Fortune's Many Houses
A Victorian Visionary, a Noble Scottish Family, and a Lost Inheritance
- Hardcover
352 pages
- Release Date
1 August 2021
Summary
A unique and fascinating look at Victorian society through the remarkable lives of an enlightened and philanthropic aristocratic couple, the Marquess and Marchioness of Aberdeen, who tried to change the world for the better but paid a heavy price. This is a true tale of love and loss, fortune and misfortune.
In the late 19th century, John and Ishbel Gordon, the Marquess and Marchioness of Aberdeen, were the couple who seemed to have it all: a fortune that ran into the tens of millions…
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781982128623 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 1982128623 |
| Author: | Simon Welfare |
| Publisher: | Atria Books |
| Imprint: | Atria Books |
| Format: | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages: | 352 |
| Release Date: | 1 August 2021 |
| Weight: | 612g |
| Dimensions: | 38mm x 159mm x 235mm |
You Can Find This Book In
Critics Review
“The Victorian John and Yoko…Simon Welfare spins out the do-good couple’s saga with brio and warmth…a teeming portrait of the era.” * Air Mail *
“This is a wonderfully written, meticulous account, at times hilarious, at times heartbreaking, of a well-intentioned, charitable couple’s journey on the Road to Ruin.” – Julian Fellowes, creator of “Downton Abbey”
“With the feel of a real-life Brideshead Revisited, full of towering good deeds and devastating miscalculations, Fortune’s Many Houses is a fantastic fusion of biography and memoir. At its heart, Simon Welfare has placed his extraordinary family story of an aristocratic heroine who dazzled British high society while attempting to make the world a better - and kinder - place.” – Gareth Russell, author of Young and Damned and Fair and The Ship of Dreams
“The riveting tale of how one of Victorian Britain’s golden couples rose to pre-eminence then lost everything. Ishbel and Johnny Aberdeen were on intimate terms with many of the key figures of the age, and their story is an extraordinary window into Victorian society. Theirs is a story so rich and absorbing it reads like fiction” – Neil Oliver, author of Wisdom of the Ancients
“Compelling.” * Country Life *
“I enjoyed every word of this biography…it is a wonderful, run-along on wheels read, an always engaging account of the efforts of a gallant couple to change, if not actually save the world.” * The Irish Catholic *
“A vibrant portrait of British society through his animated, well-informed dual biography….A fresh, engaging cultural history of the rich doing good.” * Kirkus Reviews, starred review *
“A vibrant, rich, and dynamic historical portrait” drawn from an invaluable insider viewpoint.” * Booklist *
“These imperfect do-gooders make for entertaining company.” * Publishers Weekly *
Simon Welfare
Simon Welfare has had a long career as a television producer, working on a variety of programs, including the Mysterious World series with science writer Arthur C. Clarke. He lives in Scotland, married to the great-granddaughter of the first Marquess and Marchioness of Aberdeen, the subjects of his first biography Fortune’s Many Houses.
Returns
This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.