Daughter of empire [eBook - NC Digital Library] : My Life as a Mountbatten

This magical memoir about a singular childhood in England and India by the daughter of Lord Louis and Edwina Mountbatten provides a privileged glimpse into the lives and loves of some of the twentieth century’s leading figures.A magical memoir about a singular childhood in England and India by the daughter of Lord Louis and Edwina Mountbatten Few families can boast of not one but two saints among their ancestors, a great-aunt who was the last tsarina of Russia, a father who was Grace Kelly’s pinup, and a grandmother who was not only a princess but could also argue the finer points of naval law. Pamela Mountbatten entered a remarkable family when she was born at the very end of the Roaring Twenties. As the younger daughter of the glamorous heiress Edwina Ashley and Lord Louis Mountbatten, Pamela spent much of her early life with her sister, nannies, and servants—and a menagerie that included, at different times, a bear, two wallabies, a mongoose, and a lion. Her parents each had lovers who lived openly with the family. The house was always full of guests like Sir Winston Churchill, Noël Coward, Douglas Fairbanks, and the Duchess of Windsor (who brought a cold cooked chicken as a hostess gift). When World War II broke out, Lord Mountbatten was in command of HMS Kelly before being appointed chief of Combined Operations, and Pamela and her sister were sent to live on Fifth Avenue in New York City with Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt. In 1947, her parents were appointed to be the last viceroy and vicereine of India and oversee the transfer of power to an independent Indian government. Amid the turmoil of political change, Pamela worked with student leaders, developed warm friendships with Gandhi and Nehru, and witnessed both the joy of Independence Day and its terrible aftermath. Soon afterwards, she was a bridesmaid in Princess Elizabeth’s wedding to Prince Philip, and was a ladyin- waiting at the young princess’s side when she learned her father had died and she was queen. Vivid and engaging, well-paced and superbly detailed, this witty, intimate memoir is an enchanting lens through which to view the early part of the twentieth century. This magical memoir about a singular childhood in England and India by the daughter of Lord Louis and Edwina Mountbatten provides a privileged glimpse into the lives and loves of some of the twentieth centurys leading figures. A magical memoir about a singular childhood in England and India by the daughter of Lord Louis and Edwina Mountbatten Few families can boast of not one but two saints among their ancestors, a great-aunt who was the last tsarina of Russia, a father who was Grace Kellys pinup, and a grandmother who was not only a princess but could also argue the finer points of naval law. Pamela Mountbatten entered a remarkable family when she was born at the very end of the Roaring Twenties. As the younger daughter of the glamorous heiress Edwina Ashley and Lord Louis Mountbatten, Pamela spent much of her early life with her sister, nannies, and servantsand a menagerie that included, at different times, a bear, two wallabies, a mongoose, and a lion. Her parents each had lovers who lived openly with the family. The house was always full of guests like Sir Winston Churchill, Nol Coward, Douglas Fairbanks, and the Duchess of Windsor (who brought a cold cooked chicken as a hostess gift). When World War II broke out, Lord Mountbatten was in command of HMS Kelly before being appointed chief of Combined Operations, and Pamela and her sister were sent to live on Fifth Avenue in New York City with Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt. In 1947, her parents were appointed to be the last viceroy and vicereine of India and oversee the transfer of power to an independent Indian government. Amid the turmoil of political change, Pamela worked with student leaders, developed warm friendships with Gandhi and Nehru, and witnessed both the joy of Independence Day and its terrible aftermath. Soon afterwards, she was a bridesmaid in Princess Elizabeths wedding to Prince Philip, and was a ladyin- waiting at the young princesss side when she learned her father had died and she was queen. Vivid and engaging, well-paced and superbly detailed, this witty, intimate memoir is an enchanting lens through which to view the early part of the twentieth century. "Lady Pamela Hicks's joyously entertaining new memoir, arguably the poshest book that ever has or will be written" ( Newsweek ), is a privileged glimpse into the lives and loves of some of the twentieth century's leading figures. Pamela Mountbatten entered a remarkable family when she was born in Madrid at the very end of the "Roaring Twenties." Daughter of the glamorous heiress Edwina Ashley and Lord Louis Mountbatten, Pamela spent much of her early life with her sister, nannies, and servants—not to mention a menagerie of animals that included, at different times, a honey bear, chameleons, a bush baby, and a mongoose. Her parents' vast social circle included royalty, film stars, celebrities, and politicians. Noel Coward invited Pamela to watch him film, and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. dropped in for tea. However when war broke out Pamela and her sister were sent to New York to live with Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt, while the prime minister appointed her father to be the last Viceroy of India. Amid the turmoil, Pamela came of age, meeting the student leaders who had been released from jail, working in the canteen for Allied forces and in a clinic outside Delhi. She also developed a close bond with Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. "If you are addicted to Downton Abbey , chances are that you will relish Daughter of Empire , a British aristocrat's memoir of her childhood and coming of age...She is also a keen observer of a way of life now vanished, except on PBS" ( The Wall Street Journal ). "Not many people remain who can tell stories like Lady Pamela Hicks" ( Vanity Fair ). A Memoir Of A Singular Childhood In England And India By The Daughter Of Lord Louis And Edwina Mountbatten. Pamela Mountbatten Entered A Remarkable Family When She Was Born In 1929. As The Younger Daughter Of A Glamorous Heiress And A British Earl, Pamela Spent Much Of Her Early Life With Her Sister, Nannies, And Servants--and A Menagerie That Included, At Different Times, A Bear, Two Wallabies, A Mongoose, And A Lion. Her Parents Each Had Lovers Who Lived Openly With The Family. The House Was Full Of Guests Like Sir Winston Churchill, Noël Coward, Douglas Fairbanks, And The Duchess Of Windsor. When World War Ii Broke Out, Pamela And Her Sister Were Sent To Live In New York City With Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt. In 1947, Her Father Was Appointed To Oversee The Independence Of India. Amid The Turmoil, Pamela Worked With Student Leaders, Developed Warm Friendships With Gandhi And Nehru, And Witnessed Both The Joy Of Independence Day And Its Terrible Aftermath. Soon Afterwards, She Was A Bridesmaid In Princess Elizabeth's Wedding To Prince Philip, And Was At The Young Princess's Side When She Learned Her Father Had Died And She Was Queen. This Witty, Intimate Memoir Is An Enchanting Lens Through Which To View The Early Part Of The Twentieth Century--from Publisher Description. Lady Pamela Hicks. Originally Published In Great Britain In 2012 By Weidenfeld & Nicolson--title Page Verso. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The daughter of Lord Louis and Edwina Mountbatten and descendant of British and Russian royals documents her childhood in England and India surrounded by famous guests, her parents' open lovers, and her exotic pets