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The Duchess Countess: The Woman Who Scandalized Eighteenth-Century London
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About This Book
Discover the adventurous life of the stylish and scandalous Elizabeth Chudleigh, Duchess of Kingston—a woman whose infamous trial was bigger news in British society than the American War of Independence. " Bridgerton fans take For sheer incident and drama, Chudleigh's story rivals any episode of the popular Regency-era Netflix series. And it's all true" ( The Washington Post ). As maid of honor to the Princess of Wales, Elizabeth Chudleigh enjoyed a luxurious life in the inner circle of the Hanoverian court. With her extraordinary style and engaging wit, she both delighted and scandalized the press and public. She would later even inspire William Thackeray when he was writing his classic Vanity Fair , providing the inspiration for the alluring social climber Becky Sharp. But Elizabeth's real story is more complex and surprising than anything out of fiction. A clandestine, candlelit wedding to the young heir to an earldom, a second marriage to a duke, a lust for diamonds, and an electrifying appearance at a masquerade ball in a gossamer dress—it's no wonder that Elizabeth's eventual trial was a sensation. Charged with bigamy, an accusation she vehemently fought against, Elizabeth refused to submit to public humiliation and retire quietly. "A superb, gripping, decadent, colorful biography that brings an extraordinary woman and a whole world blazingly to life" (Simon Sebag Montefiore, New York Times bestselling author), The Duchess Countess is perfect for fans of Bridgerton , Women of Means , and The Crown .
Reviews
"The last years of Chudleigh's life...are colorful but less interesting than the account of the trial, which Ostler carries off masterfully."
"The build-up is over 250 pages, but if you thrill to the minutiae of 18th-century aristocratic life then you're in for a treat."
"inheritances!) become overwhelming, and occasional psychological musings interrupt the flow ..."
"Catherine Ostler draws a vivid portrait of this remarkable woman ..."
"[An] empathetic perspective, combined with rigorous scholarship, to reveal Chudleigh in her full glory, with the last dozen years of her life in Russia, Estonia and France being perhaps the most fascinating ..."
"Still, this is a rich and nuanced portrait of a fascinating woman."
"Ably capturing her singular character, Ostler displays her deep knowledge of the era, smoothly melding history and biography ..."
"Well written and researched ..."
"She tells Elizabeth's story with admirable style and gusto, and clearly finds her heroine irresistible."
"While Chudleigh's story has the makings of a very good period-piece dramedy, it is less successful as a deeply researched historical biography."
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