Sophia of Hanover : From Winter Princess to Heiress of Great Britain, 1630 - 1714

Sophia, Electress of Hanover (1630 1714), grand-daughter of James I and mother of George I, is best remembered as the link between the Houses of Stuart and Hanover. But, above all, she was a gifted and prolific chronicler and her detailed memoirs and letters give us an insider s view of life for the top echelons of society in the 16th century. A true European, Sophia spoke English, French, German, Dutch and Italian fluently, she was open minded and intellectually curious. Her writings cover an astonishing variety of subjects: religion, philosphy, international gossip, household hints, poltics and the details of her family life. J.N. Duggan has translated Sophia's memoir and thousands of letters to paint a remarkable portrait of a woman who deserves to be known by modern-day Europeans. Sophia, Electress of Hanover (1630-1714) was daughter of Frederick and Elisabeth of the Palatinate, known as the Winter King and Queen of Bohemia. She was also granddaughter of James I of England and mother of George I. She is best remembered in the English-speaking world as the connection between the Houses of Stuart and Hanover. Had she lived long enough she would have succeeded Anne as Queen of England. This new biography however reveals that she was much more than a crucial link in the lineage of the English throne. Her memoirs, which she wrote at the age of 50 and her correspondence which date from 1658 - quoted extensively for the first time in this volume - reveal a gifted and prolific chronicler of her times. They offer the reader a fascinating insider's view of life at the top echelons of society in the seventeenth and eighteenth century Europe; the politics, intrigue and daily life in the royal houses, to many of which she was related by blood or marriage. Sophia spoke fluent English, French, German, Dutch and Italian. She was remarkably open-minded and intellectually curious as reflected in her writings. They cover an astonishing variety of subjects, from politics, religion and philosophy to international gossip and household tips, as well as intimate details of her family and social circles. The author has translated a considerable proportion of Sophia's writings from the original French and German to reveal a remarkable portrait of a remarkable woman. Sophia, Electress of Hanover (1630-1714), granddaughter of James 1 of England and mother of George. is best remembered in the English-speaking world as the connection between the Houses of Stuart and Hanover, and she would have succeeded Anne as Queen of England had she lived long enough. This new biography, however, reveals how Sophia - daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth of the Palatinate, known as the Winter King and Queen of Bohemia - was much more than a crucial link in the lineage of the English throne. Her memoirs, which she wrote at the age of fifty, and her correspondence, which dates from 1658 until the time of her death - extensively quoted for the first time here - reveal a gifted and prolific chronicler of her times. These offer readers a fascinating insider's view of life for the top echelons of society in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries at The Hague, where she spent her childhood, the Castle of Heidelberg, where her brother ruled as Elector of the Palatinate, and the Leine Schloss in Hanover, and of politics, intrigue and daily life in the royal houses of Western Europe, to many of which she was related by blood or marriage The detailed memoirs and letters of a gifted and prolific chronicler provide an insider's view of life for the top echelons of society in the 16th century. Sophia, Electress of Hanover (1630--1714), granddaughter of James I, and mother of George I, is best remembered as the link between the Houses of Stuart and Hanover. A true European, Sophia spoke English, French, German, Dutch, and Italian fluently, and was open-minded and intellectually curious. Her writings cover an astonishing variety of subjects: religion, philosophy, international gossip, household hints, politics, and the details of her family life. Sophia spoke English, French, German, Dutch and Italian fluently and was remarkably open-minded, sophisticated and intellectually curious. Her writings cover an astonishing variety of subjects: from politics, religion and philosophy to international gossip and house-hold tips, as well as intimate details of the lives of her illustrious family J.N. Duggan, who has long been fascinated by Sophia, has translated a considerable proportion of the princess's memoir from the German as well as a number of letters to paint a remarkable portrait of a remarkable woman --Book Jacket