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challenging
dark
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fast-paced
This was one of those delicious biographies about one of those women that burn too bright for this world. The author is a descendent of hers (great grand-daughter).
The Edwardians were an odd bunch. What I learned:
Open marriages are ok, as long as you always (eventually) came home to your spouse.
One divorce is ok, but have any more than that and one's breeding might come into question.
What was immensely interesting to me was that Idina (the subject of the book) ran in the same circles as Karen Blixen and Denys Finch Hatton, of "Out of Africa" fame. Incidentally, it's one of my favorite films and brings me to sobs every time I watch it. It was interesting to read about them as real people instead of characters in a movie.
In fact, they were all real people, the "main characters" of this book, most of whom died in extremely unpleasant ways. It's sad. These people witnessed an amazing and equally horrifying era of world history straddling two world wars and acquaintances with now-heralded writers, artists, world leaders....Despite the hardships, I envy them a little. These were the original free-lovers, free-spirits of the world. And all they wanted was somebody to love and to be loved back.
I hope Idina's great great grandchildren will know more about her and grow to love her despite her reputation as the "bolter." A lot of her "bolting" was forced on her by the social mores of the time. Maybe she suffered because she loved too much.
The Edwardians were an odd bunch. What I learned:
Open marriages are ok, as long as you always (eventually) came home to your spouse.
One divorce is ok, but have any more than that and one's breeding might come into question.
What was immensely interesting to me was that Idina (the subject of the book) ran in the same circles as Karen Blixen and Denys Finch Hatton, of "Out of Africa" fame. Incidentally, it's one of my favorite films and brings me to sobs every time I watch it. It was interesting to read about them as real people instead of characters in a movie.
In fact, they were all real people, the "main characters" of this book, most of whom died in extremely unpleasant ways. It's sad. These people witnessed an amazing and equally horrifying era of world history straddling two world wars and acquaintances with now-heralded writers, artists, world leaders....Despite the hardships, I envy them a little. These were the original free-lovers, free-spirits of the world. And all they wanted was somebody to love and to be loved back.
I hope Idina's great great grandchildren will know more about her and grow to love her despite her reputation as the "bolter." A lot of her "bolting" was forced on her by the social mores of the time. Maybe she suffered because she loved too much.
Outstanding book. The author's great grandmother was a member of the London Society--lost generation era. She was married five times. Her first marriage was in 1913 and she "bolted" from it leaving behind her husband and two sons. However, the author delves beyond these harsh facts and draws a very understanding if not sympathetic picture of who this woman was and the demons that she was trying to run from in her quest for happiness.
Lots of pictures were included which I loved. Idina Sackville lived in London and Kenya. She partied hard, switched husbands, took lovers, deserted her children, yet her love of life jumped off the pages. You see her try to make up and reconcile her mistakes only to bolt again and again. Not only is the book a personal biography but a study of the social conventions that were being shattered at the time.
This is a great read.
Lots of pictures were included which I loved. Idina Sackville lived in London and Kenya. She partied hard, switched husbands, took lovers, deserted her children, yet her love of life jumped off the pages. You see her try to make up and reconcile her mistakes only to bolt again and again. Not only is the book a personal biography but a study of the social conventions that were being shattered at the time.
This is a great read.
adventurous
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Fully admit I bought this because of a Taylor Swift song, but it ended up being really fascinating and well-written! I love stories about messy rich people.
adventurous
medium-paced
informative
reflective
slow-paced
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced