Emma Hamilton was England's first superstar. She fought her way out of dire poverty to become a fashion icon, an Ambassador's wife, a confidante of both Queen Marie Antoinette and the Queen of Naples, and the mistress of Lord Nelson, England's greatest military hero. Drawing on hundreds of previously undiscovered letters, England's Mistress follows Emma's dramatic journey from the slums of Northern England to the Royal Court of Naples, and from the brothels of St. James's to the tragedy and glory of the Napoleonic wars. Muse and mother, wife and mistress, celebrity and villain, victim and survivor: Emma Hamilton was one of the most remarkable women in British history. Emma set out to make herself a star - and she succeeded beyond even her wildest dreams. By her early twenties, she was the most painted woman of her day. Her 'Attitudes', classical postures in diaphanous outfits, thrilled aristocrats and intellectuals while her innovations in fashion and dress changed the way women looked for ever. Shrewdly manipulating the media's fascination with her, Emma made herself into the most famous woman in England, desired by every man she met, adored by thousands, and, for a time, very rich. Yet, she was willing to throw it all away for the man she loved. Extensively researched but told with a novelist's flair, this is the story of one woman's fight to live on her own terms. England's Mistress captures the relentless drive, innovative style and burning passion of a true heroine.
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"I was just re-organising my books and saw this one.It was an excellent read It describes the life of Emma Hamilton born with nothing but a hard life ahead of her who becomes the most famous woman of her times .This is a serious biographical work which is extremely readable . I have lent it to many friends .I have subsequently read a few novels on the life of Nelson .What a short man of few personal charms but his fame . Nelson's harbour is worth a visit in Antigua to get a feel of what life must have been like for a sailor in those times ." — Helena (5 out of 5 stars)
"I was just re-organising my books and saw this one.It was an excellent read It describes the life of Emma Hamilton born with nothing but a hard life ahead of her who becomes the most famous woman of her times .This is a serious biographical work which is extremely readable . I have lent it to many friends .I have subsequently read a few novels on the life of Nelson .What a short man of few personal charms but his fame . Nelson's harbour is worth a visit in Antigua to get a feel of what life must have been like for a sailor in those times ."
Read by Josephine Bailey, whose clear and mellow British accent gives the reading an added touch of authenticity, this book is both edifying and entertaining.... A mesmerizing story...
“Absorbing, well-crafted…Williams’ biography is well paced and pitch perfect, as competent in its storytelling as it is in its authoritative analysis of eighteenth-century class distinctions.”
“A biography of the ever-intriguing Emma Hamilton that reads like a piece of fiction.”
“Read by Josephine Bailey, whose clear and mellow British accent gives the reading an added touch of authenticity, this book is both edifying and entertaining….A mesmerizing story.”
" See the one and two star reviews below - I couldn't agree more. Could we really get any more speculative about this woman's life? I doubt it. "
" This was a sad look into a life that seemed desolate. The biography itself was easy to read, it was written almost like a story, but the subject matter was sad and left me a little depressed, but also fascinated. "
" This has been very interesting. I'm learning a lot about this era, as well as about Emma Hamilton. "
" This is the first book I've read on Emma Hamilton and it was so well researched and well written that I won't need to read anything else! Kate Williams has produced a gem of a book on this absolutely fascinating woman. If you are looking for a book on Emma, this is it. "
" Really well done, this book was a fantastic look at the life of Emma Hamilton but also the history surrounding her. I would recommend this to anyone interested in the life of Admiral Nelson, as this was his mistress (even tho she was married!). "
" I wonder what it would have been like to be the mistress to Admiral Lord Nelson? Emma Hamilton went from nothing to something to nothing again. Familiar story but another historical figure who had some fun adventures. "
" I took a long time to read this book, dipping in and out of it but I can't help admiring this amazing woman who I knew nothing about and now I soooo wish I was some distant relative too. "
" I really enjoyed this book! Although a biography, it really reads like a novel. What an interesting lady and times! I want to learn more. "
" I didn't like this as much as Williams' biography of Queen Victoria, but it was still good. "
" great read, esp if you like art history "
" Liked all the detail about the culture, fashion, and politics of the late 18th Century. Well researched historical fiction. "
" Lots of supposition, often goes too far in its assertions about Emma's state of mind and motives. The time and subject matter are interesting but I would've preferred something a little more scholarly. "
" I was really surprised by how quickly I got into this book - I always expect biographies to be a little dry. "
" I'm in the middle of the book. I find it helpful to read near my computer so I can look up the paintings on Google images. "
" God, I want to live above my means too. But I don't want to die penniless in Calais. "
Kate Williams is the award-winning author of The Pleasures of Men, Becoming Queen, and England’s Mistress, which was short-listed for the Marsh Prize for Biography. She holds a master’s degree from the University of London and a doctorate in eighteenth-century culture from Oxford.
Josephine Bailey’s impeccable narrations include the British classics Jane Eyre and The Secret Garden. She has also used her subtly nuanced style to enliven historical fiction and light romances. She has won nine AudioFile Earphones Awards and been a finalist for the prestigious Audie Award.
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