A man of as many names as motives; Edward Bancroft is a singular figure in the history of Revolutionary America. Born in Massachusetts in 1745; Bancroft moved to England as a young man in the 1760s and began building a respectable résumé as both a scientist and a man of letters. In recognition of his works in natural history; Bancroft was unanimously elected to the Royal Society; and while working to secure French aid for the American Revolution; he became a close associate of such luminaries as Benjamin Franklin; Silas Deane; and John Adams. Though lauded in his time as a staunch American patriot; when the British diplomatic archives were opened in the late nineteenth century; it was revealed that Bancroft led a secret life as a British agent acting against French and American interests. In this book; the first complete biography of Bancroft; historian Thomas J. Schaeper reveals the full extent of the agent's deception during the crucial years of the American Revolution. Operating under aliases; working in ciphers; and leaving coded messages in the trees of Paris's Tuileries Gardens; Bancroft filtered information from unsuspecting figures including Franklin and Deane back to his contacts in Britain; navigating a complicated web of political allegiances. Through Schaeper's keen analysis of Bancroft's correspondence and diplomatic records; this biography reveals whether Bancroft should ultimately be considered a traitor to America or a patriot to Britain.
#499297 in Books imusti 2003-08-11Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.70 x 1.12 x 5.25l; .78 #File Name: 0300102224436 pagesYale University Press
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Brilliantly written; poor print qualityBy PJ RoyalThis book is gorgeously written. Ms. Vickery has a beautiful turn of phrase - exhaustively researched and an utter delight to read. Highest possible points go to the author. As other reviewers have commented upon; however; the print quality is not of the highest. The binding has cracked and the pages have come apart in the new copy I purchased; despite taking the usual care of a book when I am reading. I would absolutely read all of Amanda Vickery's work; but would be wary of another by this particular publishing house; which of course is very surprising given the fact that it is published by Yale University Press. They need to rethink their printing partner methinks!5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. The Gentleman's DaughterBy ChapatiAmanda Vickery's book is about the life of genteel (note that genteel does not equal aristocratic) women in the 18th and early part of the 19th century. It is divided into seven chapters that roughly coincide with major events and duties in a lady's life (courtship; marriage; motherhood; householding; shopping and entertainment). Vickery's thesis is that women were not marginalized in society during the 18th century; and did not operate in separate spheres leading up to the Victorian era. (She does not touch the Victorian era at all.) She proves this point well by sharing anecdotes from letters and books; newspapers and prints. But the book is also littered with jewels of information about all aspects of female life.My favorite chapter was that on childbirth and motherhood. There is a really fascinating excerpt on how midwives were slowly replaced by "male midwives;" and then by physicians. "Ladies of quality" in the 18th and 19th centuries are given the short end of the stick as mothers. The belief persists that they were rarely invested in their children's lives; this is based mainly on the fact that many did not breast feed and apparently were too busy leading very busy lives to bother with their children. (If that is the criteria; then God only knows how mothers today would rate.) Vickery proves this completely wrong; which is gratifying; to say the least.Vickery's book can be slow-going at times due to the large number of citations that she makes in it; but that is the nature of an academic work. It is also full of interesting tidbits; for example; there was a ladies' debating society in the late 1700s which; among other things; debated whether a woman pledging obedience to her husband in her wedding vows required her to always follow his orders. It is definitely more in-depth in its material than many other books; so if you enjoy delving into history; this is for you.34 of 34 people found the following review helpful. Academic but interesting and enlighteningBy marylandmomThis book reminds me of reading someone's doctoral dissertation--but that isn't meant to be an insult; just a comment on the writing style (academic). We are introduced to real women and their real situations by way of their letters and diaries. It is full of very interesting stories of a few related women in 18th century England. My only wish would be that the book could have been written to include women from other areas in England--really just more women in general. I appreciate the author's work in this under-researched area and hope it inspires more research in the future.I have long wished that I could have lived in Jane Austen's world (with epidurals). But after reading this I realize that I would rather keep my appliances and modern medicine and my legal rights. I appreciated this book because it broke me of my misconceptions about any kind of "romantic" life of the women of this "almost leisure" class; as another reviewer called it. They were at the mercy of their husbands; their social situation and fate. Very thought provoking for a Jane Austen fan like myself.
