Mistress of the Elgin Marbles by Susan Nagel
Filled with romance, danger, and scandal, Mistress of the Elgin Marbles is the intriguing story of Mary Nisbet, the Countess of Elgin----one of the most influential women of the Romantic era whose exploits enriched world culture immeasurably. The richest heiress in Scotland and the wife of accomplished diplomat Thomas Bruce, the 7th Earl of Elgin, she traveled to Turkey when Elgin was appointed the Ambassador Extraordinaire to the Ottoman Empire----a journey that would change history. Interweaving extensive details gleaned from primary sources and excerpts from the countessa s own letters, Susan Nagel draws a vivid portrait of this formidable woman who helped bring the smallpox vaccine to the Middle East, financed the removal and safe passage to England of classical marbles from the Parthenon, and struck a deal with Napoleon that no politician could have accomplished. Yet, as Nagel shows, those achievements were overshadowed by scandal when Marya s passionate affair with her husbanda s best friend flamed into the most lurid and salacious divorce trial in Londona s history. Lively and informative, this is an engrossing story of an astonishing woman who both defined and shaped an era.
"!a refreshingly succinct account of the eventful life of Mary Nisbet.." (The Scotsman, 30th October 2004) "...a remarkable life -- one that Nagel does full justice in this captivating biography..." (Yorkshire Evening Post, Leeds edition, 6th November 2004) "A highly entertaining biography of the alluring Lady Elgin!" (The Week, Sat 28th July 2007)
SUSAN NAGEL is the author of a critically acclaimed book on the novels of Jean Giraudoux. She has written for the stage, the screen, scholarly journals, the Gannett newspaper chain, and Town & Country. A professor in the humanities department of Marymount Manhattan College, she lives in New York City.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780470011409 |
| ISBN 10 | 0470011408 |
| Title | Mistress of the Elgin Marbles |
| Author | Susan Nagel |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | John Wiley and Sons Ltd |
| Year published | 2004-10-01 |
| Number of pages | 316 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |