Lady Worsleys Whim: The divorce that Scandalised Georgian England by Hallie Rubenhold (2008-12-16) By texasbeerguide.com
Summary Lady Worsleys Whim: The divorce that Scandalised Georgian England by Hallie Rubenhold (2008-12-16)
Their marriage had the makings of a fairy tale but ended as one of the most salacious and highly publicized divorces in history.In February 1782, England opened its newspapers to read the details of Sir Richard Worsley vs. George Maurice Bisset, a Criminal Conversation trial in which the aggrieved Sir Richard attempted to sue his wifes lover for an astronomical £20,000 in damages. In the course of the proceedings, the Worsleys scandalous sexual arrangements, voyeuristic tendencies and bed hopping antics were laid bare.Lady Worsleys Whim is the story of a marriage between two opposing personalities; a stoic, art collecting empiricist and a passionate romantic. Their tale is driven by the consequences of a terrible error of judgment made at a bath house on a summers afternoon. The aftermath of this whim altered their lives forever. This fascinating story has lain buried in long forgotten newspapers, overlooked pamphlets, yello Lady Worsleys Whim: The divorce that Scandalised Georgian England by Hallie Rubenhold (2008-12-16)
Being very familiar with Lady Worsley's family home, Harewood, I was fascinated to learn the history of this extraordinary woman, whose portrait I have seen many times. It's a really good read, like a novel than a biography. texasbeerguide.com The true story in this book centres around a scandal of the late eighteenth century in England, where Sir Richard and Lady Worsley’s marriage came under the close scrutiny of a nation. Sir Richard Worsley married Seymour Fleming in 1775. Sir Richard gained a wife, position and great wealth, as Seymour’s late father had been a man who was able to pass down estates and money to both his daughters. Seymour gained position, respectability and an entrée to the fashionable world, as well as the excitement of being a married woman. It does seem however that neither really know the other terribly well before they embarked upon the lifelong commitment.The narrative offers a blow by blow (as it were) account of the fracturing and ultimate breakdown of the Worsley’s marriage and the titillating trial for criminal conversation that Sir Richard brought against his wife and her paramour George Bisset in 1782. Trials of this nature were not terribly common, and it was clear to Society and the broader public that Sir Richard sought to gain his pound of flesh from his wife and his former friend and colleague after they fled together.The story of Sir Richard, and of Seymour makes for riveting reading. The author has taken every source she could lay her hands on, and written an enthralling tale, all the scandalous and entrancing for its truth. We learn of Richard and Seymour’s earlier lives, their marriage, and the fallout for both of them that ensued following the very public separation and ultimate divorce. It makes for interesting reading, not only for the detail of these lives, but also for the culture and times in which they lived. What went on in public was very different from what people allowed, and knew, to go on in private, and it is this line of division between acceptable and not acceptable that the Worsleys crossed in their public scandal.An utterly intriguing, enthralling and very readable non fictional account of two people amongst the broader eighteenth century world of Society in England, this is definitely highly recommended. texasbeerguide.com A very well written book, my husband had finished his history book when we were on holiday recently, didn't think he would like this one but also loved it. texasbeerguide.com Fabulous book. An extraordinary story and reads like a novel. I could not put this down and it has such a satisfying ending. A 'must read' for anyone interested in the Georgian era. Excellent writing. texasbeerguide.com This secondhand hand book arrived in mint condition, at a remarkable price and earlier than anticipated.An engrossing read! texasbeerguide.com