TWO DUCHESSES

Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire and Eliabeth, Duchess of Devonshire wrote to their family, the Earl of Bristol (Bishop of Derry), the Countess of Bristol, Lord Byron, the Earl of Aberdeen, Sir Augustus Foster and others between the years 1777 to 1859. The affairs focused on the period from America's independence to the fall of Napoleon. Single letters are also included from Gibbon, Sheridan, Fox, the Prince Regent, General Moreau and Alexander, Emperor of Russia. The Devonshires were one of the first families of the land that were highly connected with George, Prince of Wales being a regular visitor to Devonshire House along with James Fox, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, and other politicians and celebrities of the day. They were at the centre of society and their interest is heightened by the celebrated ménage à trois and other affairs which led to both duchesses at separate times to seek a quiet period abroad to bear illegitimate children. Georgiana's daughter Eliza Courtney was sired by Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, who later became Prime Minister. Elizabeth's children, Caroline St Joles and Augustus Clifford were sired by William, the 5th Duke of Devonshire, whom she later married. Elizabeth's grandson Vere had unique access to the papers and has produced accurate transcriptions (often working from abominable scrawl!) to provide a fascinating window into the pinnacle of society of the period. Vere Foster (1819-1900) was himself a philanthropist and educationist whose father Augustus first arrived in Washington in 1804 as an assistant to the British Minister Anthony Merry and who was expelled from Sweden by order of Napoleon four years later. He was not able to placate the war hawks and the United States declared war on Great Britain on 18th June 1812 when Foster returned to England. Vere is particularly careful with the lesbian material of his subjects. Nicely laid out letters, colour photos. 310 page large softback.