by Catherine Ostler
Publisher: Atria Books
Pages: 432
Format: ARC
Buy the Book: Amazon
Goodreads: As maid of honor to the Princess of Wales, Elizabeth Chudleigh enjoyed a luxurious life in the inner circle of the Hanoverian court. With her extraordinary style and engaging wit, she both delighted and scandalized the press and public. She would later even inspire William Thackeray when he was writing his classic Vanity Fair, providing the inspiration for the alluring social climber Becky Sharp. But Elizabeth’s real story is more complex and surprising than anything out of fiction.
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 gossamer dress—it’s no wonder that Elizabeth’s eventual trial was a sensation. Charged with bigamy, an accusation she vehemently fought against, Elizabeth refused to submit to public humiliation and retire quietly.
Kritters Thoughts: A nonfiction book that dives deep into Elizabeth Chudleigh's epic life. From somewhat obscurity to sitting right next to a princess, Elizabeth had a sharp rise and a hard fall.
I love when an author introduces me to someone in history that I didn't know anything about and makes me want to read more and more from that time and place. Elizabeth Chudleigh had such a life. Her quick marriage at a young age and then her quick return to her previous life and then the love that entered her life later, it was so interesting to read. I also loved her time in Russia with Catherine as I am a fan of the Hulu show, The Great. I haven't started the second season, so I am intrigued to see if Elizabeth makes an appearance in the show!
While there were moments in the book where I felt like the author got a little too deep into the weeds, there was quickly some action that kept me reading and reading. I would have loved to listen to this one as I tend to really enjoy non fiction via audio.
After finishing, I found out this was a debut and I sure hope that Catherine has another woman up her to sleeve to research because I want to learn more about another woman who made an impact in history.
Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one copy of this book free of charge from Atria Books. I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
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