The sylph by georgiana cavendish, duchess of devonshire. Elizabeth cavendish, duchess of devonshire wikipedia. Georgiana, duchess of devonshire was one of the most flamboyant and influential women of the eighteenth century. Amanda foremans 1998 bestselling book, georgiana duchess of devonshire, was the inspiration for the film the duchess. This woman wasnt just another pretty face under a big wig with an unusual home situation oh, no. Elizabeth supplanted the duchess, gaining the affections of william cavendish, 5th duke of devonshire, and later marrying him. When georgiana was still a teenager, a loaded aristocrat came knocking.
Georgiana cavendish, duchess of devonshire wikipedia. Duchess of devonshire by amanda foreman 9780006550167 qbd books. The duchess, which opens on september 5, tells the story of georgiana cavendish keira knightly, the duchess of devonshire image 1 of 5 lady georgiana spencer was just 17. Maybe youve read amanda foremans brilliant book amanda foreman interview at chiswick house the sylph. Georgiana cavendish duchess of devonshire 17571806 duration. The erotic liberal, and editor of byron s corbeau blanc. Except for the cover depicting keira knightley as georgiana, duchess of devonshire, it is essentially the same book. She was politically active, a progressive thinker, had an atrocious gambling habit that kept her perpetually in debt and suffered from an unfortunate, sometimes unhappy, marriage.
Algy pug, celine major, larry wilson, devorah allen, kevins, toddhw, kirksvoice, jim. The duchess, 2008, is a film biopic, portraying georgiana as both a victim and a social activist. Buy the sylph complete by devonshire, georgiana cavendish, duchess of isbn. Born in england at althrop house, the spencer family home, in an age when women were often ornamental pawns in family power plays, georgiana rose above what was expected of her and made history by following her heart and desires. The sylph by georgiana duchess of devonshire, paperback. The scandalous affairs of elizabeth cavendish, duchess of. Georgiana cavendish, duchess of devonshire 17571806. There for, her novel, which contains many autobiographical plots, has been published anonymously. She was a close friend of marie antoinette and an ancestor of diana spencer. Northwestern university press georgiana cavendish, duchess of devonshire wikipaedia the duchess dvd. The movie is loosely based on amanda foremans biography, georgiana. Amanda foreman is a visiting research fellow at queen mary, university of london. Georgiana, duchess of devonshire, by brian masters,1981 georgiana.
While the 25yearold dukes money and prestige definitely enticed her family, georgiana became interested in her suitor for emotional reasons. Since the 1920s, four films have been made about her mostinteresting life. We would like to reassure you that the health and wellbeing of our visitors and staff is our number one priority. Duchess of devonshire, the film concentrates on only about 10 years in georgianas life, starting with her arranged. The sylph by georgiana cavendish, duchess of devonshire 1757 1806 genres. See more ideas about georgiana cavendish, the duchess of devonshire and georgiana duchess of devonshire. As to georgiana s rival, lady elizabeth foster, she married the duke after georgiana s death, albeit with georgiana s approval. Lady georgiana spencer was the greatgreatgreatgreataunt of diana, princess of wales, and was nearly as famous in her day. Deborah cavendish, duchess of devonshire wikipedia.
The sylph is a partly autobiographical novel attributed to georgiana cavendish, duchess of devonshire. Georgiana would have to rise early, pray, instruct the children or servants, then read an improving book, and above all make it a rule to be among the first to church, and to shew by my good humour and attention to everybody that i saw nothing in religion or a sunday to make people silent, illbred or uncomfortable. Georgiana, duchess of devonshire, was one of the most charismatic figures in georgian society. When the second duchess of devonshire died some twenty years later, her stepson, william cavendish, 6th duke of devonshire, excluded all her friends from her deathbed until she was speechless. The sylph georgiana duchess of devonshire, georgiana. Very good condition with only minor signs of external wear. Launched into a world of wealth and power, she quickly became the queen of fashionable society, adored by the prince of wales, a dear friend of marieantoinette, and leader of. You voted and we are pleased to present the first winner of our guaranteed content poll georgiana spencer cavendish, the duchess of devonshire. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Georgiana, the duchess of devonshire, was a complicated lady. Duchess of devonshire, which was adapted for the screen as the duchess. Georgiana, duchess of devonshire, is the biography of a most unusual woman. Jenny lynn yes, the duchess is about this woman, georgiana. The author was thought to have been sophia briscoe, a contemporary novelist, or fanny burney, author of evelina which was published at about the same time. The duchess is a 1998 biography of the 18thcentury english aristocrat georgiana spencer cavendish, duchess of devonshire, later made into a film. Georgiana cavendish, duchess of devonshire was an english socialite, political organizer. Georgiana combined a perfect mastery of etiquette with a mischievous grace and ease which met with approval in the artificial and mannered atmosphere of the french court. Since 1774, georgiana had been the wife of william cavendish, 5th duke of devonshire.
Based on amanda foremans 1998 bestselling biography, georgiana. A brief biography of georgiana, duchess of devonshire, friend of george. She was reputed to be the model for one of the characters in sheridans play a school for scandal. Georgiana cavendish, duchess of devonshire nee spencer. Today marks the anniversary of the last day of georgianas life and as a special request for a regular visitor, my article today is an account of the death of georgiana, duchess of devonshire. She was seventeen years old when she married the 5th duke of devonshire in 1774. It was her second printed work and was published anonymously under the name a young lady.
