Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire (Modern Library Paperbacks) | Amanda Foreman

Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire (Modern Library Paperbacks) | Amanda Foreman | Loved this book and would read again!

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Georgiana: Duchess...

	Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire (Modern Library Paperbacks) Amanda Foreman Modern Library, 2001 - 512 pages average customer review:based on 72 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Another Brilliant, if Histrionic, Spencer Girl

The selling point of Amanda Foreman's hugely successful "Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire" was that she hailed from the same family as Princess Diana, and that she too was beautiful, blonde and bulimic. This connection probably gave Foreman an early boost in the book sales department, but what clinched this book's bestseller status was the compelling narrative of Georgiana's life: born into one of England's most ancient and preeminent landed families, she was then married off into one of its richest: to this day, the Cavendishes (i.e, the Dukes of Devonshire) overshadow virtually all but the Royal Family in terms of inherited wealth. Georgiana, however, is a perfect specimen of the educated woman in the Age of Reason: she dabbled in politics, geology, literature gambling, adultery and Continental travel - visiting Gibbon in Geneva and then becoming fast friends with Marie Antoinette. High points of her political achievements include a political alliance with Charles James Fox, and a masterful electoral campaign, on his behalf, for the seat of Westminster. The sadder aspects of her life can be found in her unstable relationship with her own husband, her doomed relationships with other men, a strange love triangle with her live-in friend Elizabeth and a series of health crises that robbed her of her looks. One of the best biographies of the late 18th century.

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Loved this book and would read again!

This book was amazing and I got it at a discounted rate at a bookstore and never thought I would fall in love with it. Amanda Foreman's writing style is vivid, easy to comprehend and specific enough to be entertaining without it being stagnate. The book was appropraitely paced and truly gave you an understanding of daily life for the Devonshires as well as London during this period. I was extremely pleased with the exaplanations in modern terms of ailments that existed during this period and exactly how trying the times were due to social constrictions. I would highly recommend this book!

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Fascinating portrayal of a spirited woman

Foreman really draws the reader into the interesting life of Georgiana, one of the most influential women in 18thC society. This is a very well-written portrait and makes for great reading. It contained a bit more about the politics of the time than is of interest to me, but for those interested in such things I imagine all of that was entirely riveting. I was most interested in Georgiana the woman and what motivated her, and here Foreman did not disappoint. An excellent biography and an eye-opening look in to the 18th Century.

Difficult Read

With all the "sexy" things that happened to the subject, this could have been much more interesting. Perhaps the author was showing restraint in not ascribing perceived emotions, reactions, etc. Foreman's research is amazing and she deserves credit for her hard work. However, the book is somewhat dry and hard to follow; I was skimming it toward the end.

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Doesn't deserve a crown