Wedlock : The True Story of the Disastrous Marriage and Remarkable Divorce of Mary Eleanor Bowes, Countess of Strathmore

EDITORIAL REVIEW:With the death of her fabulously wealthy coal magnate father when she was just eleven, Mary Eleanor Bowes became the richest heiress in Britain. An ancestor of Queen Elizabeth II, Mary grew to be a highly educated young woman, winning acclaim as a playwright and botanist. Courted by a bevy of eager suitors, at eighteen she married the handsome but aloof ninth Earl of Strathmore in a celebrated, if ultimately troubled, match that forged the Bowes Lyon name. Yet she stumbled headlong into scandal when, following her husband’s early death, a charming young army hero flattered his way into the merry widow’s bed. Captain Andrew Robinson Stoney insisted on defending her honor in a duel, and Mary was convinced she had found true love. Judged by doctors to have been mortally wounded in the melee, Stoney persuaded Mary to grant his dying wish; four days later they were married.Sadly, the “captain” was not what he seemed. Staging a sudden and remarkable recovery, Stoney was revealed as a debt-ridden lieutenant, a fraudster, and a bully. Immediately taking control of Mary’s vast fortune, he squandered her wealth and embarked on a campaign of appalling violence and cruelty against his new bride. Finally, fearing for her life, Mary masterminded an audacious escape and challenged social conventions of the day by launching a suit for divorce. The English public was horrified–and enthralled. But Mary’s troubles were far from over . . . Novelist William Makepeace Thackeray was inspired by Stoney’s villainy to write \*The Luck of Barry Lyndon,\* which Stanley Kubrick turned into an Oscar-winning film. Based on exhaustive archival research, \*Wedlock\* is a thrilling and cinematic true story, ripped from the headlines of eighteenth-century England.\*From the Hardcover edition.\* With The Death Of Her Fabulously Wealthy Coal Magnate Father When She Was Just Eleven, Mary Eleanor Bowes Became The Richest Heiress In Britain. An Ancestor Of Queen Elizabeth Ii, Mary Grew To Be A Highly Educated Young Woman, Winning Acclaim As A Playwright And Botanist. Courted By A Bevy Of Eager Suitors, At Eighteen She Married The Handsome But Aloof Ninth Earl Of Strathmore In A Celebrated, If Ultimately Troubled, Match That Forged The Bowes Lyon Name. Yet She Stumbled Headlong Into Scandal When, Following Her Husband's Early Death, A Charming Young Army Hero Flattered His Way Into The Merry Widow's Bed. Captain Andrew Robinson Stoney Insisted On Defending Her Honor In A Duel, And Mary Was Convinced She Had Found True Love. Judged By Doctors To Have Been Mortally Wounded In The Melee, Stoney Persuaded Mary To Grant His Dying Wish; Four Days Later They Were Married. Sadly, The Captain Was Not What He Seemed. Staging A Sudden And Remarkable Recovery, Stoney Was Revealed As A Debt-ridden Lieutenant, A Fraudster, And A Bully. Immediately Taking Control Of Mary's Vast Fortune, He Squandered Her Wealth And Embarked On A Campaign Of Appalling Violence And Cruelty Against His New Bride. Finally, Fearing For Her Life, Mary Masterminded An Audacious Escape And Challenged Social Conventions Of The Day By Launching A Suit For Divorce. The English Public Was Horrified--and Enthralled. But Mary's Troubles Were Far From Over... With The Death Of Her Fabulously Wealthy Coal Magnate Father When She Was Just Eleven, Mary Eleanor Bowes Became The Richest Heiress In Britain. An Ancestor Of Queen Elizabeth Ii, Mary Grew To Be A Highly Educated Young Woman, Winning Acclaim As A Playwright And Botanist. Courted By A Bevy Of Eager Suitors, At Eighteen She Married The Handsome But Aloof Ninth Earl Of Strathmore In A Celebrated, If Ultimately Troubled, Match That Forged The Bowes Lyon Name. Yet She Stumbled Headlong Into Scandal When, Following Her Husband's. 1 An Affair Of Honour London, January 13, 1777 1 -- 2 Downright Girlishness Gibside, County Durbam, 1757 15 -- 3 A Worthy Little Woman Newcastle, 1767 45 -- 4 My Imprudencies Newcastle, 1767 66 -- 5 Powerful Pleading London, April 1776 93 -- 6 Bowes And Freedom London, December 1776 118 -- 7 Loathsome Weeds Cape Town, January 1778 145 -- 8 Improper Liberties Newcastle, September 1780 173 -- 9 An Artful Intriguing Woman London, May 1784 199 -- 10 Vile Temptations London, February 3, 1785 225 -- 11 Say Your Prayers London, May 25, 1786 249 -- 12 The Taming Of Bad Wives Westminster Hall, London, November 28, 1786 274 -- 13 Out Of The World Southwark, London, March 5, 1790 302. Wendy Moore. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [367]-375) And Index.

