Book description
In 1919, Nancy Astor became the first woman to take a seat in Parliament.
She was not what had been expected. Far from a virago who had
suffered for the cause of female suffrage, she was already near the
centre of the ruling society that had for so long resisted the
political upheavals of the early twentieth century, having married
into the family of one of the richest men in the world. She was not
even British. She would prove to be a trailblazer and beacon for the
generations of women who would follow her into Parliament.
This new biography charts Nancy Astor's incredible story, from
penury in the American South, to a lifestyle of the most immense
riches, from the luxury of Edwardian England, through the 'Jazz Age',
and on towards the Second World War: a world of great country estates,
lavish town houses and the most sumptuous entertainments, peopled by
the most famous and powerful names of the age. But hers was not only
the life of power, glamour and easy charm: it was also defined by
principles and bravery, by war and sacrifice, by love and bitter
disputes.
With glorious, page-turning brio, Adrian Fort has brought to life
this restless, controversial American dynamo, an unforgettable woman
who left a deep and lasting imprint on the political life of our nation.
Adrian Fort was educated at Eton and Oxford where he was subsequently
a Clarendon Fellow. He practised as a barrister and became involved with
politics before pursuing a financial career. He has published many
articles on financial and economic matters and has broadcast frequently
on the radio. His previous books include
Prof: The Life of Frederick
Lindemann
and
Archibald Wavell: The Life and Times of an Imperial Servant.
