Privilege and Scandal: The Remarkable Life of Harriet Spencer, Sister of Georgiana

I find Lady Bessborough an even more interesting character than her sister the Duchess of Devonshire, thanks to this extremely well-written and researched biography. Ms. Gleeson is sympathetic but maintains an even hand in her re-telling of Lady Bessborough's rather full life; I appreciate when a historian or biogapher is able to leave his or her personal, 21st century-based judgements out of a book. Very well-paced, absorbing, makes excellent use of original letters and accounts to enhance her text. A superior effort and highly recommended for anyone with an interest in 18th and early 19th century England.

THis is an excellent account of actual living people in England and Scotland during the late 18th century. Janet Gleason did a remarkable job of research in the life and times of Harriet Spencer. It is a thrilling book to read, sometimes hard to believe what ladies went through in those days. I enjoyed reading this book and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in English aristocracy and the way it really was, and the kinds of lives they led.

I read a lot of historical fiction, but in general, true 'historical' biographies are too long winded and boring to me. There were some slow parts in this book, mainly I disliked when Gleeson seems to stretch too far in suppositions versus true facts. On the whole however, I found the book to be extremely interesting. The love lives of this class of people were so convulated and interconnected; for a society so concerned with propriety, the things that went on behind closed doors! I highly recommend this biography.

Highly recommend this book. Harriet had a celebrated life like her more famous older sister, Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire. Harriet's world included a who's-who of late 18th-early 19th century English society. If you liked Amanda Foreman's book on Georgiana, you will really enjoy this book on Harriet...a star in her own right.