An Absent Life: Elizabeth, the “mad” Duchess of Albemarle, 1654–1734

A riveting read. A combination of deep detective scholarship and brilliant story-telling, this book shines an empathetic beam of light inside the cruel reality of the “mad” duchess’s locked-away world. If ever a life demonstrated that wealth and happiness have nothing to do with each other, this is it.—Lynne Truss, author of Eats, Shoots & Leaves I do not think the brave, resilient, misunderstood, and unfortunate Elizabeth Albemarle could have found a more wonderful biographer. The extent of research, filled with a profound empathy for this forgotten woman has resulted in the portrayal of a lost world that feels utterly vivid. Nothing has escaped his forensic eye for detail and for the atmosphere of the time.The struggle and heartbreak suffered by a woman subjected and subjugated to other peoples’ ambition and duplicity, the grief of the loss of her children, the treachery of men AND women shocks again and again—and the rare moment in which a doctor, a servant or a child shows her a little care and kindness is hugely moving.I could not fail to recognise the contemporary relevance of such a life. Have we moved on far enough in addressing the stigma of mental illness? Where do women belong in a patriarchal society, and how long will they have to fight for equality?—Juliet Nicolson, author and journalist This is an intriguing and sad tale. In this imaginative and sensitive portrayal, author Paul Boucher tries to throw some light on the possible causes of her instability. The author has described, with great sympathy, a woman who, despite her great wealth was basically kept a prisoner.—Elisa Segrave, author of three books and a freelance writer and reviewer for The Spectator Congratulations to Paul Boucher for lifting the lid off an absolutely engrossing historical episode. The story is brought to life in lucid language through its characters and the fascinating detail of their lives. So much research has gone into the compressing of an incredibly eventful time in history—the mapping of seventeenth/eighteenth century London, the colouring-in of its population: their foibles, money squabbles, travels, mental health (and lack of …), entertainments, clothes, furniture, houses. It’s all so rich.—Virginia Nicholson, social historian and author