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For 300 pages I was under the impression that this was a badly written biography of of Idina Sackville. Idina doesn't seem to have kept a diary during her life, and not many people seem to have kept her letters. That is why Frances Osborne spends so much time talking about Idina's husbands' affairs and remarriages and children, rather than Idina herself. That is why each of Idina's remarriages are sudden, without any introduction to her newest husband or explanation of how they met. That is why the inspiration for James Bond is gone over, and also The Ritz's plumbing arrangements during World War I. Despite Idina being Osborne's great grandmother, she just didn't know anything about her relative.
Except, in the last two pages, it finally became clear that this book was never about Idina. It's about her family. It's for her family. And while that doesn't excuse the time spent describing old-timey showers, it does make this a markedly different book, one that I never would have had any interest in.
Except, in the last two pages, it finally became clear that this book was never about Idina. It's about her family. It's for her family. And while that doesn't excuse the time spent describing old-timey showers, it does make this a markedly different book, one that I never would have had any interest in.
Interesting history but doesn't flow super well. Still, if you're interested in Isak Dineson and the Europeans in Africa at that time, very interesting.
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
adventurous
medium-paced
adventurous
informative
reflective
medium-paced
The Bolter is the story of Idina Sackville the notorious aristocrat who deserted, or as the Edwardians refers to as “bolted,” her husband and children for another man and fled to Kenya. The story was interesting enough – I especially liked the insight into the Edwardian English society of wealth and privilege, but my problem lies with the characters, they were all selfish, spoiled people who weren’t nice. The Bolter is written by Frances Osborne the great-granddaughter of Idina Sackville and I felt that she was trying to justify her great grandmother’s behavior and soft soap the real issue – Idina left her children because her sexual needs were more important. It was interesting, but I think you need to read it with a grain of salt, or truth.
fascinating and worrisome since I've started the downward slide into aged non-fiction reading . . . man I missed out on the 20's
I enjoyed this more than I expected to; the life of Idina is quite fascinating. However, it was very difficult to keep all the names and relationships straight which led to a lot of confusion at various points in the story.
fascinating look at edwardian period social mores and morals. this was written by "the bolter's" great granddaughter through use of letters & diaries. highly recommend.