Nicole HattemerThe Shade of Fame:
Adelige weibliche Existenz im England des 19. Jahrhunderts am Beispiel der Frauen um die national heroes Nelson, Wellington und Lord Byron

About this book deutschenglish

The admiral – the field marshal – the poet: these keywords describe three of the most spectacular personalities of 19th century England. The triumvirate of Viscount Horatio Nelson, Arthur Wellesley; the Duke of Wellington and Lord George Gordon Byron combine like only a few other men of their time so precisely the central elements of English society: military, politics and poetry. Besides their accomplishments in the military respectively poetic field, their contemporaries were already very interested in their multifarious and often rather notorious personal life. A central element of this were their relationships to women – be it to their wife or mistresses.

But how did the life’s of the wives Frances Nelson, Catherine Sarah Dorothea Wellesley, Anna Isabella Byron; the mistresses Emma Hamilton, Harriette Wilson, Caroline Lamb; and the daughters respectively friends Horatia Nelson, Harriet Arbuthnot and Ada Augusta Lovelace looked like?

Alongside a biographical analysis of the aforesaid women, the whole group of female aristocrats of 19th century England will be further examined. In doing so many contemporary documents like letters or diaries – some of which will be published for the first time will help the reader to get a closer look at the daily lives of the these women. Contemporary rules of conduct, fashion, literature and art will be analyzed alongside gender-specific scope of action. In her role as wife, mother or mistress, many of these women crossed some lines due to their unconventional behaviour and had to pay a heavy price. Yet others nearly faded into obscurity due to their avertable insignificance. All these interesting and unique personalities have one thing in common: they all deserve to be historically considered. The shade of fame tries to achieve this goal.