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Summary: An Excellent Biography from the 18th Century
Review: Amanda Foreman wrote that she became obsessed with Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, during the course of her research. Her obsession is understandable; the Duchess was and remains a compelling, dynamic, multi-faceted, tormented woman who was able to ignore convention and engage in "masculine" activities, all in her own style. Ms. Foreman does the Duchess justice by recounting her story in such a captivating manner. The caveat is that you find yourself emotionally invested in the Duchess' life and react to her triumphs and tragedies as if they were your own. If nothing else, you take away not only a deep regard for this woman, but also an understanding of the consequences of the choices we make daily. The Duchess of Devonshire inspires me to step through my own fears and risk failure and success.
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Summary: Georgiana
Review: Not liking it at all. It is hard to stay focused when reading. The book just doesn't flow well.
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Summary: Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire
Review: The only bad thing about this book is that it's inevitably going to end. If you love superbly written and beautifully researched biographies and have ANY interest whatsoever in history, you'll want to add this one to your library. The author, Amanda Foreman, is a former freelance journalist, which probably goes very far in explaining why the story is so incredibly absorbing. It reads like a novel. Typically, I actually knit while I read. With this book, I finally put my knitting aside because it was slowing down my reading! I admit to minoring in history in college, with a focus on British history, but I've learned all kinds of information that I never fully understood before. (The author also has a PhD from Oxford.) The only other biography I've read that comes close to this one was also written by another Amanda ... Amanda Vaill's Everybody was So Young. If you appreciated that one, you'll probably love reading about Amanda Foreman's Georgiana.
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Summary: Great bio, mindnumbing details
Review: I purchased this book based on numerous reviews (both here and elsehwere) and while I found the story of Georgiana fascinating, the book's overwhelming political passages forced me to put it down numerous times. I eventually abandoned it about 2/3 of the way through because I found myself paging through until I was beyond sections about Georgiana's political involvements. The author does a wonderful job of giving us the flavor of Georgiana's life and personality. However, if you only have a passing interest/knowledge (as I do) or no knowledge of English political history, I'd say to pass this one up.
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Summary: Biography?
Review: Despite the author's meticulous documentation/footnoting and attention to detail, this book reads much more like a novel than any bio I've ever read....It's a real page-turner...I can't put it down!
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Summary: The Spencers-A Remarkable Family
Review: This was a great book. I study the British Royalty and have for years. This book interested me initially because it was about the Duchess of Devonshire and I wanted to know more. Here is the great part of it, the way it related to the late Diana, Princess of Wales. If you only look at the photographs, there is a remarkable resemblance to the current Earl Spencer, Charles, brother of Diana who spoke the words at his sister's funeral and touched the world. The gallery has paintings that go back to the 17th Century, if you look closely, the current Earl resembles that one of two centuries ago. It is very hard to put down and an enjoyable read that is true and is history.
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Summary: Absolutely Bloody Fantastic
Review: I would like to congratulate Ms Foreman on a book that I could not put down. I can't wait to see if she writes another book. Please hurry up !
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Summary: More History This Good And Reading Of Fiction Will Decline
Review: That this book was The Whitbread Award Winner, and a tremendous success in The Duchess Of Devonshire's own country, is no surprise. However as an avid reader of History I was pleasantly surprised at the book's popularity here. This book was published when the Authoress Foreman was 30 years old, and was produced while she was even younger. To me this makes this Biography of Georgiana all the more impressive, as it can, and will stand with historical works by other writers twice her age and more. I also believe Ms. Foreman's youth allowed her to bring The Duchess to us as her peer in age, which allowed more objectivity, and a candid portrayal that was brutally honest but never derogatory for it's own sake. That this is the first work of Ms. Foreman's is simply amazing. History has great moments, but even the most interesting periods of time, or the life of one extraordinary life can be numbing to read. The Biographies go on forever in tedious detail that leaves the reader exhausted. Ms. Foreman writes what is necessary, she uses the space she needs, and the result is a remarkable amount of information related, in an efficient manner. Not only do we learn about The Duchess, for additionally Ms. Foreman fills her story with all manner of events surrounding the Duchess and Europe at large, to convey even more information. The life of The Duchess must be read to be appreciated. This woman filled her relatively short life with more accomplishments, and amassed more influence, that today her life is as enjoyable and impressive to experience as a reader, as it must have been exciting to witness 200 years ago. The word Renaissance is used to describe an individual of multiple talents at which they excel. The word has no more appropriate person to attach itself to. The Duchess, was there, did everything, created and set the tenor of society, and did it all to the absolute extreme. She was not perfect, but she was remarkable. Her exploits of 2 centuries ago make those of today's public figures rather pale. An excellent read, a remarkable debut, and hopefully the first in a string of work that Ms. Foreman will relate.
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Summary: the age of excesses
Review: I am a novice at historical biographies and this one prooves an amazing read! After the first page the colourful lives of the Duchesses,the Dukes,the Ladies and the Lords became irrisitable.Imagine being a fly on the wall in this extraordinary regency yarn. The book is so well reserched and constructed by the author that it is wholly believable.It is a fascinating insight into the decadence of the ton,the enormously wealthy and titled set with little to do but enjoy themselves by every possible means,sex gambling,drugs and politics are just a few of the diversion.A must read book!
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Summary: Thank you Ms Foreman
Review: why is this the best book i've read in ages? besides foreman's great style and subject matter, here is the opportunity to connect with a unique woman who flaunts all of our weaknesses and excesses and still remains true to herself. This is one of those life changing books that makes you examine yr own life in a different (maybe kinder) way. It's fascinating to ponder how much Foreman's obvious love for her subject has affected her portrait - but what emerges is a beautiful canvas, and a rigorous political examination of the times, regardless. If you like Georgiana, you ought to read Susan Sontag's The Volcano Lover. I thot she'd made most of that up until i read this book. We westerners have come a long way politically, but what we've made up for in decorum we've managed to lose in pure human interest. and i finally understand the british tabloid affair with royalty. Vive la reine!
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