Sex, fame and scandal in the theatrical, literary and social circles of late 18th-century England.

One of the most flamboyant women of the late-eighteenth century, Mary Robinson’s life was marked by reversals of fortune. After being raised by a middle-class father, Mary was married, at age fourteen, to Thomas Robinson. His dissipated lifestyle landed the couple and their baby in debtors' prison, where Mary wrote her first book of poetry and met lifelong friend Georgiana, the Duchess of Devonshire.

On her release, Mary quickly became one of the most popular actresses of the day, famously playing Perdita in ‘The Winter’s Tale’ for a rapt audience that included the Prince of Wales, who fell madly in love with her. She later used his copious love letters for blackmail.

This authoritative and engaging book presents a fascinating portrait of a woman who was variously darling of the London stage, a poet whose work was admired by Coleridge and a mistress to the most powerful men in England, and yet whose fortunes were nevertheless precarious, always on the brink of being squandered through recklessness, excess and passion.

Off travelling as part of the UK wishlist tag game. I hope you enjoy it.

Arrived safely today - thank you for the tag!

Despite my new varifocals the text is a bit small to read comfortably! I’ve downloaded a copy to my kindle and will update this journal entry once I’ve finished it.

Edited 26/7/23: I had this book originally on my wish list as it was part of the early Richard and Judy book recommendations. I’ve made it about a third of the way in and it’s just not my cup of tea at all! Hopefully someone else will find this more interesting.

Releasing into the Phone ‘Books’ (an old telephone box)