Maria Fitzherbert: The Secret Wife of George IV - Hardcover

Munson, James

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0786709049 ISBN 13: 9780786709045

Publisher: Da Capo Press, 2001

Synopsis

For more than a century Buckingham Palace suppressed the facts about the illicit marriage between the twice-widowed Catholic Maria Fitzherbert and the Prince of Wales, the future George IV. Rumor and scandal began immediately when she met the accomplished if already slightly dissolute Prince of Wales, and even in her obituary, the Times of London pronounced the marriage "either a cruel imposition to silence the scruples of a virtuous though weakminded woman, or an hypocritical pretext adopted by the lady herself to cover her shame." The Maria that emerges in the pages of biographer James Munson's pages is neither the unprincipled temptress of her critics nor the romantic heroine of her advocates but rather a complex woman of strong principles, remarkable practicality, iron will, and genuine virtue. For as resolutely as the prince pursued her, Maria steadfastly refused to become his mistress. However much he might want her or she him, she wanted marriage more. Thus was Maria thrust into the political intrigues that underlay the Regency crisis and reign of George IV as well as into one of the most bizarre chapters in the history of the English monarchy. Eight pages of black-and-white photographs add to this "... excellent, entertaining biography-cum-history of this bizarre episode in the history of the English monarchy."—Booklist (starred) "By far the most exhaustive account of its subject yet written...."—The Sunday Telegraph "Relevant and engaging ... Fitzherbert and her prince make for a lively tale."—Rocky Mountain News "A life given lively treatment here."—Publishers Weekly

About this title

About the Author

James Munson has a doctorate in 19th-century history from Oxford and taught there,1970-9. He has written historical and biographical scripts for the BBC and is literary editor of Contemporary Review.

From Publishers Weekly

The well-connected Maria Fitzherbert, twice widowed and still childless at 24, had all the qualities the future King George IV desired: she was older than he (by six years) and was widely traveled and experienced. There was just one problem: she was Catholic under a Protestant monarchy that considered Catholics Papist puppets. Drawing on historical fact and gossipy, entertaining firsthand accounts, Munson (Victoria: Portrait of a Queen) ably demonstrates that Maria wasn't exactly devout; she appeared more often at social gatherings than at Mass. Nevertheless, the British could never accept her into the royal family. Thus she and George had a tiny wedding on Dec. 15, 1785, and their marriage became one of the worst-kept secrets in British history, the subject of scandal sheets and parliamentary debates. Immature and impulsive, the prince was deeply in love with Maria, and she with him. But as heir to the throne, he had to have a consort, and in 1795 he reluctantly wed Princess Caroline of Brunswick. (Having not been officially married to Maria, he didn't have to divorce her.) In a strange twist, the new princess saw Maria as "the Prince's true wife." Pope Pius VII agreed, reaffirming in 1800 the validity of her marriage. Within 10 years, though, partly due to the prince's extramarital affairs, the relationship ran its course. Even without her prince, Munson shows, Maria went on to live a full, exciting life a life given lively treatment here. 8 pages of b&w photos not seen by PW. (Dec.)Forecast: If the publisher can reach the readers who enjoyed Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire, this could do well, though it probably won't attain the former's bestseller status.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Da Capo Press
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0786709049
• ISBN 13: 9780786709045
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 320