Scan barcode
A review by ailurophile_bibliophile89
Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire by Amanda Foreman
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.