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Unquiet Souls: A Social History of the Illustrious, Irreverent, Intimate Group of British Aristocrats Known As "the Souls"
Unquiet The Indian summer of the British aristocracy, 1880-1918
- GenresHistory
262 pages, Hardcover
First published October 11, 1984
About the author
Angela Lambert
22 books7 followersAngela Maria Lambert was a British journalist and author. She is best known for her novels A Rather English Marriage and Kiss and Kin, the latter of which won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 27, 2013
The Souls were a "set", a social group that formed around the end of the 19th century, of aristocratic friends. They had similar backgrounds and values as Edward VII's Marborough Set - divorce was unthinkable, but discreet adultery was perfectly fine - but thought of themselves as more intellectual. The Tennant sisters were kind of at their center and the group coalesced when Laura Tennant Lyttelton died in 1888. Her sister Margot Tennant eventually married Henry Asquith, who became Prime Minister in 1908, and other members of the group went on to fame: Arthur Balfour preceded Asquith as Prime Minister, George Curzon was Viceroy of India for six years (but was passed over as Prime Minister in 1923 in favour of Stanley Baldwin), and others distinguished themselves in various ways.
It's an interesting book in two ways: it follows a group of people and their children, and describes how they grew apart, or closer, as the years went by, and what happened to them all. In that way it's just a fascinating, gossipy read. It was written in 1985 so it's a little surprising that everyone seems to have been heterosexual, especially as all their affairs are described in detail. Surely there were some gay goings on, behind closed doors, like the affairs.
Its real strength is its descriptions of World War I and what it did to these people. Of course all the children of the first generation were young when war was declared, and they all enlisted, as did some who were older. Lambert points out how the percentage of deaths among the upper class was much higher than for the lower, in part because they were so much more fit. A large percentage of lower class youths weren't eligible for service because poor nutrition meant they were in poor health, or were too short or underweight to enter the Army or Navy. The sons of the families we've been following all became officers, and most of them were killed. As the war dragged on, the young men came to see it was futile, and that their own fathers and friends of their parents were the ones prolonging the horror. In the preface the author says "Much of what I have written in the final chapters of the book was inspired by the tone of voice in which [Lady Diana Cooper] said "They all died, you see." To live through a war in which nearly all the young men you grew up with, some of whom you might have married, are killed... devastating.
The book doesn't mention Stephen Tennant, English dandy and eccentric, son of Sir Charles Tennant, and Margot's nephew. Unfortunately, as he was quite a colorful character, but he has his own biograpy. Thanks to David Bratman on LiveJournal I learned that the model Stella Tennant is "Stephen's grand-niece, and Margot's great-grand-niece, as well as the grand-daughter of the last of the Mitford sisters. And you know that Anthony Asquith was Margot's son. And Helena Bonham Carter is her step-daughter's grand-daughter."
It's an interesting book in two ways: it follows a group of people and their children, and describes how they grew apart, or closer, as the years went by, and what happened to them all. In that way it's just a fascinating, gossipy read. It was written in 1985 so it's a little surprising that everyone seems to have been heterosexual, especially as all their affairs are described in detail. Surely there were some gay goings on, behind closed doors, like the affairs.
Its real strength is its descriptions of World War I and what it did to these people. Of course all the children of the first generation were young when war was declared, and they all enlisted, as did some who were older. Lambert points out how the percentage of deaths among the upper class was much higher than for the lower, in part because they were so much more fit. A large percentage of lower class youths weren't eligible for service because poor nutrition meant they were in poor health, or were too short or underweight to enter the Army or Navy. The sons of the families we've been following all became officers, and most of them were killed. As the war dragged on, the young men came to see it was futile, and that their own fathers and friends of their parents were the ones prolonging the horror. In the preface the author says "Much of what I have written in the final chapters of the book was inspired by the tone of voice in which [Lady Diana Cooper] said "They all died, you see." To live through a war in which nearly all the young men you grew up with, some of whom you might have married, are killed... devastating.
The book doesn't mention Stephen Tennant, English dandy and eccentric, son of Sir Charles Tennant, and Margot's nephew. Unfortunately, as he was quite a colorful character, but he has his own biograpy. Thanks to David Bratman on LiveJournal I learned that the model Stella Tennant is "Stephen's grand-niece, and Margot's great-grand-niece, as well as the grand-daughter of the last of the Mitford sisters. And you know that Anthony Asquith was Margot's son. And Helena Bonham Carter is her step-daughter's grand-daughter."
July 1, 2022
This is a tough book for me to comment on as it was picked up entirely on a whim knowing nothing about ‘The Souls’ and only thinking that ‘The Coterie’ might be linked to the short lived 1920s magazine of the same name- this book doesn’t tell me that but I suspect not.
I am pretty ‘down’ on the aristocracy and this book does nothing to dispel that. As the blurb indicates ‘The Souls’ were drawn from the uppermost echelons of society and yet with a few very notable exceptions (Asquith and Curzon) ‘do’ very little but party, play hostess and have tacit discreet affairs with each other (or suffer livelong unrequited passion) all for the sake of ‘form’.
In this respect the book shows the horrors of Victorian ’society’ and despite Lambert’s claim that these were some sort of ‘rulebreakers’ my view is that the book indicates just how they were NOT. Lambert suggests that the social circle revolved around the Tennant sisters and their female freinds, young, pretty, posh, educated (a rarity for women), very rich and fun. Unsurprisingly, men, powerful men, young posh men, men older than their fathers, etc etc wanted to be part of their ‘gang’ and get into their pants. Almost all married into money/position (no surprise there) but often married man who they didn’t actually love (money/power/father figures) and thus slid back into the allotted roles of their parents, the aristocracy closing ranks upon them. Thus when their children ‘The Coterie’ became young people, they were suitably scandalized and the cycle would probably have perpetuated itself. I say probably, as we will never know. WWI killed many of them off and the war really marked the end of the ‘golden’ Victorian/Edwardian age.
If you care about who’s who and have a copy Debrett’s, one might well find Lambert’s book very interesting but I found it something of a drag. George Curzon is the exception, well travelled, well educated (almost all the men are Eton/Oxford chaps but what this really means is that they actually worked at their studies unlike the other daddies boys who went back to their estates thick as they left them), and the youngest Viceroy of India, where he defended natives rights and put up the backs of the military. Curzons sense of ‘duty’ undid him (Viceroys normally stayed five years and got an earldom as reward but he stayed on for seven and was screwed over by that old school soldier Lord Kitchener (who later sent thousands of men needlessly to their deaths in WWI) to return home in some disgrace. His wife Mary Leiter - one of the ’Souls’- sacrificed herself for her husband through her sense of ‘duty’ attending every official event with her husband (rights for women were seemingly not a big issue for any of the women in the book) despite the devastating effect on her health. It’s hard to feel much sympathy for these people from a 21st century perspective and yet these were seen as potential ‘radicals’.
The main interest for me was in the odd details Lambert uses to indicate what that world/mindset was like. 95% of land in private ownership, half of that amount held among 1,500 families. Under 1,000 divorces were granted in England in 1910. At The Batchelors’ Club (in Hamilton Place London) men were allowed to meet young women but only ‘it is almost needless to add’ (say the club rules) ‘if they are eligible for presentation at court’, the idea that a woman might go to a restaurant to meet a man was ‘unthinkable’. No wonder there were so many double standards, hypocrisies and tacitly accepted bed-hoppings.
The book has an extensive selection of photos. As many of the characters in them are variously described in the main text as ‘great beauties’. ‘the most beautiful woman in Europe’, the ‘most handsome man in London’ etc, it is interesting to see just how ‘normal’ they look by today's (and my!) standards. I think squillions of pounds probably enhanced their desirability but I’m not an experienced judge of what the inverse snob in me calls ‘posh totty’.
It’s probably only the hardiest soul (sorry!) who might want to read this book as this is probably the type of book left drowning in the wake of the internet. But if you really need to know who begat who etc then perhaps it still has its place. But not for me.
