovered facts about the changing financial stability of Emma's lover, Horatio Nelson. I mean, really! Not only does she research her focus character, but also her lover's wife's uncle's financial records. That's really committing to the process.
Nelson's wife's uncle was a bureaucrat on a forgettable island. She went there, uncovering piles of information, but then she doesn't use it. That's genius, knowing how to focus on a point and not wander. She only uses the facts it takes to support her speculation: the uncle charmed and flattered Nelson into marrying his mousy, widowed, impoverished, anxious, frail, perhaps fertility-impaired niece with whatever vague lies it took to convince Nelson that he would inherit much, much more than what was actually available.
My only hesitation about fully praising this meticulous, encyclopedic research is that Williams wears the research rather heavily. Philippa Gregory writes very good historical fiction, for example, but doesn't let the research get in the way of the story. She says, "My job is to write coherent, well‑put-together novels that just happen to be set in the accurately researched past." ( http://www.historyextra.com/feature/truth-lies-and-historical-fiction ). Although 'England's Mistress' is non-fiction, it does tend to wear the research very heavily.
My only other hesitation is that Williams extrapolates, often with excellent reason, but perhaps just beyond what the (lack of) facts warrant. She speculates: Was that disappointment the beginning of Nelson's fury and rejection of his unexciting wife? Would Nelson have been drawn so powerfully to Emma's glittering party lifestyle if his wife had been the heiress and hostess he imagined she would be? Williams leads the reader to believe this may be the case, but not before laying a careful pavement of researched fact.
This is just one example of Williams' process: she researched everything available, and then rather than presenting a dry, lifeless treatise like many biographies, she brought Emma to brilliant, vibrant life.
Impoverished Amy Lyon becomes a working girl, the "it" girl of 18th-century portrait painting, the mistress of increasingly powerful men, and finally the toast of England as Nelson's paramour. She meets and influences the glitterati of the day, entrances audiences with her inventive tableau dances as various mythical and historical characters, and intrigues people centuries later with her ability to bob to the surface again and again.
Sorry for rambling, something Kate Williams would never do. I highly recommend this book.
Kate Williams seemingly found every primary, secondary, and tertiary source on Emma Hamilton/Amy Lyon. She mixes her storytelling skills with sleuthing skills, especially when talking about Emma's early life. I don't mind that she takes some leaps into speculation and extrapolation during Emma's early life, such as admitting that there is very little evidence for Emma's everyday life as a maid in a particular household. She shores up her speculations about what it was probably like by examining the household records of another house nearby.
She dug up tax records, parish records, rare books in libraries from California to Scotland, original, unpublished manuscripts, legal records, diaries, hundreds of previously undiscovered letters, illustrations from obscure periodicals, and memorabilia such as Nelson trinkets and one of Emma's actual dresses from her 6th-generation descendant. Her "select" bibliography takes up nine pages. Kate Williams did her homework and by the time she sat down to write, she had earned an encyclopedic understanding of her subject and the setting.
One of the hardest things about knowing so much about a topic is to edit it into a readable account with a lot of detail but also with a clear purpose. For instance, Williams uncovered facts about the changing financial stability of Emma's lover, Horatio Nelson. I mean, really! Not only does she research her focus character, but also her lover's wife's uncle's financial records. That's really committing to the process.
Nelson's wife's uncle was a bureaucrat on a forgettable island. She went there, uncovering piles of information, but then she doesn't use it. That's genius, knowing how to focus on a point and not wander. She only uses the facts it takes to support her speculation: the uncle charmed and flattered Nelson into marrying his mousy, widowed, impoverished, anxious, frail, perhaps fertility-impaired niece with whatever vague lies it took to convince Nelson that he would inherit much, much more than what was actually available.
My only hesitation about fully praising this meticulous, encyclopedic research is that Williams wears the research rather heavily. Philippa Gregory writes very good historical fiction, for example, but doesn't let the research get in the way of the story. She says, "My job is to write coherent, well‑put-together novels that just happen to be set in the accurately researched past." ( http://www.historyextra.com/feature/truth-lies-and-historical-fiction ). Although 'England's Mistress' is non-fiction, it does tend to wear the research very heavily.
My only other hesitation is that Williams extrapolates, often with excellent reason, but perhaps just beyond what the (lack of) facts warrant. She speculates: Was that disappointment the beginning of Nelson's fury and rejection of his unexciting wife? Would Nelson have been drawn so powerfully to Emma's glittering party lifestyle if his wife had been the heiress and hostess he imagined she would be? Williams leads the reader to believe this may be the case, but not before laying a careful pavement of researched fact.
