Customer Reviews

The Two Duchesses: Family Correspondence of and Relating to Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire and Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire ... and Others, 1777-1859

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Georgiana and Elizabeth were the first and second wives of William 5th Duke of Devonshire. Their tale is an eighteenth century one, but it is also a twenty-first century one. They had a friendship which eclipsed everything that society of their day thought was acceptable and it is only now that the truth is emerging. The best way to find out about the two Duchesses of Devonshire is to read the recent biography about Georgiana by Amanda Foreman which tells the brilliant story of the two duchesses amid a world of love, romance, deceit, adultery and money, from Georgiana's point of view. Then read this book from the 1890's written by a descendant of Elizabeth Foster, one member of the curious Devonshire menage-a-trois. There are letters from two-hundred years ago that tell a first hand account of events in Miss Foreman's book. They are fascinating and you meet many famous people of the day first hand, including Melbourne, Byron, George IV and Fox. I can't wait to read the modern day version of Elizabeth's story which can be found in Caroline Chapman's new book telling the story of Elizabeth Foster: 'Elizabeth and Georgiana: The Duke of Devonshire and His Two Duchesses' which has just been published. For any one who has not yet read about the Beautiful Duchess, her best friend and her husband it's about time you did. Vere Foster's book is essential reading, especially if you want to get an overview of the subjects of two very important eighteenth century figures and subjects of at least one brilliant modern bestselling biography. Read this and then read the two modern biographies and find out the truth!