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Meet Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s Sophia of Hanover (1630-1714). Born a penniless princess in exile, she became one of the preeminent noblewomen and celebrities of her era, renowned at courts across Europe for her intelligence and wit. And she almost became queen of had she lived two months longer, she would have succeeded to the crown before her eldest son, who reigned as George I. At the age of fifty, Sophia wrote her memoirs, which paint a captivating and often humorous portrait of her rich and varied life. She recalls, with insight and verve, her interactions with leading men and ladies (Charles II, Louis XIV, Christina of Sweden) and long-forgotten bit players (cavaliers, concubines, clerics, and quacks). The memoirs, which Sophia wrote in French, appear here in English for the first time in their entirety. Their publication is particularly timely, as it coincides with the 300th anniversary of the Hanoverian succession (2014). Professor Elizabeth Goldsmith of Boston University said of this “This lively historical memoir was written by a fascinating, intelligent, and strong figure who was related to most of the royal houses of Europe. Sean Ward has succeeded marvelously in bringing Sophia of Hanover to life for a modern audience. Readers will be delighted to discover the wit, critical spirit, and storytelling skill of this woman who inhabited and visited many seventeenth-century courts and knew how to write a compelling narrative of her world.”
271 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 12, 2015
Sophia, if remembered at all, is remembered as either Sophia of Hanover or the mother of King George I and grandmother of George II. Sophia was the daughter of Princess Elizabeth, granddaughter of King James I, and great granddaughter of Mary Queen of Scots.
Her memoirs written when she was fifty years old reveal a woman of wit and passion, a woman who was perceptive, spoke five languages, and was extraordinary candid in some of her personal thoughts ranging from childbirth and her unfaithful husband.
To quote the introduction to the memoirs, "To read them is to walk through an open door into the highest echelons of 17th century society -- English, French, German and Dutch -- in the company of an entertaining and knowledgeable guide."
Sophia was related either by blood or marriage to almost every royal house in Europe and for anyone wishing for an insight into rules of place and precedence throughout the royal courts, Sophia spends the majority of her memoirs talking of her trips throughout Europe.
Sophia would be named heiress of Britain, Scotland and Ireland, but sadly Sophia would never see the England she had so wanted to one day see. She died a couple of months before Queen Anne and her son ascended the throne as George I
Her memoirs written when she was fifty years old reveal a woman of wit and passion, a woman who was perceptive, spoke five languages, and was extraordinary candid in some of her personal thoughts ranging from childbirth and her unfaithful husband.
To quote the introduction to the memoirs, "To read them is to walk through an open door into the highest echelons of 17th century society -- English, French, German and Dutch -- in the company of an entertaining and knowledgeable guide."
Sophia was related either by blood or marriage to almost every royal house in Europe and for anyone wishing for an insight into rules of place and precedence throughout the royal courts, Sophia spends the majority of her memoirs talking of her trips throughout Europe.
Sophia would be named heiress of Britain, Scotland and Ireland, but sadly Sophia would never see the England she had so wanted to one day see. She died a couple of months before Queen Anne and her son ascended the throne as George I
February 18, 2020
Sophia of Hanover was the youngest daughter of Elisabeth, daughter of King James I of England and great-granddaughter of Mary, Queen of Scots. I got interested in her after reading "Daughters of the Winter Queen," which is the story of Elisabeth and her daughters (and sons). Sophia is unusual because she is one of the rare women who wrote memoirs (she ended up being the Queen of Palatine and mother of the King of England).
She wrote the book in French, but even in English her wit and intelligence comes through. She writes of her mother:
"As soon as I was strong enough to be transported, my mother the queen sent me to Leiden, which is only three hours from The Hague. Preferring the company of her pet monkeys and dogs to that of her offspring, Her Majesty had all her children raised well out of her sight."
A couple of things stood out to me in her writing:
1. She really is a child of her time and position. She is raised as a princess, becomes a princess and eventually queen of Palatine. She never stops to ask if her assumptions about her "rank" or lot in life are true, or even if they are good. She is royalty, she will always be royalty, and God indeed ordained that it would be so. Because of this she is obsessed with matters of rank and standing, carefully observing how she is treated as she travels around Europe and approving or disapproving according to her status and understanding of how she should be treated. It's quite fascinating.
2. The two largest sections of her memoir are her travels to Italy, and then some years later to France as she carefully notes everyone she meets, what things they did, and how the different "ranks" interacted with her. Those with higher rank who go out of their way to acknowledge her come in for special approval. It's a whole part of life that we as Americans are not at all familiar with, because we have nothing similar in our culture.
3. Her marriage is especially interesting. The oldest son of the Duke of Palatine enters into a marriage contract with her, but then gets cold feet because he wants to be a "bachelor til the rapture." He concocts a plan for her to marry one of his brothers instead, which after she hears of it, agrees to go along with. She says again and again how much she loves her husband (the other brother), and indeed comments so much, the reader wonders if she isn't saying it a little too much. At any rate, even though her husband eventually chases other women, as far as we know, Sophia stayed faithful to him until the day of his death. Sophia herself would live until her late eighties and indeed miss becoming the Queen of England by 54 days, dying just before Queen Anne.
She wrote the book in French, but even in English her wit and intelligence comes through. She writes of her mother:
"As soon as I was strong enough to be transported, my mother the queen sent me to Leiden, which is only three hours from The Hague. Preferring the company of her pet monkeys and dogs to that of her offspring, Her Majesty had all her children raised well out of her sight."
A couple of things stood out to me in her writing:
1. She really is a child of her time and position. She is raised as a princess, becomes a princess and eventually queen of Palatine. She never stops to ask if her assumptions about her "rank" or lot in life are true, or even if they are good. She is royalty, she will always be royalty, and God indeed ordained that it would be so. Because of this she is obsessed with matters of rank and standing, carefully observing how she is treated as she travels around Europe and approving or disapproving according to her status and understanding of how she should be treated. It's quite fascinating.
2. The two largest sections of her memoir are her travels to Italy, and then some years later to France as she carefully notes everyone she meets, what things they did, and how the different "ranks" interacted with her. Those with higher rank who go out of their way to acknowledge her come in for special approval. It's a whole part of life that we as Americans are not at all familiar with, because we have nothing similar in our culture.
3. Her marriage is especially interesting. The oldest son of the Duke of Palatine enters into a marriage contract with her, but then gets cold feet because he wants to be a "bachelor til the rapture." He concocts a plan for her to marry one of his brothers instead, which after she hears of it, agrees to go along with. She says again and again how much she loves her husband (the other brother), and indeed comments so much, the reader wonders if she isn't saying it a little too much. At any rate, even though her husband eventually chases other women, as far as we know, Sophia stayed faithful to him until the day of his death. Sophia herself would live until her late eighties and indeed miss becoming the Queen of England by 54 days, dying just before Queen Anne.
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