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The Dead Duke, His Secret Wife, and the Missing Corpse: An Extraordinary Edwardian Case of Deception and Intrigue
The Dead Duke His Secret Wife and the Missing Corpse An Extraordinary Edwardian Case of Deception and Intrigue
Author: Piu Marie Eatwell
In 1898, an elderly widow, Anna Maria Druce, came to the British court with an astonishing request. She stood among the overflowing pews of St. Pauls Cathedral claiming that the merchant T. C. Druce, her late father-in-law, had in truth been a secret identity for none other than the deceased and enormously wealthy 5th Duke of Portland. Maintaini...  more »
ISBN-13: 9781631492310
ISBN-10: 1631492314
Publication Date: 9/20/2016
Pages: 352
Edition: 1
Rating:
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 2

3.5 stars, based on 2 ratings
Publisher: Liveright
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover
Members Wishing: 1
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boomerbooklover avatar reviewed The Dead Duke, His Secret Wife, and the Missing Corpse: An Extraordinary Edwardian Case of Deception and Intrigue on + 441 more book reviews
Fascinating account of a British court case that dragged out over a decade. An old woman claims her father in law, T.C. Druce, wealthy owner of a department store in London, did not die as reported, and that lead was placed in his coffin in lieu of his body. More astonishing, she claims he wasn't even who he said he was, but rather was the extremely eccentric Fifth Duke of Portland, and thus even more fabulously wealthy. This story, and the efforts to prevent opening of the coffin, lead to speculations and accusations which filled the tabloids for years. As one reviewer put it, this story is like Downton Abbey meets the Addams Family.


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