books about georgiana duchess of devonshire

They had no heat in these days, just the heat from fireplaces, so it was extremely cold. They would eat at seven, and then again at midnight. They drank enormous amounts, wine mostly, this claret that British love, red wine. They would eat lots of game: venison, sides of beef. Georgiana's marriage in 1774 to the Duke of Devonshire cemented relations between two of the richest families in England, and Georgiana's life took place against a backdrop of palaces and ballrooms.Ī typical night for Georgiana, Foreman explained in a recent interview from her home in New York, began with food: 'They would begin the evening with a great feast, and then they would go to the opera, watch perhaps the first three acts, and then go back to someone's house and feast again. It will take the help of at least two hairdressers and many hours to create Georgiana's sensational hairdo, and yet, notes Amanda Foreman in her riveting biography, Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire (Modern Library, $15.95), soon after this fateful night, 'women competed with each other to construct the tallest head, ignoring the fact that it made quick movements impossible, and the only way to ride in a carriage was to sit on the floor.'Įnvied, imitated, and always observed, Georgiana was as famous as her great-great-great-great niece, Lady Diana Spencer, would be. She has just thought of the idea of making tiny wooden ships to adorn her horsehair wig, and has called to her servants. It is 1775, and she has fashioned a three-foot tower on her head, using scented pomade to affix pads of horsehair on top of her own hair. Summary by Stav Nisser.įor further information, including links to online text, reader information, RSS feeds, CD cover or other formats (if available), please go to the LibriVox catalog page for this recording.įor more free audio books or to become a volunteer reader, visit Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, preparing for a night out on the town. The novel shows London society in a scathing manner, and teaches us that even in the darkest times there are good people along the way. Yet she has a sylph, a man who watches over her and gives her advice. She very quickly discovers her husband is a libertine and a rake, and that she has no idea how to behave in London society. However the duchess admitted to writing the story of Julia Grenville, a welsh beauty who marries an older man. The author was thought to have been Sophia Briscoe, a contemporary novelist, or Fanny Burney, author of Evelina which was published at about the same time.

There for, her novel, which contains many autobiographical plots, has been published anonymously. Georgianna Cavendish, duchess of Devonshire was one of the leading ladies of her time. Read in English by Algy Pug Celine Major Larry Wilson Devorah Allen KevinS ToddHW KirksVoice Jim Locke JT JennPratt Adrian Stephens LibriVox recording of The Sylph by Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire.

Books about georgiana duchess of devonshire