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The Viceroy's Daughters The Lives of the Curzon Sisters
Based on unpublished letters and diaries, "The Viceroy's Daughters" is a riveting portrait of three spirited and wilful women who were born at the height of British upper-class wealth and privilege. The oldest, Irene, never married but pursued her passion for foxes, alcohol, and married men. The middle, Cimmie, was a Labour Party activist turned Fascist. And Baba, the youn...more
Women in History
Published
January 1st 2001
by Phoenix
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Here is an extract from the precis on Goodreads. No point in me writing something. It was enough to get me hooked, as as with de Courcy's biog of Diana Moseley, I'm not disappointed thus far:
Cynthis (‘Cimmie’) married Sir Oswald Mosley,joining him first in the Labour Party,where she became a popular and successful MP before following him into fascism. Alexandra (‘Baba’), the youngest and most beautiful, married the Prince of Wales’s best friend, Fruity Metcalfe. Within a month of her death from...more
Cynthis (‘Cimmie’) married Sir Oswald Mosley,joining him first in the Labour Party,where she became a popular and successful MP before following him into fascism. Alexandra (‘Baba’), the youngest and most beautiful, married the Prince of Wales’s best friend, Fruity Metcalfe. Within a month of her death from...more
The book is very well written and researched, but... Those three sisters are totally pale personalities compared to the mitford sisters. The curzon sisters , what I get from the reading of this book, are plain amoral persons who have not contributed a bit in the world. They have not been to the spanish war, didn t contribute a bit in arts nor literature (though one of them wrote a book that even at the time it was publish not even close to have any success), nor helped advance women in society n...more
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Dec 06, 2011
Bev
added it
For most of this I was fascinated. The three women lived through some of the most interesting events of the 20thC and were close enough to the centre of power and influence to see it all first hand.
But, as I read on I became more and more irritated with them. They had vast wealth and influence and time, but they spent most of it in frivolity and self-destructive love affairs. They could, with very little effort have made a huge difference to the lives of others, but by and large didn't. Or at le...more
But, as I read on I became more and more irritated with them. They had vast wealth and influence and time, but they spent most of it in frivolity and self-destructive love affairs. They could, with very little effort have made a huge difference to the lives of others, but by and large didn't. Or at le...more
I cannot believe the morals of the generation between the wars. And what was the Oswald Mosley's hold on the sisters? What a mess, but you can't put it down.
1 like · like · see review
The Viceroy was George Curzon, who ruled India during the last years of Victoria's reign. He also ruled his three daughters lives (one could say micro-managed now.) Anyway, he was a remarkable man in many ways and the daughters--Irene (Nina), Cynthia (Cimmie), and Alexandria (Baba)--grew up during the 20s and 30s leading very full lives. Friends of the Royal Princes-David, George, Henry (Think The King's Speech--they met, talked, and slept with a number of Britian's Society's darlings.
This was e...more
This was e...more
I'm surprised that no one has thought of turning this into a mini-series. Everything is there--the pre-war glamor,infidelities, celebrities and scandal, war time heroism.
DeCourcy paints vivid portraits of the 3 sisters, their flaws and their strengths. Truthfully, I found none of them that likable, but that is part of the skill of this telling--you see the women for whom they were.
DeCourcy paints vivid portraits of the 3 sisters, their flaws and their strengths. Truthfully, I found none of them that likable, but that is part of the skill of this telling--you see the women for whom they were.
2 likes · like · see review
This was a fascinating look at three women prominient in British society in the first half of the 20th century. The book was interesting on two levels: as a study of the sisters' relationships with each other, and as a review of their friendships and affairs with people in the larger circle of British society. Having just finished a book on the Mitford sisters, this was another look at Tom Mosley and his relationships with society women (Diana Guinness and the Curzon sisters).
Started off quite well - the background info on the family was interesting. However, once the "girls" grew up and started the rounds of parties with rich people (and royalty..) and the affairs I lost interest. Personally I think it would have made a great background story as a historical fiction novel, but the content was very much the same from chapter to chapter.
This book was suggested after I read the Mitfords and I found it a satisfying follow up. The Curzon sisters were a little older but their lives intertwined with the Mitfords. It was well written and enjoyable, but I didn't enjoy it as much as the Mitfords
very interesting look at the lives of three daughters of a brilliant and wealthy flawed man. reminds us again how wealthy people can have just as many problems as the rest of us, except they have the ability to make bad decisions and still carry on regardless. well researched and very entertaining.
As usual, I am intrigued by the glamorous lives of the prewar turn of the century lives of the wealthy in Britian and America. This book caught my eye because Lord Curzon married an American heiress whose father was was partner of Marshall Field in Chicago. Once again it was American guilded age money keeping British nobility afloat. The three Curzon daughters were very famous in the time as great beauties and socialites and were all part of Nancy Astor's Cliveden set. And one daughter was even...more
Oct 30, 2009
Mcnorton
added it
The Viceroy's Daughters: The Lives of the Curzon Sisters (Women in History) by Anne De Courcy (2001)
Great biography. Very interesting timeline which includes Mosley, abdication of the King and Mrs Simpson.
Fascinating
Excellent
Being a socialite in the 20"s and 30's must have been exhausting!
Fantastic read, the sisters lead such interesting lives in a bygone era.
A biography of the aristocratic Curzon sisters who were contemporaties of the Mitfords and ran in circles with Wallis Simpson. The shenanigans that these old-timey proper Brits got up to never fail to surprise me, no matter how much Evelyn Waugh, Nancy Mitford and others I read.
Very interesting story about some people who were pretty repellent. I read a book about the Mitfords who are supporting characters in this book. If you are interested in the social history of England before and between the wars, try this.
The Curzon's were another interesting prominent family of the 1920's and 1930's in particular. Made even more interesting by their links with the Duke and Duchess of Windsor (as they became) and Oswald Mosley.
The writing style made it a dull and boring read. However some of the chapters were interesting. I wouldn't recommend this novel though. I am sure there are many more interesting biographies available.
Fascinating lives... Fitted in well with biographies I have read of Wallis and Edward as well as Diana Mosley.
You can watch the Empire decay in the context of one vain, extravagant family.
May 22, 2013
Moira
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May 20, 2013
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May 16, 2013
Lyninsquam
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May 16, 2013
Joan
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May 14, 2013
KMW
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