Perdita : the life of Mary Robinson
Byrne, Paula2004
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A portrait of one of the most flamboyant women of the late 18th century. Mary Robinson was married, at age 14, to Thomas Robinson. His lifestyle soon landed the couple and their baby in debtor's prison, where Mary wrote her first book of poetry. On her release, she became one of the most popular actresses of her day. Sex, fame and scandal in the theatrical, literary and social circles of late-eighteenth-century England.One of the most flamboyant women of the late-eighteenth century, Mary Robinson's life was marked by reversals of fortune. After being raised by a middle-class father, Mary was married, at age fourteen, to Thomas Robinson. His dissipated lifestyle landed the couple and their baby in debtors' prison, where Mary wrote her first book of poetry and met lifelong friend Georgiana, the Duchess of Devonshire.On her release, Mary quickly became one of the most popular actresses of the day, famously playing Perdita in The Winter's Tale for a rapt audience that included the Prince of Wales, who fell madly in love with her. She later used his copious love letters for blackmail.This authoritative and engaging book presents a fascinating portrait of a woman who was variously darling of the London stage, a poet whose work was admired by Coleridge and a mistress to the most powerful men in England, and yet whose fortunes were nevertheless precarious, always on the brink of being squandered through recklessness, excess and passion.
Main title:
Perdita : the life of Mary Robinson / Paula Byrne.
Author:
Byrne, Paula, author
Imprint:
London : HarperCollins, 2004.
Collation:
xvi, 477 pages, [16] pages of plates : illustrations (some colour), facsimiles. (some colour), portraits. (chiefly colour) ; 25 cm.
Notes:
Includes bibliographical references (p. 453-462) and index.
ISBN:
9780007164608 (hbk)
Language:
English
Subject:
BRN:
1752946
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