On Friday 25th May, 1934, a forty-one-year-old woman walked into the lobby of Claridge’s Hotel to meet the nineteen-year-old son whose face she did not know. Fifteen years earlier, as the First World War ended, Idina Sackville shocked high society by leaving his multimillionaire father to run off to Africa with a near penniless man.

An inspiration for Nancy Mitford's character The Bolter, painted by William Orpen, and photographed by Cecil Beaton, Sackville went on to divorce a total of five times, yet died with a picture of her first love by her bed. Her struggle to reinvent her life with each new marriage left one husband murdered and branded her the ‘high priestess’ of White Mischief’s bed-hopping Happy Valley in Kenya.

Sackville’s life was so scandalous that it was kept a secret from her great-granddaughter Frances Osborne. Now, Osborne tells the moving tale of betrayal and heartbreak behind Sackville’s road to scandal and return, painting a dazzling portrait of high society in the early twentieth century.

A very well researched and written biography. This is not my favourite genre and I couldn't put it down. I have nothing but respect for the author in her handling of a difficult subject, especially as Idina Sackville is a direct ancestor.

I'm taking this to a mini meet-up for lunch at Mrs Bridges. It is on Sparkish's Wishlist, so I hope it gets to her!

This was passed on to me to pass on to Sparkish. Sorry for the delay, it's going in the post today.

On it's way to Sparkish.

This has arrived safe and sound in Fleckney. Sorry about the delay in journaling - I have just got back from holiday! Thank you Cross-patch and raeliz64 It was a lovely surprise when I saw what it was and I will look forward to reading it.

Finished this morning, a really interesting read. I had no prior knowledge of Happy Valley in Kenya or the things that went on there and I hope to find out more when I have the opportunity! I realise I am looking at this through a modern lense but I felt rather sorry for Idina. In spite of all the misbehaviour and questionable decisions she seems to have been a very caring and courageous woman who just wanted to be loved.

I will try and find a new home for this one soon. I might take it the the Nottingham meet later this month.

Released at the Nottingham meet up

Picked this up at the Nottingham Meet up I look forward to reading.