Societys Queen, Anne deCourcy
Societys Queen, Anne deCourcy
List: $24.99 | Sale: $17.50
Club: $12.49

Society's Queen
The Life of Edith, Marchioness of Londonderry

Author: Anne deCourcy

Narrator: Charlotte Strevens

Unabridged: 14 hr 32 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 06/08/2021


Synopsis

From the author of the critically acclaimed The Viceroy's Daughters, the story of a glittering aristocrat who was also at the heart of political society in the interwar years.

At the age of twenty-one, Edith Chaplin married one of the most eligible bachelors of the day, the eldest son of the sixth Marquess of Londonderry. Her husband served in the Ulster cabinet and was Air Minister in the National Government of 1934–5. Edith founded the Women's Legion during the First World War and was also an early campaigner for women's suffrage. She created the renowned Mount Stewart Gardens in County Down that are now owned by the National Trust.

All her life, Edith remained at the heart of politics both in Westminster and Ireland. She is perhaps best known for her role as "society's queen"—a hostess to the rich and famous. Her close circle of friends included Winston Churchill, Lady Astor, Neville Chamberlain, and Harold Macmillan who congregated in her salon, known as "The Ark." Other members included artists and writers such as John Buchan, Sean O'Casey. Britain's first Labour prime minister, Ramsey MacDonald, became romantically obsessed by her.

About Anne deCourcy

Anne de Courcy is a well-known writer and journalist. In the 1970s she was Woman's Editor on the London Evening News and in the 1980s she was a regular feature-writer for the Evening Standard. She is also a former feature writer and reviewer for the Daily Mail. Her books include The Viceroy's Daughters and Debs at War.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Emily on April 14, 2025

Leuk boek. heel anders dan wat ik normaal lees, want normaal lees ik fictie, maar wel interessant om te lezen.......more

Goodreads review by Jim on November 26, 2012

What a fabulous book, it gives a deep insight into the decadent society of the aristocrats from the end of the nineteenth century up to the mid twentieth. At times you have such empathy with Edith that you wonder if it had not been for the wealth of the Londonderry family, would she have stayed with......more

Goodreads review by Carolyn on December 08, 2024

An enjoyable biography of Edith Vane-Tempest-Stewart, Marchioness of Londonderry, which captures the flavour of her times. Anne de Courcy is especially interested in Lady Londonderry's public image including her work as a suffragist and as Colonel in Chief of the Women's Volunteer Reserve during the......more

Goodreads review by Susan on February 01, 2022

1st of all I did not expect that this would be a book about politics and military history, I expected it would be about social history and "society" so I was disappointed in that. 2nd of all I was disappointed that the last chapter of the book breezed over all of the things I wish they had actually......more

Goodreads review by Royce on December 25, 2018

A wonderful book that I found of immense interest. A great window into the lifestyles of past generations of 'upper-crust' society. Read for personal research after seeing the estate home featured on a television antique related show. I found this book's contents inspiring - number rating relates to t......more