Today Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, one of the most independent and lively eighteenth-century women, is mainly remembered as an entertaining and erudite correspondent. Some of her most celebrated letters were written from Constantinople, where she was staying with her husband, Edward Wortley Montagu, the Ambassador to the Sultan's court. They lived with their young son in the Ottoman capital for fifteen months, and her letters, full of vivid and witty observations, provide a unique picture of Turkish life and customs.
Lady Mary had the sympathetic curiosity of the true traveller; she was charmed by everything in Constantinople—the customs, costume, buildings and gardens—and was determined to see everything. She visited the Harem and explored the old quarter disguised in a heavy veil and flowing robes—even donning men's clothes to penetrate the all-male sanctity of the Santa Sophia mosque. The failure of her husband's peace mission brought an end to the visit. Reluctantly they sailed for home, with Lady Mary's pen still busily recording the details of the voyage.
This illustrated edition of the Turkish letters has been edited to make it more immediately readable. A sparkling essay by Dervla Murphy, herself a fearless traveller, outlines the events of Lady Mary's life and explains how the letters came to be published in defiance of the family wishes. The illustrations, which are largely from the Searight Collection (now in the Victoria and Albert Museum), appear in book form for the first time and add greatly to the charm of this edition.
Modern visitors to Turkey will be fascinated by this spirited portrait of an earlier age, while all who appreciate character, courage and a lively pen will enjoy meeting this most unusual woman.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689-1762) was born Lady Mary Pierrepont. She spent her childhood in the care of her paternal grandmother at West Dean Manor near Salisbury and later at her family seat of Thoresby Park in Nottinghamshire. She was a voracious reader and soon developed a strongly independent outlook. Her courtship by Edward Wortley Montagu evoked the disapproval of her father, which forced an elopement under dramatic circumstances. The marriage was not a success and later in life they separated. On their return from Constantinople, Lady Mary pioneered the smallpox innoculation in London that she had studied in Turkey. After her separation, she pursued to no avail a much younger Italian writer, and went to live in Venice. She died in London and her Embassy Letters were published a year later.
Dervla Murphy was born in 1931 in County Waterford, where her father was County Librarian. Along with most of his family, her father was deeply involved in the Irish Republican Movement. Dervla Murphy was educated at the Ursuline Convent, Waterford, until 1945 when she returned home to nurse her invalid mother. She made her first historic bicycle journey to India in 1963, and has since undertaken many journeys with her daughter, Rachel; these have been the subject of many successful books. Dervla Murphy has long been an admirer of Lady Mary and her letters.
Lady Mary was a bright light of England’s age of reason. (The New York Times)
Her letters...are the height of intelligence, at turns witty, coy, shrewd and always precisely observant.... A fascinating excursion into 18th century Constantinople. (The Book Reader)
The letters...are of particular interest to the modern reader. (Middle East Journal)
[Lady Mary] had a good eye for culture and an ability to report on it objectively and wittily. (Arab Book World)
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Shipping:
US$ 6.39
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Shipping:
US$ 4.25
Within U.S.A.
Seller: WorldofBooks, Goring-By-Sea, WS, United Kingdom
Hardback. Condition: Very Good. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR002131721
Quantity: 8 available
Seller: WorldofBooks, Goring-By-Sea, WS, United Kingdom
Hardback. Condition: Good. The book has been read but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact and the cover is intact. Some minor wear to the spine. Seller Inventory # GOR004073322
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: AwesomeBooks, Wallingford, United Kingdom
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Embassy to Constantinople: the Travels of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 7719-9780712619004
Quantity: 2 available
Seller: WeBuyBooks, Rossendale, LANCS, United Kingdom
Condition: Good. Most items will be dispatched the same or the next working day. Seller Inventory # wbs6191307739
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Bahamut Media, Reading, United Kingdom
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 6545-9780712619004
Quantity: 2 available
Seller: medimops, Berlin, Germany
Condition: good. Befriedigend/Good: Durchschnittlich erhaltenes Buch bzw. Schutzumschlag mit Gebrauchsspuren, aber vollständigen Seiten. / Describes the average WORN book or dust jacket that has all the pages present. Seller Inventory # M00712619003-G
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Irish Booksellers, Portland, ME, U.S.A.
Condition: Good. SHIPS FROM USA. Used books have different signs of use and do not include supplemental materials such as CDs, Dvds, Access Codes, charts or any other extra material. All used books might have various degrees of writing, highliting and wear and tear and possibly be an ex-library with the usual stickers and stamps. Dust Jackets are not guaranteed and when still present, they will have various degrees of tear and damage. All images are Stock Photos, not of the actual item. book. Seller Inventory # 0712619003-R
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: 369 Bookstore _[~ 369 Pyramid Inc ~]_, Dover, DE, U.S.A.
Hardcover. Condition: Good. .This new selection of her letters has charming pictures and notes, and proves again that for style, candor, narrative sense and reporter\'s eye she deserved the praise the first edition received from Smollet, Dr. Johnson and Voltaire.--Jane O\'Reilly, New York Times Book Review. Seller Inventory # AMPLE0712619003
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: St Marys Books And Prints, Stamford, United Kingdom
Hardback. Dust Jacket Condition: Good. 1st. Rear of the dustcover a little marked. Contents clean and bright. Illustrated. 224pp. book. Seller Inventory # 081124
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Hay Cinema Bookshop Limited, Hay on Wye, United Kingdom
1st. Ed. Landscape format. 224pp. Cold. and b/w ills. Original boards with d/w, slight shelf wear. Introduction by Dervla Murphy. ISBN 0712619003 US$13. Seller Inventory # 160614
Quantity: 1 available