Based on unpublished letters and diaries, The Viceroy’s Daughters is a riveting portrait of three spirited and wilful women who were born at the height of British upper-class wealth and privilege.The oldest, Irene, never married but pursued her passion for foxes, alcohol, and married men. The middle, Cimmie, was a Labour Party activist turned Fascist. And Baba, the youngest and most beautiful, … most beautiful, possessed an appetite for adultery that was as dangerous as it was outrageous.
As the sisters dance, dine, and romance their way through England’s most hallowed halls, we get an intimate look at a country clinging to its history in the midst of war and rapid change. We obtain fresh perspectives on such personalities as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Oswald Mosley, Nancy Astor and the Cliveden Set, and Lord Halifax. And we discover a world of women, impeccably bred and unabashedly wilful, whose passion and spirit were endlessly fascinating.
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The writer covered an extended period of years which enhances the reader’s desire to read on. The unfolding of many many personal and historic events are very interesting and surprising. The upper status of the three sisters and others mentioned in the book is also quite revealing especially during the war. I enjoyed this book.
What a story of a political family. Lord Curzon and his daughters. Each one
a different character but all interested in society and politics.
Covers many influential people in the British government and society.
A wildly interesting period in history and a wildly interesting family living through it.
Seemed very thoroughly researched and ended feeling I actually KNEW some of these people and places.
If you love history and the time period, this could be the book for you.
I was occasionally tired of the drama-queen aspect of the sisters but it still remained interesting.
This book had the best account of the abdication of Edward VIII and his marriage to Wallis Warfield Simpson that I have ever read. The British people dodged a bullet by his abdication and it was their good fortune that two selfish and vague people found one another. With the exception of one half of Winston Churchill, Simpson is probably the …
This is a fascinating biography of the lives of 3 sisters whose father was a viceroy of India. They are born in the late 1800’s and lived through 2 world wars and all the changes that come with that. After they were children in India, they returned to England and since they had money (at times) they grew up quite privileged. One of the girl’s …
Dry
Much too long!
Wow, this is a lesson in living through two wars as an almost royal. It is amazing history showing life in England at all levels. It shows how Churchill lived, how the Duke of Windsor lived (in both his lives), and how their households worked. The reader is in the midst of it all. It was hard to put down.
Not everyone would want to spend time reading this long book, but it was interesting to me to read behind the scenes in England before and during WWII from the viewpoint of the upper crust. It’s not a pretty picture (the prime minister playing musical chairs when Hitler invades Poland?) This is also when the king abdicated and one of the main …
Not worth reading.
It’s fascinating to learn about people involved with famous characters from history.
Great look into royal / famous people’s lives in that time period. The Author did an outstanding job taking you back to that time period for a great insight into History.
It is an okay book. Not a page turner. Somewhat informative.
I always pick up these types of books thinking I’ll learn something, but no, just another who-slept-with-whom.
Life back in the day was a lot different
Boring. Like reading an endless stack of old newspapers. At the end the writer seemed tired of her subjects as well and just wrapped their lives up in a few paragraphs. Not recommended.