Georgiana, duchess of devonshire, at chiswick house. Its a gorgeous movie starring kiera knightley as georgiana cavendish, duchess of devonshire. Affectionately known as gee, she was renowned for her style and her involvement in politics. Georgiana cavendish, duchess of devonshire foreman, amanda. Unfortunately for georgiana s male fans, the heiress wasnt on the market for long. She was the youngest and last surviving of the six mitford sisters, who were prominent members of english society in the 1930s and 1940s. Georgiana cavendish, duchess of devonshire 7 june 1757 30 march 1806, was a leading member of late georgian society, famous for her extrovert personality, her extravagant fashions and her championing of the whigs led by charles. Wherever georgiana accompanied lady spencer people marvelled at the way in which she seemed so natural and yet also conscious of being on show. Elizabeth christiana cavendish, duchess of devonshire may 1758 30 march 1824 was an english novelist and aristocrat. Chiswick house, london costumes from the film the duchess, designed by micheal oconnor, supplied by cosprop, april 2009. Jonathan david gross is a professor and the director of the depaul university humanities center. Luckily, his visit to the devonshire family around 1798 resulted in three portraits of georgianas three legitimate children, little g, harryo, and hart. In 1774 georgiana achieved immediate celebrity by marrying william cavendish, fifth duke of devonshire, one of englands richest and most influential aristocrats. He was eleven years her senior and one of only a handful whose wealth exceeded the spencers.
Lady georgiana spencer, socialite and leading political hostess of the 18th century, held court over a circle of influence and fashion at devonshire house in london. Georgiana, duchess of devonshire, like her descendant, diana, princess fo wales, was publicly adored but personally troubled. She was an author, a mother, a fashion trend setter, and a political powerhouse. Though, i must apologise for the notsogreat quality of the photos. Unfortunately for georgianas male fans, the heiress wasnt on the market for long. Todays deals your gift cards help whole foods registry. Educated as an undergraduate at sarah lawrence college and with masters and doctorate degrees in history from oxford university, she is now married with five children and lives in new york. Georgianna cavendish, duchess of devonshire was one of the leading ladies of her time. Henry howard was a wellknown portraitist and history painter in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, who unfortunately doesnt get as much notice nowadays. Georgiana spencer was, in a sense, an 18thcentury it girl.
Did i mention she lived in the late 1700 and early 1800s. Deborah vivien cavendish, duchess of devonshire, dcvo born deborah vivien freemanmitford and latterly deborah, dowager duchess of devonshire. The greatgreatgreatgreat aunt of diana, princess of wales, she was variously a compulsive gambler, a political savante and operator of the highest order, a drug addict, an adulteress and the darling of the common people. Amanda foreman does a good job of finding a balance between excessive praise of the duchess and berating her too harshly for her faults. Georgiana may not have been a great genius, but she was reasonably intelligent. The duke of devonshire and his two duchesses, by caroline chapman, 2003. Cavendish, georgiana spencer duchess of devonshire 1757. Her father, john spencer, 1st earl spencer, was a greatgrandson of john churchill, 1st duke of. It was published anonymously in two volumes by thomas lowndes and offered for sale at the price of 5s sewed, or 6s bound in december 1778. This is a stunning book about an astonishing woman. In 1774, at the age of 17, she married william cavendish, the 5th duke of devonshire.
The sylph is a 1778 novel by georgiana cavendish, the duchess of devonshire. The sylph complete paperback june 8, 2015 by duchess of devonshire, georgiana cavendish author. Beauty a natural compliment, the everyday book and table book. A lot of people are intrigued to know the true story of georgiana, the flamboyant central character played by keira knightley in the film the duchess. Georgiana spencer cavendish, duchess of devonshire, was born in the eighteenth century and died in the early nineteenth century, but her life was very modern in many ways. In 1774, at the age of seventeen, georgiana achieved immediate celebrity by marrying one of englands richest and most influential aristocrats, the duke of devonshire. Not so long after sharing the final hours of the iconic georgiana, duchess of devonshire, we find ourselves returning to chatsworth to meet her friend and the woman who followed her as duchess, elizabeth cavendish. Georgiana, duchess of devonshire by amanda foreman amanda. Of noble birth from the spencer family, married into the cavendish family, she was the first wife of william cavendish, 5th duke of devonshire, and the mother of the 6th duke of.
See more ideas about georgiana cavendish, the duchess of devonshire. The book mentions the aspects of a womans life concerning her role as wife and her. Lady georgiana spencer was the greatgreatgreatgreataunt of diana, princess of wales, and was nearly. Adultery aristocracy social class arranged marriage cavendish, georgiana spencer, duchess of devonshire, courts and courtiers devonshire, elizabeth cavendish,duchess of, devonshire, william cavendish,duke of, dramatists, english duchies england english fiction film adaptations foreman, amanda, foster, elizabeth gordon, jane gordon. Original hardcover with original dustjacket in protective collectors mylar. The duchess of devonshire was the most celebrated and influential woman of her time. Georgiana, duchess of devonshire by amanda foreman. See more ideas about duchess devonshire, mitford sisters and the duchess of devonshire. Georgiana duchess of devonshire houses with history. Her relationship with the devonshires was a far from orthodox one, as we will see. She is best known as lady elizabeth foster, the close friend of georgiana cavendish, duchess of devonshire. Lady elizabeth, known to her friends as bess, was born to frederick hervey, later to be 4th earl of.