England's Mistress

An informative but impersonal biography of Emma Hamilton, the famous courtesan who became Nelson's mistress. Compared to Flora Fraser's account, which I couldn't finish, Kate Williams writes clearly and fairly about Emma, but there is always more history than personality in such studies of famous (or infamous) names. Although I admire the level of research, and how the author 'translates' money and locations for modern readers, I think perhaps only a talented novelist could really bring Emma to life, and separate her from the history books and footnotes.

Emma, born Amy Lyon and raised in a northern mining community, created a life for herself that, as Kate Williams disclaims in the prologue, would be 'dismissed as improbable' in a work of fiction. Indeed, Emma's rise to fame - from scullery maid to artist's model to courtesan to England's mistress - is the hackneyed route of many a romance novel heroine, with seeming disregard for historical accuracy or propriety. Yet because of Emma's beauty, spirit and ingenuity, she really did overcome all obstacles of hardship and reputation to become a feted and beloved national heroine. Of course, she then lost everything and died in poverty abroad, like many a notorious eighteenth century celebrity, but for a time, Emma Hamilton was the height of fashion. And why? Because she was a true actress, who aimed to please and delighted in making a show of herself. Emma also knew how to attract, engage and flatter the male ego, and she moved from one aristocratic 'protector' to another, always looking for love. Her first lover gave her a daughter, the second established her as Romney's muse and gave her the name she was best known by, Emma Hart, the third she succeeded in marrying, and the final face in her rogue's gallery - Nelson - was the love of her life. Not a long list of conquests, and all but one loved her dearly and remained part of her life, but none of Emma's lovers guaranteed her financial security. As Kate Williams summarises: 'Despite all her charisma, intelligence and charm, Emma had to rely on what she could win from men - and when men would not give it her, she had nothing.' From the lively, creative, honest young courtesan, who wrote passionate if misspelled missives to her lovers and charmed royalty, nobility and the hearts of a nation, Emma Hamilton's descent into lonely poverty and neglect is at once heartbreaking and frustrating. Like Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, Emma lived beyond her means and ran up massive debts, but unlike Georgiana, there were no wealthy relatives to bail her out. When reading the final chapters, I wanted to shake Emma and shout, 'You have no money! Fire your maids and footmen, stop throwing parties, and face facts!'

The only real sense of Emma Hamilton I got from Kate Williams' biography is how hopeless and pitiful the woman was in later life. Her magnetic charm, international appeal, and even her all-consuming love for the one-eyed, one-armed, toothless Nelson, didn't really ring true. She was either a beautiful, outgoing, caring, industrious woman ahead of her time, with the strength and independence to make life work for her, or a shrewd actress who knew how to manipulate men by constantly reinventing and, yes, prostituting herself to make them happy. Perhaps a mixture of both.

One other minor quibble I have is with the cover to my edition - why, for a biography about one of the most painted women of her time, have Arrow Books chosen to use a stock photographic image of an Emma-esque model with dark hair and heaving bosom? The three colourful illustration inserts in the book are filled with stunning examples of portraits by Romney and Elizabeth Vigee le Brun, yet the publisher runs with a cheap, romance novel mock-up? Unforgiveable. ( )

I love him, I adore him, my mind and soul is now transported with the thought of that blessed ecstatic moment when I shall see him, embrace him......
I must sin on and love him more than ever. It is a crime worth going to Hell for.

Emma Hamilton on Nelson, 1804

Amy Lyon was born April 26th 1765 in Cheshire England; her name changed soon after birth to Emma Lyon. Emma's parents were poverty stricken and life was constantly tested with endurance. Emma aged twelve; travelled to London to take on a job as a maid which was extremely demanding and tough; her employment did not last for she was far to full spirited.

London was hard but it had opportunity she would start from the bottom and work her way up. Emma turned to the theatre again as a maid hoping to become an actress; but jobs were hard to keep again she lost her job. Someone with poor back ground of such humble beginnings had not many choices so for Emma to make money she was forced to sell herself, this was a set back she soon became employed again at a London health spa (with a seedy side to it) she wished to better herself and live in higher circles of society.

