England's Mistress: The Infamous Life of Emma Hamilton

by Kate Williams

Book Overview

A dramatic, sparkling tale of sex, glamour, intrigue, romance and heartbreak, England's Mistress traces the rise and rise of the gorgeous Emma Hamilton. Born into poverty, she clawed her way up... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345461940
• ISBN13: 9780345461940
• Release Date: October 2006
• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Length: 415 Pages
• Weight: 1.68 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.5" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

What a woman!

I must say at once that I'm very impressed with Kate William's writing. She writes in a modern style but with no discordant notes to take away from the period to which she is transporting the reader. Emma was born to an impoverished family in England in 1765. After a hard battle just to survive as a child, she spent a short stint as a domestic before following her natural bent as a theatrical, eventually ending for a short period, as a "woman of ill-fame". She then was taken up by dissolute aristocrat, Charles Greville, who used her casually and tried to pass her off to one of his relatives when she became pregnant. Luckily for Emma, the relative was Sir William Hamilton, a rich diplomat in his late sixties who lived in Naples and who, recognising her theatrical talents, honed her dancing and singing skills with excellent teachers so that she soon became a favourite at the Court of the King and Queen of Naples. Hamilton married her after a few years, much to the chagrin of his family who resented the potential loss of his fortune. Their marriage was a happy one, even though he was unable to give her a much wanted child, as she nursed him devotedly through bouts of ill health and generally made his life happy and contented. In 1793, the renowned Admiral of the British fleet, Horatio Nelson, sailed into the harbour at Naples and the rest is history. They fell passionately in love to such an extent that even Sir William bowed to the inevitable and, rather than lose Emma, agreed to live in a menage a trois and accept parentage of their daughter, Horatia. After Nelson's death, Emma's so-called friends who had been only too willing to accept her hospitality and generosity, now totally shunned her, leaving poor Emma ill, penniless and alone, to die in great pain in Calais. Like another reviewer, Michael Schuyler, this book left me feeling melancholic and very bitter towards grasping predators who use and abuse the famous and perhaps naive.

Other characters revealed

There are several excellent reviews above. I shall not endeavor to repeat them. I just finished the book this morning, and I came away from it kind of melancholic. What a sad death for someone who had given so much to her country. She died an agonizing slow death at age 49 in France, of all places, ignored by the government, ignored by many of her so-called friends, and brutally ignored by Nelson's family. Nelson himself comes off not quite as heroic as his reputation would suggest and one obviously seeking glory and fame and Emma, for that matter, all for himself. His brother ignored the terms of his will and Emma as well, leaving her destitute, but with the facade of living well. Even her husband, Sir Hamilton, though he comes across as stoic and remarkably accepting of "the situation" between Emma and Nelson, lays the groundwork for her financial demise by claiming credit for the intelligence she provided to the British government. Everyone, it seems, was at her doorstep with their hands out, yet no one helped her when she needed it. I think she had some of her own issues. She wasn't terribly organized and was somewhat self-indulgent, but this was part of her overall charitable nature: She just couldn't say no, to herself or others. I've come away with a lot of respect for Emma Hamilton, and not much for anyone else who knew her, and even less respect for the press, which acted then as they do today, with no responsibility for what they say. An excellent read, (and good writing by Williams as well) even if it leaves you feeling a little bleak toward the end.

Popular history at its very best

Incredibly well-written and interesting. We've all seen her lovely portrait, but I never knew much about her life. This books tells her fascinating biography and places her in the context of her interesting era with a wealth of fascinating details of life in England, in London, in Naples, and overseas through her sad death in Calais. Excellent discussion of the place of women in her society, 1750-1815, without being PC or self-pitying. One of the best books I have ever read. One hopes that Ms. Williams will write more and more...

