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Daughters of Ireland: The Rebellious Kingsborough Sisters and the Making of a Modern Nation
They were known as the Ascendancy, the dashing aristocratic elite that controlled Irish politics and society at the end of the eighteenth century—and at their pinnacle stood Caroline and Robert King, Lord and Lady Kingsborough of Mitchelstown Castle. Heirs to ancient estates and a vast fortune, Lord and Lady Kingsborough appeared to be blessed with everything but marital love—which only made the scandal that tore through their family more shocking. In 1798, at the height of a rebellion that was setting Ireland ablaze, Robert King was tried for the murder of his wife’s cousin—a crime born of passion that proved to have extraordinary political implications. In her brilliant new book, Janet Todd unfolds the fascinating story of how this powerful Anglo-Irish family became entwined with the downfall not only of their class, but of their very way of life.
Like Amanda Foreman’s bestselling Georgiana, Daughters of Ireland brings to life the world of a glittering elite in an age of international revolution. When her daughters, Margaret and Mary, were at their most impressionable, Lady Kingsborough hired the firebrand feminist Mary Wollstonecraft to be their governess, little realizing how radically this would alter both girls’ beliefs and characters. The tall, striking Margaret went on to provide crucial support to the United Irishmen in the days leading up to the Rebellion of 1798, while soft, pleasing Mary indulged in an illicit, and all but incestuous love affair that precipitated multiple tragedies.
As the Kingsboroughs imploded, the most powerful and colorful figures of the day were swept up in their drama—the dashing aristocrat turned revolutionary Lord Edward Fitzgerald; the liberal, cultivated Countess of Moira, a terrible snob despite her support of Irish revolutionaires; the notorious philanderer Colonel George King, whose sexual debauchery was matched only by his appalling cruelty; Britain’s cold calculating prime minister William Pitt and its mad ruler King George III.
With irresistible narrative drive and richly intimate historic detail, Daughters of Ireland an absolutely spellbinding work of history, biography, passion, and rebellion.
Like Amanda Foreman’s bestselling Georgiana, Daughters of Ireland brings to life the world of a glittering elite in an age of international revolution. When her daughters, Margaret and Mary, were at their most impressionable, Lady Kingsborough hired the firebrand feminist Mary Wollstonecraft to be their governess, little realizing how radically this would alter both girls’ beliefs and characters. The tall, striking Margaret went on to provide crucial support to the United Irishmen in the days leading up to the Rebellion of 1798, while soft, pleasing Mary indulged in an illicit, and all but incestuous love affair that precipitated multiple tragedies.
As the Kingsboroughs imploded, the most powerful and colorful figures of the day were swept up in their drama—the dashing aristocrat turned revolutionary Lord Edward Fitzgerald; the liberal, cultivated Countess of Moira, a terrible snob despite her support of Irish revolutionaires; the notorious philanderer Colonel George King, whose sexual debauchery was matched only by his appalling cruelty; Britain’s cold calculating prime minister William Pitt and its mad ruler King George III.
With irresistible narrative drive and richly intimate historic detail, Daughters of Ireland an absolutely spellbinding work of history, biography, passion, and rebellion.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published February 10, 2004
About the author
Janet Todd
124 books73 followersJanet Todd (Jan) is a novelist, biographer, literary critic and internationally renowned scholar, known for her work on
women’s writing and feminism. Her most recent books include
the novel: Don't You Know There's A War On?;
edition and essay: Jane Austen’s Sanditon;
memoir: Radiation Diaries: Cancer, Memory
and Fragments of a Life in Words;
biography: Aphra Behn: A Secret Life;
the novel: A Man of Genius 2016.
Jane Austen and Shelley in the Garden: An Illustrated Novel, forthcoming 2021
A co-founder of the journal Women’s Writing, she has published biographies and critical work on many authors,including Jane Austen, Mary Wollstonecraft, her daughters, Mary (Shelley) and Fanny (Death And The Maidens) , and the Irish-Republican sympathiser, traveller and medical student, Lady Mount Cashell (Daughters of Ireland).
Born in Wales, Janet Todd grew up in Britain, Bermuda and Ceylon/Sri Lanka and has worked at schools and universities in Ghana, Puerto Rico, India, the US (Douglass College,
Rutgers, Florida), Scotland (Glasgow, Aberdeen) and England (Cambridge, UEA). A former President of Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge, she is now an Honorary Fellow of
Newnham College.
women’s writing and feminism. Her most recent books include
the novel: Don't You Know There's A War On?;
edition and essay: Jane Austen’s Sanditon;
memoir: Radiation Diaries: Cancer, Memory
and Fragments of a Life in Words;
biography: Aphra Behn: A Secret Life;
the novel: A Man of Genius 2016.
Jane Austen and Shelley in the Garden: An Illustrated Novel, forthcoming 2021
A co-founder of the journal Women’s Writing, she has published biographies and critical work on many authors,including Jane Austen, Mary Wollstonecraft, her daughters, Mary (Shelley) and Fanny (Death And The Maidens) , and the Irish-Republican sympathiser, traveller and medical student, Lady Mount Cashell (Daughters of Ireland).
Born in Wales, Janet Todd grew up in Britain, Bermuda and Ceylon/Sri Lanka and has worked at schools and universities in Ghana, Puerto Rico, India, the US (Douglass College,
Rutgers, Florida), Scotland (Glasgow, Aberdeen) and England (Cambridge, UEA). A former President of Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge, she is now an Honorary Fellow of
Newnham College.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 15, 2012
Very interesting, and helpful for anyone wanting to know the specifics of life in 18th Century Ireland. Very informative for historical research.
June 30, 2019
In 1786 Lady Kingsborough, a wealthy Irish aristocrat, hired a dour young woman named Mary Wollstonecraft as a governess. The modern equivalent might be for a wealthy, staunchly conservative family to unknowingly hire a vegan Earth Firster who teaches the children out of Howard Zinn. Before she was fired, Mary Wollstonecraft forever altered the lives and the attitudes of her pupils, especially Margaret, the eldest.
Most of this book, however, is taken up with the Irish rebellion of the late 18th century. So if you are looking to learn more Irish history (as I was) this was a useful read. I was disappointed with the perfunctory treatment of the titular daughters, however. Margaret's life after she abandoned her husband and eight children is covered in an epilogue--from the title of the book, I would have thought her story would be the main focus of the book. There is also a lengthy narrative at the beginning about the loveless marriage of the Kingsboroughs.
One difficulty I had was keeping the various characters straight, especially when Todd referred to people by their first names without a reminder of who they were. 3.5 rounded up to 4.
Most of this book, however, is taken up with the Irish rebellion of the late 18th century. So if you are looking to learn more Irish history (as I was) this was a useful read. I was disappointed with the perfunctory treatment of the titular daughters, however. Margaret's life after she abandoned her husband and eight children is covered in an epilogue--from the title of the book, I would have thought her story would be the main focus of the book. There is also a lengthy narrative at the beginning about the loveless marriage of the Kingsboroughs.
One difficulty I had was keeping the various characters straight, especially when Todd referred to people by their first names without a reminder of who they were. 3.5 rounded up to 4.
November 22, 2020
An enjoyable read about a couple women of the nobility and Irish politics of the mid to late 1700s. One, Caroline Fitzgerald an heiress with much land and fortune was essentially sold to be another rich family's son's [Robert King] wife, a political marriage at the age of fifteen. She was the political mind that helped her husband advance in political intrigue. Her eldest daughter, Margaret also had a political marriage, marrying Stephan Moore the Earl of Mount Cashell when twenty. Margaret's much younger sister's rebellion was running away with a married family friend after getting pregnant by him. Margaret was much more involved with politics and had been influenced by Mary Wollstonecraft and her liberal for the time politics. Other family drama is involved Margaret's politics differed from most of her families. The book is an interesting bit of Irish history mixed in with cultural and women's studies.
September 25, 2021
To be fair, it was very informative especially regarding the rebellion of that time. However, from reading the back cover, I was under the impression that the Kingsborough girls would be the main story amid the political background but there was more politics then I had anticipated or enjoyed, for that matter. Also, I couldn't keep in mind all the characters providing opinions on the events throughout the book. I thought this might be due to the fact that this was my first lrish read, but it did reduce my interest quite a bit in the middle. The last 4 chapter were most interesting and eye opening especially to the horrifying conditions in Ireland.
I liked how it concluded - the way each character was given closure. It produced a good feel at the end.
I liked how it concluded - the way each character was given closure. It produced a good feel at the end.
August 10, 2013
There was a tremendous amount of information regarding the conditions of Ireland during the early years of Irish rebellion. All of this I found very interesting. The story about the King Family and it's lineage, at times, became tedious reading for me.
April 17, 2009
A bit boring, to be honest. Cool sisters though, for their time
March 26, 2016
Well written, factual. If you are interested in the divisions of Ireland thru the women on that Country, this is a great source!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews