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Lady Caroline Lamb

A Free Spirit
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( 360 ratings, 58 reviews)
Brief Description
From the outset, Caroline Lamb had a rebellious nature. From childhood, she grew increasingly troublesome, experimenting with sedatives like laudanum, and she had a special governess to control her. She also had a merciless wit and talent for mimicry. She spoke French and German fluently, knew... Read More
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The vivid and dramatic life of Lady Caroline Lamb , whose love affair with the poet Lord Byron scandalised British society, by one of the UK's best-loved historians

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From the outset, Caroline Lamb had a rebellious nature. From childhood, she grew increasingly troublesome, experimenting with sedatives like laudanum, and she had a special governess to control her. She also had a merciless wit and talent for mimicry. She spoke French and German fluently, knew Greek and Latin, and sketched impressive portraits. As the niece of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, she was already well-connected, and her courtly skills resulted in her marriage to the Hon. William Lamb (later Lord Melbourne) at the age of nineteen. For a few years, they enjoyed a happy marriage, despite Lamb's siblings and mother-in-law detesting her and referring to her as 'the little beast'.

In 1812, Caroline embarked on a well-publicised affair with the poet Lord Byronβ€”he was 24, she 26. Her phrase 'mad, bad and dangerous to know' became his lasting epitaph. When he broke things off, Caroline made increasingly public attempts to reunite. Her obsession came to define much of her later life, as well as influencing her own writingβ€”most notably the Gothic novel Glenarvonβ€”and Byron's.

Antonia Fraser's vividly compelling biography animates the life of 'a free spirit' who was far more than mad, bad and dangerous to know.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781474624848

Publisher: Orion Publishing Co

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 16 May 2024

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Weidenfeld & Nicolson

Illustration: 1 x 8 page colour inset

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 22.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 220g

Pages: 224

About the Author

Antonia Fraser is the author of many widely acclaimed historical works which have been international bestsellers. She was awarded the Medlicott Medal by the Historical Association in 2000 and was made a DBE in 2011 for services to literature. She lives in London.

Visit Antonia Fraser's website at www.antoniafraser.com

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