Dimensions
129 x 198 x 32mm
Georgiana Spencer became Duchess of Devonshire in 1774 and proceeded to become the undisputed queen of fashionable society, an influential hostess and an important figure in the Whig party. Yet her story is one of cruel disappointments and personal suffering.
Adored as she was by the public at large, she was incapable of satisfying her husband, who preferred instead her best friend. Adept at negotiating, fund-raising and socializing for the benefit of the Whigs, she could not manage her own extravagances which brought insurmountable debts and ignominy, or her search for love which brought pain and disgrace.
This is a penetrating, beautifully written account of one of the great figures of the late eighteenth century, an icon in her own time and a fascinating foil for our own.
Winner of the 1998 Whitbread Biography of the Year Award.
