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It’s publication week for The Fall of the House of Byron paperback! 
To celebrate, allow me to introduce some of the book's star-studded supporting cast with a Byronic entanglement & a fave fact (move over Bridget Jones)
Pre-order >> https://www.foxlanebooks.co.uk/product-page/the-fall-of-the-house-of-byron-pb-with-signed-bookplate #HouseOfByron
To celebrate, allow me to introduce some of the book's star-studded supporting cast with a Byronic entanglement & a fave fact (move over Bridget Jones)
Pre-order >> https://www.foxlanebooks.co.uk/product-page/the-fall-of-the-house-of-byron-pb-with-signed-bookplate #HouseOfByron
First up: future pres. GEORGE WASHINGTON (1732–99)
Spent 1778–9 worrying about ‘Foul-Weather Jack’ Byron's efforts to thwart US independence – either in battle or by making everyone DISEASED
Went a bit weird when choosing names for his dogs, e.g. 'Drunkard' & 'Sweet Lips'
Spent 1778–9 worrying about ‘Foul-Weather Jack’ Byron's efforts to thwart US independence – either in battle or by making everyone DISEASEDWent a bit weird when choosing names for his dogs, e.g. 'Drunkard' & 'Sweet Lips'
Writer & inoculation pioneer MARY WORTLEY MONTAGU (1689–1762)
Increasingly scathing about her friend Lord Carlisle's young & flighty second wife Isabella Byron
Eloped with a politician as her father was trying to set her up with a man called CLOTWORTHY SKEFFINGTON #swoon
Increasingly scathing about her friend Lord Carlisle's young & flighty second wife Isabella ByronEloped with a politician as her father was trying to set her up with a man called CLOTWORTHY SKEFFINGTON #swoon
Dictionary-writer & wit Dr Samuel Johnson (1709–84)
Friend of Sophia Byron – tried & failed to encourage her to try essay-writing, & once compared her to a zebra
Had an addiction to tea-drinking, reputedly consuming up to 25 cups in a sitting: bit much?
#HouseOfByron
Friend of Sophia Byron – tried & failed to encourage her to try essay-writing, & once compared her to a zebra Had an addiction to tea-drinking, reputedly consuming up to 25 cups in a sitting: bit much?#HouseOfByron
#Hamilton baddie, King George III (1738–1820)
Was gushed over by Isabella Byron & her friends when he came to the throne in 1760
During his final episode of ‘madness’, he believed he could raise & converse with the dead – inc. 2 of his children & his g-grandfather George I
Was gushed over by Isabella Byron & her friends when he came to the throne in 1760 During his final episode of ‘madness’, he believed he could raise & converse with the dead – inc. 2 of his children & his g-grandfather George I
Incurable flirt LADY SARAH LENNOX (1745–1826)
So enchanted Lord Carlisle that he traipsed across Europe after her & her husband – but she was pregnant with a THIRD man’s child
Her 'grace' was questioned because ‘she was a cricket-player, & ate beefsteaks’ #teambeefsteak
So enchanted Lord Carlisle that he traipsed across Europe after her & her husband – but she was pregnant with a THIRD man’s child Her 'grace' was questioned because ‘she was a cricket-player, & ate beefsteaks’ #teambeefsteak
Revolutionary leader, MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE (1757–1834)
Challenged Frederick, Lord Carlisle to a duel during the Revolutionary War, ignoring Washington's wishes
Not a smooth operator on the dancefloor – his clumsy footwork was reportedly laughed at by Marie Antoinette
Challenged Frederick, Lord Carlisle to a duel during the Revolutionary War, ignoring Washington's wishesNot a smooth operator on the dancefloor – his clumsy footwork was reportedly laughed at by Marie Antoinette
Novelist FRANCES BURNEY (1752–1840)
Companion & friend to Sophia Byron & daughter Augusta – but refused to meet the ‘notorious’ Isabella
In a world where a woman was ‘in the wane’ by 28 (
) she married & had a son in her 40s – then kept the family afloat with her writing
Companion & friend to Sophia Byron & daughter Augusta – but refused to meet the ‘notorious’ IsabellaIn a world where a woman was ‘in the wane’ by 28 () she married & had a son in her 40s – then kept the family afloat with her writing
HORATIO NELSON (1758–1805)
At the siege of Calvi in 1794, he lost the sight in one eye & the heir to the Byron barony lost his life – it put the poet in line to inherit
When his daughter Horatia kept pestering him for a dog, he bought a necklace with a pic of one instead
At the siege of Calvi in 1794, he lost the sight in one eye & the heir to the Byron barony lost his life – it put the poet in line to inherit When his daughter Horatia kept pestering him for a dog, he bought a necklace with a pic of one instead
Feel obliged to point out that I went to post the Mary Wortley Montagu pic on Instagram & the hashtag #clotworthyskeffington is full of pictures of a fluffy black cat
SOMEONE HAS CALLED THEIR CAT CLOTWORTHY SKEFFINGTON
SOMEONE HAS CALLED THEIR CAT CLOTWORTHY SKEFFINGTON
