Influential yet vulnerable – a woman of her time

Georgiana Spencer was the Duchess of Devonshire at the end of the eighteenth century. This book, Georgiana, by Amanda Foreman is a biography of her which naturally includes some social history of the time to understand her life in context. It’s well written and a story that will leave you feeling very sad, or possibly very angry. The book was retitled The Duchess later to tie in with a film of the events – I haven’t seen the film and mine was an older copy.

Georgiana came from a very wealthy family who had high expectations for her marriage which she fulfilled by becoming a Duchess. She was determined to meet the expectations of her family and the Spencer family into which she married and this left her uncertain and nervous. She became an addicted gambler, raking up huge debts, and a leader and fashion setter in society. She found her place, however, in politics where she became the most sought after hostess in society, politicians confided in her and asked for her advice and she even campaigned in public. Of course women couldn’t vote at this time (nor could most men) but Georgiana was influential in public and with individual men of power. Had she been born in modern times she would have had a career in her own right rather than propping up notable men.

Georgiana had a hard personal life. Her husband installed a mistress whose children were brought up with hers and she, herself, had affairs. It seems like she had little tenderness and kindness in her life and was always seeking it. Her debts caused her significant problems although she never seemed to give up gambling.

This is a good biography, filled with extracts from the Duchess’s letters and writings. It’s fascinating to see how vulnerable a rich woman was in some ways but also how powerful she could become. I enjoyed reading this.