Emma, Lady Hamilton, rose from poverty to become a media celebrity,
and her relationship with Admiral Nelson, and her renowned beauty,
made her the most instantly-recognisable woman of her era, with the
press following her every move. She was a friend of Queen Maria
Carolina of Naples, longed-after by the Prince of Wales, and was a
high society fashion icon. Born in 1765, Emma was the daughter of
the village blacksmith in Neston, Cheshire, who died just two
months later, leaving the family in difficult circumstances. After
failing to find a permanent position locally, Emma took the
stagecoach to London and the start of her remarkable journey to
international fame. Emma worked for various actresses at Dury Lane
theatre, before becoming a dancer, a model and, later, a hostess.
Her beauty brought her to the attention of Charles Grenville, the
second son of the Earl of Warwick, who took her as his mistress,
and became the model for the painter George Romney. These paintings
thrust Emma into the social spotlight and she soon became London's
top celebrity. When Grenville needed to find a rich wife, Emma was
passed onto Sir William Hamilton, British Envoy to Naples. The
couple fell in love and were married in September 1791. When in
Naples, Lady Hamilton, as she now was, became a close friend of
Queen Maria Carolina, sister of Marie Antoinette. It was also in
Naples that she met Admiral Nelson - and the great love affair
began. Much has been written about this later period of her life,
but with Hugh Tours making full use of the letters Emma wrote as
well as those she received throughout her life, the fascinating
story of her early years is also revealed. This is history as
moving as a great tragic novel; most moving of all, being the
return, after Trafalgar, of Emma's last letter to Nelson, unopened.
General
Imprint: |
Frontline Books
|
Country of origin: |
United Kingdom |
Release date: |
February 2020 |
Authors: |
Hugh, Tours,
|
Dimensions: |
234 x 156 x 27mm (L x W x T) |
Format: |
Hardcover
|
Pages: |
288 |
ISBN-13: |
978-1-5267-7043-1 |
Categories: |
Books >
Humanities >
History >
General
Books >
History >
General
|
LSN: |
1-5267-7043-1 |
Barcode: |
9781526770431 |
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