I am pretty ‘down’ on the aristocracy and this book does nothing to dispel that. As the blurb indicates ‘The Souls’ were drawn from the uppermost echelons of society and yet with a few very notable exceptions (Asquith and Curzon) ‘do’ very little but party, play hostess and have tacit discreet affairs with each other (or suffer livelong unrequited passion) all for the sake of ‘form’.
In this respect the book shows the horrors of Victorian ’society’ and despite Lambert’s claim that these were some sort of ‘rulebreakers’ my view is that the book indicates just how they were NOT. Lambert suggests that the social circle revolved around the Tennant sisters and their female freinds, young, pretty, posh, educated (a rarity for women), very rich and fun. Unsurprisingly, men, powerful men, young posh men, men older than their fathers, etc etc wanted to be part of their ‘gang’ and get into their pants. Almost all married into money/position (no surprise there) but often married man who they didn’t actually love (money/power/father figures) and thus slid back into the allotted roles of their parents, the aristocracy closing ranks upon them. Thus when their children ‘The Coterie’ became young people, they were suitably scandalized and the cycle would probably have perpetuated itself. I say probably, as we will never know. WWI killed many of them off and the war really marked the end of the ‘golden’ Victorian/Edwardian age.
If you care about who’s who and have a copy Debrett’s, one might well find Lambert’s book very interesting but I found it something of a drag. George Curzon is the exception, well travelled, well educated (almost all the men are Eton/Oxford chaps but what this really means is that they actually worked at their studies unlike the other daddies boys who went back to their estates thick as they left them), and the youngest Viceroy of India, where he defended natives rights and put up the backs of the military. Curzons sense of ‘duty’ undid him (Viceroys normally stayed five years and got an earldom as reward but he stayed on for seven and was screwed over by that old school soldier Lord Kitchener (who later sent thousands of men needlessly to their deaths in WWI) to return home in some disgrace. His wife Mary Leiter - one of the ’Souls’- sacrificed herself for her husband through her sense of ‘duty’ attending every official event with her husband (rights for women were seemingly not a big issue for any of the women in the book) despite the devastating effect on her health. It’s hard to feel much sympathy for these people from a 21st century perspective and yet these were seen as potential ‘radicals’.
The main interest for me was in the odd details Lambert uses to indicate what that world/mindset was like. 95% of land in private ownership, half of that amount held among 1,500 families. Under 1,000 divorces were granted in England in 1910. At The Batchelors’ Club (in Hamilton Place London) men were allowed to meet young women but only ‘it is almost needless to add’ (say the club rules) ‘if they are eligible for presentation at court’, the idea that a woman might go to a restaurant to meet a man was ‘unthinkable’. No wonder there were so many double standards, hypocrisies and tacitly accepted bed-hoppings.
The book has an extensive selection of photos. As many of the characters in them are variously described in the main text as ‘great beauties’. ‘the most beautiful woman in Europe’, the ‘most handsome man in London’ etc, it is interesting to see just how ‘normal’ they look by today's (and my!) standards. I think squillions of pounds probably enhanced their desirability but I’m not an experienced judge of what the inverse snob in me calls ‘posh totty’.
It’s probably only the hardiest soul (sorry!) who might want to read this book as this is probably the type of book left drowning in the wake of the internet. But if you really need to know who begat who etc then perhaps it still has its place. But not for me.
August 5, 2019
Very satisfying biography with a lot of quoting of primary sources; as with all good biographies, I ended up wanting to read all the letters/diaries/etc myself, which means Lambert did an excellent job illustrating her subjects. I particularly appreciated the way she used their children to reflect back upon the flaws of the parents, and I liked how generous she was -- there was once or twice when it was evident that she was judging the person she was writing about (Effie Grenfell, one of the other women), but on the whole she managed to keep that sort of harsh 'let me tell you how awful they were' tone away from her writing, which I think is vital to letting the people themselves speak and live. I'm eager to read more of her work.
December 21, 2024
Excellent. Compulsively readable, brilliantly observed. Chatty and gossipy, but still grounded in history and fact. Highly recommend.