Emma had an innocent beauty men loved and before long she had been noticed by the most notorious Madam Kelly (real name Charlotte Hayes) who reinvented her girls to please her exclusive clientele of men. Emma was transformed into a high class Courtesan but this was not fraught without danger of becoming pregnant or riddled with disease. Emma needed to escape this life, tired of being passed around the only way to succeed from the perils was to find a rich man and to become his long term kept mistress, such luck, finally a man of real wealth bought out her contract from famous Madam Kelly, but even with freedom and a rich life it was thawte with set backs and despair, until another lover came to her aid and began to teach her about life, Emma listened, eager to learn and became accomplished she was always ever so grateful; already knowing the art of reinvention she became Ms Emma Hart.

By her twenties she was becoming a star, Emma became the most painted women of her day. Artist were queuing, the most famous paintings of Emma Hart was by artist George Romney his works with Emma include Sensibility, Circe, The Spinstress and Bacchante, prints sold quickly from his studio in London to society in England and Europe. Other famous paintings were by Élisabeth-Louise Vigée Le Brun she painted Emma as a dancing Bacchante and the reclining Bacchante all paintings of Emma by Romney and other artist are describe vividly in this book; and are still shown in Art Galleries around the world today.

Emma's fame won the heart of elderly Sir William Hamilton who was British ambassador to Naples Italy, (At the time the third largest city behind London and Paris) against the odds of marriage she eventually became his wife Lady Hamilton most celebrated. Received at the Royal court of Naples, her fame continued with her classic posies called `Attitudes' postures in beautiful diaphanous outfits, it thrilled the aristocrats and intellectuals who visited Naples.

It wasn't long before Emma became a confident to both Queen of Naples Maria Carolina and to her sister Queen Marie Antoinette who was in the throws of revolution in France. The Napoleonic Wars were upon Europe, letters were written from Emma to England and Nelson whom she had met a while before to come save her friends. Naples was now certain to come under attack from Napoleon. Admiral Horatio Nelson responded to her plead England's greatest military hero came to her rescue, Emma soon became his mistress and greatest love.

In the eyes of eighteenth-century satirists, mistress and courtesans could do as they pleased, but a wife who was unfaithful was beyond the pale and received harsh treatment in society. Emma was willing to throw away her years of hard earned respectability for a man she loved, it could only end in tears.

Favourite biography of 2006; wonderful, insightful and beautifully written. Letters from Emma which were previously undiscovered were a back drop for this incredible book it makes you feel plucked up and taken back to the eighteenth-century for a front row seat at the life and times. We are shown the hardship, the elegant fashions in circulation a trip to the hairdresser for the latest style, Emma became a leading Icon. We travel continents taking a close look at Europe and its cities centuries old; and feel a passion and excitement about it all. We also learn more about an array of real life colourful characters from that day and age poets, artist, people in society the Royal families.

Make no mistake this book is about Emma herself, a woman full of ambition, excitement, wit and style she constantly reinvented herself and kept life interesting. Showing her manipulation of the media and there fascination with her to become the most famous women in England.

Congratulations to the Author Kate Williams, fantastic read and knowledge of the eighteenth century, vivid description of cities and what life would have been like, thank you for taking your time and energy to give us all a story of an extraordinary woman. Everything about this book had flair and captured one women's real beauty in Portrait.

Andrea Bowhill - 25/11/2006 ( )

I knew little about Lady Emma Hamilton before reading this book, save that she was mistress to Horatio Nelson, the great naval commander. Kate Williams brings her to life as a strong-willed woman who faced poverty, shame, passion, loneliness, popularity, tragedy, and triumph with equally good-natured aplomb. The "it" girl of her day, Emma seemed an 18th century Angelina Jolie--a beautiful woman of principle (though not necessarily the same principles as the rest of society) who lived her life guided by passion and a need to be noticed. The compromises she had to make to succeed--or, at times, just to get by--are heartrending.

Williams depicts the society of Emma's day in minute but colorful detail. Who would have imagined that genteel ladies, swooning over Nelson's victories, would have bedecked themselves (and their houses) with anchors, military braid, Egyptian obelisks (atop headdresses), and fabric printed with his likeness?

Overall, a fascinating portrait of a fascinating woman and her society. ( )

Easy to read biography of Emma Hamilton. A balanced portrait for the most part, showing Emma's ingenuity and resilience while recognising her self destructiveness and foolishness, especially with money.