Privilege and Scandal: The Remarkable Life of Harriet Spencer, Sister of Georgiana by Janet Gleeson (2008-06-24)

 I enjoyed this book more than the one about Georgiana by Amanda Chapman, although I also liked that one. However, this was less dense, written in a livelier style, and the description of the era was more vivid. It's certainly not a dull, historical biography!

Harriet was beautiful, clever, and heavily politically involved like her more famous sister, but she lived in her shadow to a big extent. Unfortunately, she was born into the wrong era. If she lived today, she could have a brilliant career, and a happy marriage, but these were denied her. Her marriage was traumatic, and her husband was often abusive - at least, at the start. Divorce was difficult, and would lead to her being considered a pariah by high society, so she had to stay in the marriage. Her involvement with Whig politics was a substitute for a career, but she didn't really find fulfillment in it.

Like her sister, Harriet turned to gambling, often getting into trouble with debts. She also had affairs, and had two illegitimate children to the man she loved the most. Her daughter Caro gave her many problems with her wild affair with Byron, and her crazy behaviour. Unfortunately, Caro was probably mentally ill, and couldn't be treated.

Harriet certainly didn't have an easy life! In spite of all this, she was a likeable, extremely kind person, and greatly loved by her family and friends.

This has been sitting on my shelves for years! I read it for the Rose City Reader's The TBR 23 in '23 Challenge,