January 19, 2024
"Unquiet Souls: The Indian Summer of the British Aristocracy, 1880-1918" by Angela Lambert, published in 1984, is a historical exploration of the British aristocracy during the late Victorian and Edwardian eras. This work delves into the lives, customs, and fading influence of the British upper class during a period of significant social, political, and economic change, providing a vivid portrayal of a critical transition in British history.
Lambert's book is characterized by its detailed and often intimate accounts of the lives of prominent aristocratic families. The narrative weaves through major events and societal shifts of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, exploring how these changes impacted the traditional structures and lifestyles of the aristocracy. Through meticulous research and engaging storytelling, Lambert reveals the complexities and contradictions of the aristocratic world, marked by opulence and decline, power and vulnerability.
A notable strength of "Unquiet Souls" lies in its rich anecdotal content, which brings to life the personal dramas and idiosyncrasies of its subjects. Lambert excels in painting a vivid picture of the era, drawing on a wide range of sources, including diaries, letters, and contemporary accounts. This approach allows readers to gain a nuanced understanding of the period's social mores and the intricate web of relationships that defined aristocratic life.
However, from an academic standpoint, the book might be critiqued for its heavy reliance on anecdotal evidence and a narrative style that sometimes borders on the sensational. While this makes for engaging reading, it may lead to questions about the depth of analysis and historical rigor. Critics might argue that the book prioritizes storytelling over a critical examination of the broader socio-political context of the aristocracy's decline.
Moreover, while "Unquiet Souls" offers a comprehensive view of the British aristocracy, its focus is predominantly on the personal and social dimensions, with less emphasis on the broader political and economic factors that influenced the era. This focus may limit the book's appeal to readers seeking a more holistic understanding of the period's historical dynamics.
Angela Lambert's "Unquiet Souls" is a vivid and engaging account of the British aristocracy in its twilight years. Its detailed anecdotes and lively narrative make it an enjoyable read for those interested in British history and social dynamics. However, its anecdotal approach and emphasis on personal stories over broader historical analysis might not satisfy those seeking a more academically rigorous exploration of the period.
GPT
Lambert's book is characterized by its detailed and often intimate accounts of the lives of prominent aristocratic families. The narrative weaves through major events and societal shifts of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, exploring how these changes impacted the traditional structures and lifestyles of the aristocracy. Through meticulous research and engaging storytelling, Lambert reveals the complexities and contradictions of the aristocratic world, marked by opulence and decline, power and vulnerability.
A notable strength of "Unquiet Souls" lies in its rich anecdotal content, which brings to life the personal dramas and idiosyncrasies of its subjects. Lambert excels in painting a vivid picture of the era, drawing on a wide range of sources, including diaries, letters, and contemporary accounts. This approach allows readers to gain a nuanced understanding of the period's social mores and the intricate web of relationships that defined aristocratic life.
However, from an academic standpoint, the book might be critiqued for its heavy reliance on anecdotal evidence and a narrative style that sometimes borders on the sensational. While this makes for engaging reading, it may lead to questions about the depth of analysis and historical rigor. Critics might argue that the book prioritizes storytelling over a critical examination of the broader socio-political context of the aristocracy's decline.
Moreover, while "Unquiet Souls" offers a comprehensive view of the British aristocracy, its focus is predominantly on the personal and social dimensions, with less emphasis on the broader political and economic factors that influenced the era. This focus may limit the book's appeal to readers seeking a more holistic understanding of the period's historical dynamics.
Angela Lambert's "Unquiet Souls" is a vivid and engaging account of the British aristocracy in its twilight years. Its detailed anecdotes and lively narrative make it an enjoyable read for those interested in British history and social dynamics. However, its anecdotal approach and emphasis on personal stories over broader historical analysis might not satisfy those seeking a more academically rigorous exploration of the period.
GPT
May 12, 2013
"The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there." While I do not entirely agree with this clever little statement, it certainly applies to the aristocrats of the Victorian/Edwardian era. Perhaps this is why I so enjoy reading about them.
Want to Read
September 20, 2010Dipped into for bits on the residents at Belton House. Intriguing!
March 4, 2013
Lambert does a good job of explaining the First World War and why it desiccated the males of upper classes.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews