PDF Tarnished Victory: Finishing Lincoln's War by William Marvel in History

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For fans of Downton Abbey comes an immersive historical epic about a lavish English manor and a dynasty of rich and powerful women who ruled the estate over three centuries of misbehavior; scandal; intrigue; and passion. Five miles from Windsor Castle; home of the royal family; sits the Cliveden estate. Overlooking the Thames; the mansion is flanked by two wings and surrounded by lavish gardens. Throughout its storied history; Cliveden has been a setting for misbehavior; intrigue; and passion—from its salacious; deadly beginnings in the seventeenth century to the 1960s Profumo Affair; the sex scandal that toppled the British government. Now; in this immersive chronicle; the manor’s current mistress; Natalie Livingstone; opens the doors to this prominent house and lets the walls do the talking. Built during the reign of Charles II by the Duke of Buckingham; Cliveden attracted notoriety as a luxurious retreat in which the duke could conduct his scandalous affair with the ambitious courtesan Anna Maria; Countess of Shrewsbury. In 1668; Anna Maria’s cuckolded husband; the Earl of Shrewsbury; challenged Buckingham to a duel. Buckingham killed Shrewsbury and claimed Anna Maria as his prize; making her the first mistress of Cliveden. Through the centuries; other enigmatic and indomitable women would assume stewardship over the estate; including Elizabeth; Countess of Orkney and illicit lover of William III; who became one of England’s wealthiest women; Augusta of Saxe-Gotha; the queen that Britain was promised and then denied; Harriet; Duchess of Sutherland; confidante of Queen Victoria and a glittering society hostess turned political activist; and the American-born Nancy Astor; the first female member of Parliament; who described herself as an “ardent feminist” and welcomed controversy. Though their privileges were extraordinary; in Livingstone’s hands; their struggles and sacrifices are universal. Cliveden weathered renovation and restoration; world conflicts and cold wars; societal shifts and technological advances. Rich in historical and architectural detail; The Mistresses of Cliveden is a tale of sex and power; and of the exceptional women who evaded; exploited; and confronted the expectations of their times.Praise for The Mistresses of Cliveden“Theatrical festivities; political jockeying and court intrigues are deftly described with a verve and attention to domestic comforts that show the author at her best. . . . [Livingstone’s] portraits of strenuous and assertive women who resisted subjection; sometimes deploying their sexual allure to succeed; on other occasions drawing on their husband’s wealth; are astute; spirited; and empathetic.”—The Wall Street Journal “Missing Downton Abbey already? This tome promises ‘three centuries of scandal; power; and intrigue’ and Natalie Livingstone definitely delivers.”—Good Housekeeping “Lively . . . The current chatelaine—the author herself—deserves no small credit for keeping the house’s legend alive. . . . Any of her action-filled chapters would merit a mini-series.”—The New York Times Book Review “Though the personal tales and tidbits are fascinating; and the sensational details of these women’s lives will intrigue Downton Abbey devotees; the real star of the story is Cliveden.”—Booklist “Lovers of modern English history and the scandals that infiltrated upper-crust society will find much to enjoy in this work.”—Library Journal