"Emma Hamilton is renowned as the real-life heroine of the greatest love story in British history, as legendary for her beauty as for her passionate love affair with England's greatest hero, Horatio Nelson. Now Amanda Elyot breathes new life into this remarkable woman, in what might have been Emma's very own words...The impoverished daughter of an illiterate country farrier, young Emy Lyon sold coal by the roadside to help put food on her family's table. By the time she was fifteen, she had made her way from London nursemaid to vivacious courtesan, and continued her meteoric rise through society, rung by slippery rung, to become the most talked-about woman in all of Europe, a key envoy in Britain and Italy's war against the French, and a confidant to a queen.
This novel, inspired by her remarkable life, recounts Emma's many extraordinary adventures, the earth-shattering passion she eventually found with Lord Nelson, and how they braved the censure of a king and country, risking all in the name of true love."
My Take:
The Positives: "Too Great a Lady" is very rich in the details of every day life of the period in which it takes place. Emy is mostly likable, and the many of the events in the book are quite exciting. The beginning is very much a page turner.
The Negatives: The book describes her love of Horatio Nelson as the greatest love story of all time, but their romance didn't even come into play until the last fourth of the book. Even then, it wasn't that exciting or passionate, I much preferred reading about her romance with her husband, the much older Lord Hamilton. I also felt that that the author just glanced over some of the more interesting events, and dwelled on the more tedious events.
Overall I didn't dislike "Too Great a Lady", but I would have to rate it as a 4, Borrow from a Friend, I wouldn't spend money on it, but it definitely isn't a waste of time.
If you like Historical Fiction, definitely check out Witch Child, Abundance, Nefertiti, The Other Boleyn Girl, Too Great a Lady, The Perfect Royal Mistress
If Historical Action is more your thing, you have to check out The Jester and Running Out of Time
Do you agree with my review? Do you think I'm totally off base? I'd love to hear about it either way! Be sure to comment and tell me how you feel!
If this book were a movie it would likely be rated PG-13, for sexual content.
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