with The Death Of Her Fabulously Wealthy Coal Magnate Father When She Was Just Eleven, Mary Eleanor Bowes Became The Richest Heiress In Britain. An Ancestor Of Queen Elizabeth Ii, Mary Grew To Be A Highly Educated Young Woman, Winning Acclaim As A Playwright And Botanist. Courted By A Bevy Of Eager Suitors, At Eighteen She Married The Handsome But Aloof Ninth Earl Of Strathmore In A Celebrated, If Ultimately Troubled, Match That Forged The Bowes Lyon Name. Yet She Stumbled Headlong Into Scandal When, Following Her Husband’s Early Death, A Charming Young Army Hero Flattered His Way Into The Merry Widow’s Bed.

captain Andrew Robinson Stoney Insisted On Defending Her Honor In A Duel, And Mary Was Convinced She Had Found True Love. Judged By Doctors To Have Been Mortally Wounded In The Melee, Stoney Persuaded Mary To Grant His Dying Wish; Four Days Later They Were Married.

sadly, The “captain” Was Not What He Seemed. Staging A Sudden And Remarkable Recovery, Stoney Was Revealed As A Debt-ridden Lieutenant, A Fraudster, And A Bully. Immediately Taking Control Of Mary’s Vast Fortune, He Squandered Her Wealth And Embarked On A Campaign Of Appalling Violence And Cruelty Against His New Bride. Finally, Fearing For Her Life, Mary Masterminded An Audacious Escape And Challenged Social Conventions Of The Day By Launching A Suit For Divorce. The English Public Was Horrified–and Enthralled. But Mary’s Troubles Were Far From Over . . .

novelist William Makepeace Thackeray Was Inspired By Stoney’s Villainy To Write the Luck Of Barry Lyndon, Which Stanley Kubrick Turned Into An Oscar-winning Film. Based On Exhaustive Archival Research, wedlock Is A Thrilling And Cinematic True Story, Ripped From The Headlines Of Eighteenth-century England.

the Washington Post - Jonathan Yardley

moore, An Experienced British Journalist, Writes Lively And Literate Prose. She Has Done A Heroic Amount Of Research, Bringing Her Characters To Life With Singular Verisimilitude And Portraying 18th-century Courtship And Marriage In Full Detail, Never Forgetting That Although Mary Eleanor Bowes Was Uncommonly Privileged And Wealthy, At Root Her Lot Was That Of Every Other Woman Of Her Day…wedlock Is Serious, Perceptive, Thoughtful And—by No Means Least—compulsively Readable.