This is just one example of Williams' process: she researched everything available, and then rather than presenting a dry, lifeless treatise like many biographies, she brought Emma to brilliant, vibrant life.
Impoverished Amy Lyon becomes a working girl, the "it" girl of 18th-century portrait painting, the mistress of increasingly powerful men, and finally the toast of England as Nelson's paramour. She meets and influences the glitterati of the day, entrances audiences with her inventive tableau dances as various mythical and historical characters, and intrigues people centuries later with her ability to bob to the surface again and again.
Sorry for rambling, something Kate Williams would never do. I highly recommend this book.
caitmacd's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting biography of a unique woman in England's history. I would recommend it to anyone interested in history or reading about exceptional women.
jilliannewrites's review against another edition
5.0
I decided to pick up the audiobook for England’s Mistress: The Infamous Life of Emma Hamilton by Kate Williams because I enjoy tales of 18th century aristocrats and, well, my young niece is named Emma Hamilton. And who doesn’t love a good story about a mistress?
England’s Mistress is probably one of my favorite books I’ve read this year. I’m ashamed to say I’d never heard of Emma, Lady Hamilton before reading this book. But now that I know about this fascinating woman and her very full life, I’m wondering why she isn’t more well-known and admired.
Over the course of her life, Emma goes from household servant to courtesan to performer to artist model to live-in mistress to fashion icon to wife of an ambassador in Italy to a queen’s confidante to lover of Trafalgar hero Lord Horatio Nelson to, well, I’ll let you read the book.
She befriended Marie Antoinette, Georgiana Cavendish, Elizabeth Foster, artists George Romney and Marie Louise Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun and even the Prince of Wales, later George IV.
The story of Emma’s life is awe-inspiring, heartbreaking, scintillating and, in parts, frustrating. This book is so jam packed with tidbits from her unusual life. This woman lived the lives of ten different women, just condensed into one life of only 49 years. Detailed but never dry, Williams had a lot to work with for this biography and took advantage of every interesting detail.
I can’t recommend this book enough for 18th century history fans. Because Emma climbed the social ladder, this book is unique in that it gives readers a glimpse at every rung in the social ladder instead of just seeing how the nobility live.
England’s Mistress is probably one of my favorite books I’ve read this year. I’m ashamed to say I’d never heard of Emma, Lady Hamilton before reading this book. But now that I know about this fascinating woman and her very full life, I’m wondering why she isn’t more well-known and admired.
Over the course of her life, Emma goes from household servant to courtesan to performer to artist model to live-in mistress to fashion icon to wife of an ambassador in Italy to a queen’s confidante to lover of Trafalgar hero Lord Horatio Nelson to, well, I’ll let you read the book.
She befriended Marie Antoinette, Georgiana Cavendish, Elizabeth Foster, artists George Romney and Marie Louise Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun and even the Prince of Wales, later George IV.
The story of Emma’s life is awe-inspiring, heartbreaking, scintillating and, in parts, frustrating. This book is so jam packed with tidbits from her unusual life. This woman lived the lives of ten different women, just condensed into one life of only 49 years. Detailed but never dry, Williams had a lot to work with for this biography and took advantage of every interesting detail.
I can’t recommend this book enough for 18th century history fans. Because Emma climbed the social ladder, this book is unique in that it gives readers a glimpse at every rung in the social ladder instead of just seeing how the nobility live.
michaelhold's review against another edition
4.0
That book in interesting way shows life of 18th century women, her way of her life goals.
Her early years were harsh but despite that she had Interesting life.
She was very often painted as e.g. goddess Circe.
Later on her fashion was desirable, as being quite known in society. When she was with Captain Nelson & in difficult times for aristocracy, revolutionary times. She even become close friend of Queen Maria Carolina of Austria.
And then she was spending lots of pound when being under Nelson's wings. Only to go in debts after his death.
She have left her life in London and Naples but died on French soil “just months before the End of the War.”
It’s moving Biography of women whose life hardened her a bit and with sad ending to the story.
Her early years were harsh but despite that she had Interesting life.
She was very often painted as e.g. goddess Circe.
Later on her fashion was desirable, as being quite known in society. When she was with Captain Nelson & in difficult times for aristocracy, revolutionary times. She even become close friend of Queen Maria Carolina of Austria.
And then she was spending lots of pound when being under Nelson's wings. Only to go in debts after his death.
She have left her life in London and Naples but died on French soil “just months before the End of the War.”
It’s moving Biography of women whose life hardened her a bit and with sad ending to the story.