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The Duchess Countess
The Duchess Countess | Catherine Ostler
7 posts | 3 read | 11 to read
'Outrageously scandalous, soaked in sex and money, aristocracy, adventure and grandeur... Catherine Ostlers superb, gripping, decadent biography brings an extraordinary woman and a whole world blazingly to life. An unforgettable, unputdownable read that seems both historical and modern, utterly relevant today. Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of Catherine the Great and Potemkin 'Fascinating. Magnificent.?Sensitively told.' Hallie Rubenhold, author of The Five and The Covent Garden Ladies When the glamorous Elizabeth Chudleigh, Duchess of Kingston, Countess of Bristol, went on trial at Westminster Hall for bigamy in April 1776, the story drew more attention in society than the American War of Independence. 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 diaphanous dress: no wonder the trial was a sensation. However, Elizabeth refused to submit to public humiliation and retire quietly. Rather than backing gracefully out of the limelight, she embarked on a Grand Tour of Europe, being welcomed by the Pope and Catherine the Great among others. As maid of honour to Augusta, Princess of Wales, Elizabeth led her life in the inner circle of the Hanoverian court and her exploits delighted and scandalised the press and the people. She made headlines, and was a constant feature in penny prints and gossip columns. Writers were intrigued by her. Thackeray drew on Elizabeth as inspiration for his calculating, alluring Becky Sharp. But her behaviour, often depicted as attention-seeking and manipulative, hid a more complex tale that of Elizabeths fight to overcome personal tragedy and loss. Now, in this brilliantly told and evocative biography, Catherine Ostler takes a fresh look at Elizabeths story and seeks to understand and reappraise a woman who refused to be defined by societys expectations of her. A woman who was by turns, brave, loving and generous but also reckless, greedy and insecure; a woman totally unwilling to accept the female status of underdog or to hand over all the power, the glory and the adventures of life to men.
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Librarybelle
The Duchess Countess | Catherine Ostler
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Pickpick

Talk about a real life soap opera! This biography chronicles the infamous 18th century Elizabeth Chudleigh, whose trials and tribulations mingling with the aristocracy and royalty is so fascinating. Just when you think her story is going to calm down…nope! This is not a fast read - it took me weeks to get through the book. But, Ostler chalks this full of so much information, and it‘s clear Chudleigh‘s influence is still felt today.

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HettyG
The Duchess Countess | Catherine Ostler
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this audio book, it is read by the author so it often feels like you are sitting down for some cake and tea and hearing the latest royal dish, it‘s quite charming. 💜

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Mitch
The Duchess Countess | Catherine Ostler
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Pickpick

Elizabeth Chudleigh is fascinating, she was a smart, intelligent, landowning, adventuring woman who courted scandal, committed bigamy and used her wit, charm & guile to amass (and spend!).This biography is meticulous research and blends a sense of what was happening in the world at the time as well as Elizabeths story. At times it's hard to keep up with some of the side shoots of the story - in terms of who's who and who's related to whom!

LeahBergen This sounds like my cup of tea! 2y
Mitch @LeahBergen 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 2y
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Mitch
The Duchess Countess | Catherine Ostler
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All books should have endpapers this good! 😍

RaeLovesToRead 😲😲😲 2y
LeahBergen Ooo! 2y
Mitch @LeahBergen @RaeLovesToRead - they‘re lovely aren‘t they! 2y
CoverToCoverGirl Beautiful! 2y
CoverToCoverGirl Adding! 2y
78 likes5 comments
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Mitch
The Duchess Countess | Catherine Ostler
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Beautiful end papers 😍

BiblioLitten Stunning!🤩 2y
72 likes2 comments
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Mitch
The Duchess Countess | Catherine Ostler
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Starting this today - as part of my reading goals to immersive myself in history for 2022!

It‘s a real life, eighteenth century account of Elizabeth Chudleigh, Duchess of Kingdom - it‘s billed as the real life Bridgeton! 🤞🏼

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SilversReviews
The Duchess Countess | Catherine Ostler
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“The story of the Duchess-Countess, surprisingly untold considering her infamy at the time, now serves as a window into gender and power in the Georgian Era.”

FULL POST: https://tinyurl.com/4tjp3x45

#catherineostler
@simonandschuster

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