Aristocrats - books on, or by

[Humera]

I was wondering if anyone here has read the book "Aristocrats" by Stella Tillyard. The book is based on the correspondence between Caroline, Emily, Louisa, and Sarah Lennox, great-grand-daughters of Charles II of Great Britain and his mistress Louise de Keroualle, and daughters of the 2nd Duke of Richmond.The four sisters wrote literally thousands of letters to each other and Stella Tillyard's book mainly draws from this rich correspondence. The book was also made into a sumptuous mini-series a couple of years ago.
There's also an illustrated companion book to the mini-series. I bought it a couple of days ago and its truly amazing.
I'd recommend it to anyone who loves history like myself. Both the book and the illustrated companion are full of details about daily life, fashion, and social customs of the eighteenth century.

[Julian]

Hi Humera, did you have a chance to see the television series that was based on this book? It was a British made series (big surprise! and came out about four or five years ago and was excellent. The saddest part of the series was the story of the doomed son of the Duchess of Leinster, he took part in the Irish rebellions and was ultimately sentenced to death. The Duchess could not save him even though she pleaded desperately for his life.

[hillary_nugent]

Sounds interesting....what is the TV series called?

[Julian]

hillary, the tv series is the same name, "Aristocrats". I can't remember who was in the cast, other than the actress who played the Duchess of Leinster in her later years, and that was Sian Phillips who used to be married to the great Peter O'Toole. I haven't searched for the details but you can probably find them if you browse on the entertainment info website imdb.com

[hillary_nugent]

thanks Julian ^____^

[Humera]

yeah I saw the TV series a couple of years ago. Im dying to get it on DVD.
It was absolutely sumptuous with all the magnificent gowns and jewels!
And the reason I especially loved it was because its all based on history, on people who actually lived during the 18th and 19th centuries, people who became famous figures of history, like the Duchess of Lienster's son Edward Fitzgerald, and her nephew Charles James Fox.
If anyone gets their hands on the Illustrated companion to the series, I'd highly recommend it. Its not full of recycled material from the book, nor is a typical "making of" guide. Its actually got tons more information about the lives of the Lennox sisters, daily life in the 18th century and gorgeous pictures of the sisters' homes etc.

[semisquare]

humera

i agree completely, i loved both the book and the tv series. its was wonderfuly done and the costumes were breathtaken. as with history- no extra drama is needed as the tv series shown.

[Humera]

Its a shame that so many of the sisters' letters were destroyed, either by their descendants or as in the case of Louisa, at her death in accordance with her will.

[rchainho]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article...739000,00.html

Biography: The Princess and The Politicians by John Charmley
REVIEWED BY ADAM ZAMOYSKI
THE PRINCESS AND THE POLITICIANS: Sex, Intrigue and Diplomacy, 1812-40
by John Charmley

Viking £20 pp350

NI_MPU('middle');Princess Lieven has had more than her fair share of books written about her. And not surprisingly. This exotic Russian aristocrat intrigued and slept her way through an extraordinary array of statesmen, including Metternich, Wellington, Aberdeen, Canning, Grey and Guizot, and was the first non-royal woman in history to attain a central position in European politics and diplomacy.

[tiaraprin]

Thank you for telling us about the book Rchaino!! It is much appreciated!!

[Alastair_r]

Any good books out about high society, aristocrats and nobility ? X

[GlitteringTiaras]

A book that is simply fantastic, by a historian with whom I greatly admire, David Cannadine, is The Decline and Fall of the British Aristocracy. You might also want to read Ornamentalism: How the British Saw Their Empire; however, the book is more about "how class was the engine for Empire..." compared to The Decline and Fall of the British Aristocracy.


The above mentioned books may be a good jump start, but if you are looking for something more specific, i.e. the aristocracy today, you might want to buy the video of the four part documentary entitled, The Aristocracy. Released by the BBC a couple of years ago the series is invaluable soruce for those who are seriously intereseted in the history British aristocracy as well as their place in today's society (which questions their relevance; as the late 11th Duke of Devonshire noted "...they are a spent force...")

Good luck in your search

[Warren]

Another recommendation:
Aristocrats by Robert Lacey (based on his BBC TV series of the same name)
First published 1983. ISBN 0 09 154290 1

The book covers six families:
• Duke of Westminster (the Grosvenors)
• Duchess of Medinaceli (the most titled woman in the world)
• Thurn und Taxis (the late Prince Johannes)
• Frescobaldi (long-term friends of the Prince of Wales)
• Marquis de Ganay
• Liechtenstein (the late Prince Franz Josef II)

[Alastair_r]

Can anyone recomend any books on royalty, high society or the jet set ? X

[RoyallyRich]

Hello!Well there is not alot of books out there that merges these two things.In books of high society like those written by the late great Society writer like Stephen Birmingham,there are hints of European Royalty and comparisons here and there.My favorite books by him is America's Secret Aristocracy and The Right People.There is also the 2004 big Assouline coffee table book celebrating the life and style of Venezuelan Grandee and American fashion designer Caroline Herrera.There are few mentions of British Royalty and a picture with King Juan Carlos and Princess Margaret.
Also read Robert Lacey's book called Aristocrats.Most likely you already have.Alot of bios on Jackie Kennedy constantly stress this subject.It is a great idea to write a book on this.There seems to be not a single book out there that focuses on this.You should write it Alistair,and make millions and you better send me a signed copy!

[Incas]

Originally Posted by Alastair_r

Can anyone recomend any books on royalty, high society or the jet set ? X

Well, you can start with checking in your local library for books on the royal family, or a particular royal/aristocrat you are interested in.

[Elspeth]

If you look through this forum, you'll see all sorts of recommendations of books on royalty. Last month's book-of-the-month choice was "The Marlborough House Set," which is about Edward VII's aristocratic set of friends. If you want something more up-to-date, I'm sure the threads in this forum will give you some leads.

[Madame Royale]

Not sure about books, but you could always hire out High Society which features Grace Kelly (HSH The Princess of Monaco) and Bing Crosby...

[Elly C]

I know its a while since you first posted this question but I have a few ideas for books on Royalty & High Society etc. RoyallyRich mentioned Assouline publications - well quite a few of their titles bridge these two areas. " Royal Holidays" for example. It's worth looking at their website. They are coffee table books but there's a fair amount to text too.
If you are interested from a historical perspective, Charles Graves "Royal Riviera" is excellent now out of print, but fairly easy to pick up.
I have a particular interest in reading about the social history of the South of France/Monaco & can also recommend"Cote D'Azur (Inventing the French Riviera)" by Mary Blume & " When the Rviera Was Ours" by Patrick Howarth

[RubyPrincess168]

I stumbled up Stephen Birmingham's America's Secret Aristocracy in Half Price Books, bought it and loved it. I reread it alot! I also have High Society: The History of America's Upper Class and Royal Holidays on my Christmas wish list. They're both by Assouline.