Amy Lyon, Emma Hart to Emma Lady Hamilton the reinvention of an extraordinary women

I love him, I adore him, my mind and soul is now transported with the thought of that blessed ecstatic moment when I shall see him, embrace him...... I must sin on and love him more than ever. It is a crime worth going to Hell for. Emma Hamilton on Nelson, 1804 Amy Lyon was born April 26th 1765 in Cheshire England; her name changed soon after birth to Emma Lyon. Emma's young life was poverty stricken and constantly tested with endurance. Refusing to believe from an early age that life was to remain so poor and boring; she travelled to London to take a Job aged twelve; as a maid someone's hired help; this job was extremely demanding and tough and her employment did not last she was far to full spirited. London was hard but it had opportunity she would start from the bottom and work her way up. Emma's next job was in the theatre; again as a maid hoping to become an actress but jobs were hard to keep around this time, again she lost her job. Someone with poor back ground of such humble beginnings had not many choices so for Emma to make money she was forced to sell herself, this was a set back she soon became employed again at a London health spa (with a seedy side to it) she wished to better herself and live in higher circle's of society. Emma had an innocent beauty men loved and before long she had been noticed by the most notorious Madam Kelly (real name Charlotte Hayes) who reinvented her girls to please her exclusive clientele of men. Emma was transformed into a high class Courtesan but this was not fraught without danger of becoming pregnant or riddled with disease. Emma now lived in hope, what she craved more than anything was fame she needed to escape this life, tired of being passed around the only way to succeed from the perils was to find a rich man and to become his long term kept mistress, such luck, finally a man of real wealth bought out her contract from famous Madam Kelly, but even with freedom and a rich life it was thawte with set backs and dispair, until another lover came to her aid and began to teach her about life, Emma listened, eager to learn and became accomplished she was always ever so grateful; her life really began to take shape she reinvented herself again as Ms Emma Hart. By her twenties she was becoming a star, Emma became the most painted women of her day, she had Artist queuing, the most famous paintings of Emma Hart was by artist George Romney, his works with Emma include Sensibility, Circe, The Spinstress and Bacchante and many more his prints sold quickly from his studio in London to society in England and Europe including his many sketches, other famous paintings were by Élisabeth-Louise Vigée Le Brun she painted Emma as a dancing Bacchante and the reclining Bacchante all paintings of Emma by Romney and other artist are describe so vividly in this book; and are still shown in Art Galleries around the world today. Emma's Fame won the heart of elderly Sir William Hamilton who was British ambassador t

History That's as Compulsively Readable as a Novel

Not every historical biography is as compulsively readable as this. If they were a lot of school children would be much more happy. Many biographies claim to be as compelling and fascinating to read as novels, but I can't recall a single other biography I've read that's lived up to that very big claim. Kate Williams manages to strike the perfect tone between the feel of fiction prose and an informative and engaging history lesson. She grabs the reader immediately, partly due to the fact her subject is, to put it mildly, an interesting figure. But it's more than that. Williams writes in such an approachable style, and it's probably what I'd consider the absolute perfect style for writing a historical biography. There are no places interest flags in this book, so perfectly has Williams paced the material. From start to finish it's as gripping to read as the best literary novels, and it's made all the more fascinating knowing every word of it is true. As for Lady Emma Hamilton herself, what a woman! Whether you think her bold and courageous or a gold-digging tramp, you have to give the lady credit for having her wits about her. She reminds me of Daniel Defoe's Moll Flanders, though Moll never hit the big time the way Emma did. Moll was crafty, it's true, but lacking the stunning beauty and obvious and unflagging street smarts of Emma. As far as fictional characters go, though, I think Moll would be as near the mark as they come. What an amazing cast of real-life historical characters pepper this book. Not really knowing much of the hard history behind Lady Emma's life, I didn't realize her relationship with Admiral Nelson beforehand. That very likely made me even more riveted to the book, but I can't imagine any fiction being any more compelling than the truth of this woman's life. What a lot of cheek, on the one hand, but what a brilliant use of her resources, too. And I DO mean all her resources... Whether you end up loving or reviling the woman, it's inarguable that she was hugely influential in 18th century society. How much she actually did help write history could be debated, but I'd personally be willing to bet her imprint was vastly influential. After all, the woman had the ear of so many of the elite, not to mention the heart of the national hero. Her moral scruples may not have been enviable, but her cunning is something if not to admire, at least to acknowledge as being very much out of the ordinary. However you feel about Lady Emma going into the book, by the time you're done you'll have had such a good history lesson, and an entertaining one at that, you'll ultimately know how you stand on the issue. Kate Williams presents all the facts without prejudice, and with such a flair, there will be no lukewarm reaction. I can't imagine anyone who loves to read well-written historical prose, whether fiction or non-fiction, wouldn't find something in this book. Whether your genre is fiction, biography or history this book fits the bill.