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Maria Fitzherbert: The Secret Wife of George IV

Maria Fitzherbert: The Secret Wife of George IV

by JamesMunson (Author)

  • Used

    Hardcover 2001

    $3.25

  • Used

    Paperback 2002

    $3.25

  • New

    Paperback 2002

    $18.05
Synopsis

The notorious love affair between George IV and Maria Fitzherbert is one of the most bizarre episodes in the history of the Royal family. It is the story of a young Catholic widow who became the secret wife of the heir to the throne because she had refused to become his mistress. This account reveals a genuine love story between the spoilt, egocentric prince and the older woman who brought peace and order to his life of restlessness and excess, resulting in a marriage that defied English law and broke all the rules of the monarchy.

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2 in stock

More Information

Format: Hardcover
 Pages: 288
 Edition: 1st.ed.
 Publisher: Constable
Published: 18 Oct 2001
ISBN 10: 0094782202
ISBN 13: 9780094782204

Media Reviews
Many will be unfamiliar with the exotic and turbulent life of the Prince Regent's secret wife; Munson makes this both an intriguing piece of history and a somewhat racy read. The notorious love affair between George IV and Maria Fitzherbert is one of the most bizarre episodes in the history of the royal family - even the antics of the current incumbents rarely match this particular royal saga. Munson vividly describes the story of a young, Catholic widow who became the secret wife of the heir to the throne because she refused to become his mistress. Munson's fascinating account reveals a genuine love story between the spoilt, egocentric prince and the older woman who brought peace and order to his life of restlessness and excess. The resulting marriage defied English law and broke all of the rules of monarchy. Maria Smythe was born in 1756 and lived a sheltered country childhood. Two marriages resulted in widowhood and wealth, and at 24 she settled in London, a very attractive prospect for any suitor. The young prince, fresh from his first scandalous love affair, fell for the Widow Fitzherbert - he wanted her, but she wanted marriage. He tried to force her hand by attempting suicide, but she fled to France, returning a year later to be married secretly at night. Inevitably, the marriage became an open secret. This is a fascinating investigation into an irregular royal marriage, written by an author whose earlier Victoria: Portrait of a Queen showed his total grasp of such subjects.
Author Bio
James Munson has a doctorate in nineteenth-century history from Oxford and taught in the university from 1970 to 1979. From 1981 he wrote historical and biographical scripts for BBC television and radio, and is currently literary editor of Contemporary Review.