It's impossible to read this racy bio by British writer Gleeson (The Arcanum
) without comparing it to Amanda Foreman's bestselling Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire
and wondering if the world really needs another biography of a decadent 18th-century aristocrat. But given how connected this aristocrat was—her social circle included the Prince of Wales and Prime Minister William Pitt, her daughter was Lord Byron's mistress and her son-in-law was future prime minister William Lamb—the answer clearly is yes. Georgiana and Harriet Spencer (1761–1821), ancestors of the late Princess Diana, were sisters and nearly inseparable friends as they reigned over Britain's social scene. And the sisters had strikingly similar strengths and shortcomings: both ran up significant gambling debts and both were bright, captivating women with a keen interest in politics who had no qualms about kissing voters on the campaign trail if it meant their Whig candidates would win. Neither had much respect for their marriage vows, entertaining lovers and bearing two children each out of wedlock. They even shared admirers, among them playwright Richard Sheridan, and Harriet narrowly avoided the disgrace of a divorce over her affair with him. It makes juicy reading, a delightful Regency soap opera. 16 pages of color illus. (June)
