Elizabeth: The Scandalous Life of the Duchess of Kingston - Hardcover

Gervat, Claire

  • 3.45 out of 5 stars
    29 ratings by Goodreads
 
9780712614511: Elizabeth: The Scandalous Life of the Duchess of Kingston
Hardcover
ISBN 10: 0712614516 ISBN 13: 9780712614511
Publisher: Century, 2003

Synopsis

The fascinating and delightfully entertaining story of the eighteenth century beauty and bigamist -- Elizabeth Chudleigh.

In 1743 Elizabeth Chudleigh, an exceptional beauty, was appointed maid of honour to Augusta, Princess of Wales. She was soon surrounded by a crowd of admirers. The next year, in a secret ceremony, she married John Hervey, a naval lieutenant and brother of the Earl of Bristol. Hervey immediately returned to sea, and by 1747 their marriage was effectively over. Elizabeth continued to revel in court life, letting herself be known as “Miss Chudleigh.” Causing raised eyebrows at her frivolous behaviour, she became known for the best parties in London. She also became mistress to the Duke of Kingston.

In 1768, when Hervey asked for a divorce, Elizabeth refused him, fearing a scandal. All the same she was keen to marry the Duke of Kingston, and in February 1769 she won a case in the ecclesiastical courts, which ruled her a spinster. She and the duke were married by special license soon after. When the duke died in 1773, his nephew, furious that he hadn’t been the main beneficiary of his uncle’s will, leveled a charge of bigamy against Elizabeth. The trial took place in the House of Lords in 1776 and attracted tremendous attention.

After five days of a packed House of Lords, with counterfeit tickets on sale due to the demand, Elizabeth was found guilty of bigamy, overturning the ecclesiastical court ruling. But Hervey’s brother, the Earl of Bristol had died, passing his title on to Hervey, so Elizabeth escaped punishment by claiming the benefit of peerage. She spent the rest of her life in Europe buying properties in France and St. Petersburg, where she charmed Catherine the Great and set up a brandy distillery.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

About the Author

Claire Gervat writes “The Trader”, a humorous weekly column about the life of a fictional city girl, for
The Independent.

From the Inside Flap

The fascinating and delightfully entertaining story of the eighteenth century beauty and bigamist -- Elizabeth Chudleigh.

In 1743 Elizabeth Chudleigh, an exceptional beauty, was appointed maid of honour to Augusta, Princess of Wales. She was soon surrounded by a crowd of admirers. The next year, in a secret ceremony, she married John Hervey, a naval lieutenant and brother of the Earl of Bristol. Hervey immediately returned to sea, and by 1747 their marriage was effectively over. Elizabeth continued to revel in court life, letting herself be known as ?Miss Chudleigh.? Causing raised eyebrows at her frivolous behaviour, she became known for the best parties in London. She also became mistress to the Duke of Kingston.

In 1768, when Hervey asked for a divorce, Elizabeth refused him, fearing a scandal. All the same she was keen to marry the Duke of Kingston, and in February 1769 she won a case in the ecclesiastical courts, which ruled her a spinster. She and the duke were married by special license soon after. When the duke died in 1773, his nephew, furious that he hadn?t been the main beneficiary of his uncle?s will, leveled a charge of bigamy against Elizabeth. The trial took place in the House of Lords in 1776 and attracted tremendous attention.

After five days of a packed House of Lords, with counterfeit tickets on sale due to the demand, Elizabeth was found guilty of bigamy, overturning the ecclesiastical court ruling. But Hervey?s brother, the Earl of Bristol had died, passing his title on to Hervey, so Elizabeth escaped punishment by claiming the benefit of peerage. She spent the rest of her life in Europe buying properties in France and St. Petersburg, where she charmed Catherine the Great and set up a brandy distillery.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Publisher
Century
Publication date
2003
Language
English
ISBN 10 
0712614516
ISBN 13 
9780712614511
Binding
Hardcover
Edition number
1
Number of pages
302
Rating
  • 3.45 out of 5 stars
    29 ratings by Goodreads