Mary S. (Brantach) reviewed on 3/14/2011 + 7 more book reviews

A well written and in depth biography. The writing style is reminiscent of Carolly Erickson in that the history flows more like a novel than a text book. While the book does have a good amount of footnotes, it is not overly done, and each one offers more elaboration on different points throughout the book. The author truly did her research and shows us a glimpse of what politics was truly like in the late 18th - early 19th centuries and the role that the Duchess played as leader of the Ton. We also get a good look behind closed doors at the strengths and weaknesses of the various nobility and politicians that surround the Duchess. With family portraits and newspaper drawings from the era included, it was quite easy to become immersed in the history. A great read for any history buff that is interested in a woman who left her imprint on society.

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