Kirsten Ellis
Author of Star of the Morning: The Extraordinary Life of Lady Hester Stanhope
About the Author
Kirsten Ellis lives in New York and visits New Zealand every summer British photographer Robert Holmes embarked on his distinguished career in editorial photography in 1975. He travels extensively on assignment for National Geographic, International Wildlife, Geo, Departures and other major show more magazines. He teaches photography at the University of California at Berkeley show less
Works by Kirsten Ellis
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Gender
- female
Members
Reviews
Awards
Statistics
- Works
- 15
- Members
- 72
- Popularity
- #243,043
- Rating
- 4.0
- Reviews
- 1
- ISBNs
- 30
- Languages
- 3
Her aim was always to serve England and receive the acclaim that such service merited. Although she gained influence with the pashas and other leaders, she never achieved the distinction that she thought she deserved. She had a spy network, had dealings with supporters of Napoleon, and spent a lot more money than she had from a family inheritance (some of which she never received) and a government pension. She was mercurial, probably bipolar, and died alone except for an Arab lover and servants, walled up in a fortified compound she had built.
I did not think that Ellis had written hagiography, but having read the Wikipedia account of her half-brother's dealings with her and an enigmatic figure, Kaspar Hauser, I'm no longer sure about the interpretation of her life. No matter where the truth lies, I'm glad to have Lady Hester among my historical acquaintances.… (more)