Moore resurrects history from dry names and dates, and vividly recreates this eerily familiar era with a historian's love for detail and a storyteller's passion for a good yarn. With the death of her fabulously wealthy coal magnate father when she was just eleven, Mary Eleanor Bowes became the richest heiress in Britain. An ancestor of Queen Elizabeth II, Mary grew to be a highly educated young woman, winning acclaim as a playwright and botanist. Courted by a bevy of eager suitors, at eighteen she married the handsome but aloof ninth Earl of Strathmore in a celebrated, if ultimately troubled, match that forged the Bowes Lyon name. Yet she stumbled headlong into scandal when, following her husbands early death, a charming young army hero flattered his way into the merry widows bed. Captain Andrew Robinson Stoney insisted on defending her honor in a duel, and Mary was convinced she had found true love. Judged by doctors to have been mortally wounded in the melee, Stoney persuaded Mary to grant his dying wish; four days later they were married. Sadly, the captain was not what he seemed. Staging a sudden and remarkable recovery, Stoney was revealed as a debt-ridden lieutenant, a fraudster, and a bully. Immediately taking control of Marys vast fortune, he squandered her wealth and embarked on a campaign of appalling violence and cruelty against his new bride. Finally, fearing for her life, Mary masterminded an audacious escape and challenged social conventions of the day by launching a suit for divorce. The English public was horrifiedand enthralled. But Marys troubles were far from over . . . Novelist William Makepeace Thackeray was inspired by Stoneys villainy to write The Luck of Barry Lyndon, which Stanley Kubrick turned into an Oscar-winning film. Based on exhaustive archival research, Wedlock is a thrilling and cinematic true story, ripped from the headlines of eighteenth-century England. EDITORIAL REVIEW: With the death of her fabulously wealthy coal magnate father when she was just eleven, Mary Eleanor Bowes became the richest heiress in Britain. An ancestor of Queen Elizabeth II, Mary grew to be a highly educated young woman, winning acclaim as a playwright and botanist. Courted by a bevy of eager suitors, at eighteen she married the handsome but aloof ninth Earl of Strathmore in a celebrated, if ultimately troubled, match that forged the Bowes Lyon name. Yet she stumbled headlong into scandal when, following her husbands early death, a charming young army hero flattered his way into the merry widows bed. Captain Andrew Robinson Stoney insisted on defending her honor in a duel, and Mary was convinced she had found true love. Judged by doctors to have been mortally wounded in the melee, Stoney persuaded Mary to grant his dying wish; four days later they were married.Sadly, the captain was not what he seemed. Staging a sudden and remarkable recovery, Stoney was revealed as a debt-ridden lieutenant, a fraudster, and a bully. Immediately taking control of Marys vast fortune, he squandered her wealth and embarked on a campaign of appalling violence and cruelty against his new bride. Finally, fearing for her life, Mary masterminded an audacious escape and challenged social conventions of the day by launching a suit for divorce. The English public was horrifiedand enthralled. But Marys troubles were far from over . . . Novelist William Makepeace Thackeray was inspired by Stoneys villainy to write *The Luck of Barry Lyndon,* which Stanley Kubrick turned into an Oscar-winning film. Based on exhaustive archival research, *Wedlock* is a thrilling and cinematic true story, ripped from the headlines of eighteenth-century England.*From the Hardcover edition.* A cinematic and thrilling true story exploring the life and catastrophic marriage of Mary Eleanor Bowes, Countess of Strathmore—“a tale of wealth, status, and privilege, laced with lust, greed, [and] pride” (The Times) “Spectacular... Serious, perceptive, thoughtful and—by no means least—compulsively readable.”—Jonathan Yardley, The Washington Post With the death of her fabulously wealthy coal magnate father, Mary Eleanor Bowes became the richest heiress in Britain. An ancestor of Queen Elizabeth II, Mary grew to be a highly educated young woman, winning acclaim as a playwright and botanist. At eighteen, she married the handsome but aloof ninth Earl of Strathmore in a celebrated, if ultimately troubled, match that forged the Bowes Lyon name. Freed from this unhappy marriage by her husband's early death, she stumbled headlong into scandal when a charming Irish soldier, Captain Andrew Robinson Stoney, flattered his way into the merry widow's bed. When Mary heard that her gallant hero was mortally wounded in a duel defending her honor, she could hardly refuse his dying wish; four days later they were married. Yet the “captain” was not what he seemed. Staging a sudden and remarkable recovery, Stoney was revealed as a debt-ridden lieutenant, a fraudster, and a bully. Immediately taking control of Mary's vast fortune, he squandered her wealth and embarked on a campaign of appalling violence and cruelty against his new bride. Finally, fearing for her life, Mary dared to plan an audacious escape and an even more courageous battle to reclaim her liberty and her fortune.Based on meticulous archival research, Wedlock is a gripping, addictive biography, ripped from the headlines of eighteenth-century England. At the age of eleven, Mary Eleanor Bowes became one of Britain's richest heiresses. With her first husband dead and pregnant with her lover's child, Mary became engaged to George Gray. Then in swooped Andrew Robinson Stoney, who had defended her honour in a duel with the Revd Henry Bate, the 'Fighting Parson'. Mary was bowled over and married Andrew Stoney within the week, having been told that his death was imminent. But nothing was as it seemed. Stoney survived, he was broke and his pursuit of the wealthy Countess a calculated ploy. Even the famous duel was a fake. Once married to Mary, he embarked on years of ill treatment, seizing her lands, beating her, terrorising servants, introducing prostitutes to the family home and kidnapping his own sister. But finally after many years, a servant helped Mary to escape. She began a high-profile divorce case that was the scandal of the day and was successful. But then Andrew kidnapped her and undertook a week-long rampage of terror and cruelty until the law finally caught up with him Wedlock Is The Remarkable Story Of The Countess Of Strathmore And Her Marriage To Andrew Robinson Stoney. Mary Eleanor Bowes Was One Of Britain's Richest Young Heiresses. She Married The Count Of Strathmore Who Died Young, And Pregnant With Her Lover's Child, Mary Became Engaged To George Gray. Then In Swooped Andrew Robinson Stoney. Mary Was Bowled Over And Married Him Within The Week. But Nothing Was As It Seemed. Stoney Was Broke, And His Pursuit Of The Wealthy Countess A Calculated Ploy. Once Married To Mary, He Embarked On Years Of Ill Treatment, Seizing Her Lands, Beating Her, Terrorising Servants, Introducing Prostitutes To The Family Home, Kidnapping His Own Sister. But Finally After Many Years, A Servant Helped Mary To Escape. She Began A High-profile Divorce Case That Was The Scandal Of The Day And Was Successful. But Then Andrew Kidnapped Her And Undertook A Week-long Rampage Of Terror And Cruelty Until The Law Finally Caught Up With Him. "Mary Eleanor Bowes' first husband died young and she was left pregnant with her lover's child. Then in swooped Andrew Robinson Stoney, who had defended her honour in a duel. Mary was bowled over and married Andrew Stoney within the week, having been told that his death was imminent. But Stoney survived and his pursuit of the wealthy Countess a calculated ploy. Once married to Mary, he embarked on years of ill treatment, beating her, introducing prostitutes to the family home, kidnapping his own sister. But finally a servant helped Mary to escape. She began a high-profile divorce case that was the scandal of the day and was successful. But then Andrew kidnapped her and undertook a week-long rampage of terror and cruelty until the law finally caught up with him..."-- Publisher description. Traces the dramatic story of Mary Eleanor Bowes, the richest heiress in 18th-century Britain and an ancestor of the current queen, as she stumbles headlong into scandal when, following her first husband's death, a charming young army hero flatters his way into the widow's bed, marries her, and embarks on a campaign of violence, and cruelty against his bride to take control of her vast fortune. "Wedlock" tells the dramatic true story of Mary Eleanor Bowes, Countess of Strathmore, whose abuse at the hands of her second husband shocked 18-century Britons and revolutionized divorce laws