The Mistresses of Cliveden: Three Centuries of Scandal, Power and Intrigue in an English Stately Home

by Natalie Livingstone

A Sunday Times bestseller - Five women. One house. One extraordinary history.

From its construction in the 1660s to its heyday in the 1960s, Cliveden played host to a dynasty of remarkable and powerful women.

Anna Maria, Elizabeth, Augusta, Harriet, and Nancy were five ladies who, over the course of three centuries, shaped British society through their beauty, personalities, and political influence.

Restoration and revolution, aristocratic rise and fall, world war and cold war form the extraordinary backdrop against which their stories unfold.

An addictive history of the period and an intimate exploration of the timeless relationships between people and place, The Mistresses of Cliveden is a story of sex, power and politics, and the ways in which exceptional women defy the expectations of their time.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Historical, British Literature, Audiobook, European History

608 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Natalie Livingstone was born and raised in London. She graduated with a first class degree in history from Christ's College, Cambridge in 1998. She began her career as a feature writer at the Daily Express and now contributes to Tatler, Harper's Bazaar, US Vogue, Elle, The Times and the Mail on Sunday. Natalie lives in London with her husband and two children.

Reviews

[Marguerite Kaye]

There's no getting away from it, I was disappointed by this book. I was hoping for a good history with Cliveden as the centre piece, but what I got felt like a very contrived link, some not very interesting history, and what felt, ultimately, like a puff piece by the current owner.

I know that sounds harsh. Don't get me wrong, it was well-written, and if you knew nothing at all of the histories involved, then it probably was informative. But here's the thing - and it's a personal thing that I've said over again with biography and history - I like people to be opinionated. I'm not interested in facts, I want discussion, analysis, hypothesis - whether I agree with it or not. I didn't get any of that here, save some rather spurious links between the various chatelaines of Cliveden which were 'scandalous'. What I also got was a lot of glossing over the history that was less than palatable, and an unwillingness to confront some of the less savoury links with the precious house.

I was really looking forward to this book. Perhaps that's why I'm disappointed. But there's no getting away from it, I am.

[Jen Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm chairing an event with Natalie on the 14th March at the V&A if you're in London and fancy coming along :) It's a fascinating book. https://shop.vam.ac.uk/whatson/index/...

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Your reaction to this book is going to depend upon what you think it is going to be or what you want. Is it a history of Cliveden? Despite the title, nope. It is more a history of selection group of women (not all the women) who had control of the propertry. As such, it is good, if a bit long winded at times.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely enjoyed reading this book! Fantastic location. We went there in 2016, walked the gardens and took some phenomenal pictures. What a location. Cliveden Manor is one of the greatest manors you'll ever come across!

[Aishuu · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very uneven read - some of the sections were fascinating, but others dragged. It's not really about the life at the house - it's about the people who lived there. Some of the mistresses had a ton of their pre-house life, while other histories were not as expansive. The beginning is a lot more compelling - it really gets weaker as the story progresses. I also don't trust the writer - she's definitely an apologist for most of the ladies more questionable actions. I suspect this is something that was written for the current Cliveden gift shop....

[Helen Carolan · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was a bit disappointing. Miss Livingstone's book was more about the house and gardens of Cliveden than it's mistresses. an o.k read but would have liked more written about the women this book was intended to be about.

[Cathryn Pattinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clivedon is an interesting read, about social history from 17th century to the 1940’s and about the women who shaped the house and lived there. It is situated on the River Thames. I’ve learned about Augustus, Princess of Wales (but never Queen)
and Nancy Astor, the first female MP in the UK. Apparently, it is now a hotel.

[Lolly's Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

An entertaining romp through history, hinged around the singular, magnificent, and infamous Cliveden estate, from its beginnings as a luxurious pleasure palace built by the Duke of Buckingham in the Restoration reign of King Charles II to the Profumo Affair in the 1960s, the sex scandal which took down the British government.

Though the writing is lively, making for an entertaining read, as others have pointed out, the title is misleading as the bulk of the writing really doesn't focus on the women who are ostensibly meant to be the subject. Instead, we see a great deal more of the men around whom these women's lives revolved, as we watch these men build, rebuild, expand, restore, and renovate the house and grounds of Cliveden through the centuries while the women, for the most part, are sort of added in as decoration. Now some might say the author has a conflict of interest writing this book as her husband is the current owner of Cliveden, but I think this simply gives an additional layer to the history she's written as the latest mistress of the house.

There were a great many pictures sprinkled throughout the text, which I found wonderful (I love having lots of visual references), especially the gorgeous portraits which led off each part introducing a new mistress of Cliveden. As an architecture nut, about the only thing I wish would've been added are some floorplans of the house. Also, while a Cast of Characters is provided at the beginning of the book, again, personally I would've preferred having some kind of genealogical tree to show the relationships and descendants.

As someone who enjoys both British history and architecture, this book provided the perfect combination of both. Thanks to The Random House Publishing Group and Goodreads giveaways for providing me a copy of this book.

[Mell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've seen this book advertised with the phrase "for fans of Downton Abbey." This book is *nothing* like that PBS series. I want to clarify so that people aren't disappointed. Book begins in the mid 17th century (1660s) and is packed with historical and political minutia through the mid 20th century (1960s). In comparison, Downton covers just 1912 to 1922 and was lite on politics. Both are enjoyable in their own way but are not similar.

Parts of The Mistresses of Clivedon were quite good, and others jumped the tracks into tedious tangents. The author will reference an occasion or fact in one of the women's lives and then go on for pages about unnecessarily detailed points. I have a degree in history and even I found the book a bit tiresome at times.

The chapters are lopsided, with the earlier women's lives less documented due to both number of years passed and the fact that women weren't independent persons but legal extensions of their husbands. I did enjoy the first 2/3 of the book. Nancy Astor's life is the most spotlighted, and she was such a nasty person that I had to force myself to finish. The book has a clumsy introduction and conclusion about the British sex scandal in the 1960s. They are poorly integrated, and read like bad bookends tacked on at the last minute.

[Diem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic. I wasn't expecting this to do anything but entertain but I finished the book significantly better informed on a variety of topics. Centered around the manor house of Cliveden on the Thames, Livingstone tells the story of the home's mistresses. Using this format, you get an education in how the roles of women changed over the three centuries. True, the point of view is primarily of the aristocratic social strata but that bears our attention in the study of the advances of women.

Nancy Astor is a person that has lingered on the periphery of my awareness for many years without knowing anything about her beyond her wealth. What a fascinating woman. I feel like I must know more about her.

I am going to London this spring and wish a trip to Cliveden were on the itinerary, alas, it is not. Double alas because I understand it to be a rather swank hotel now.

The reader was excellent. Her American accent was more than passable. At first I thought it was a bit too Annie Oakley but Astor was of Southern extraction so it worked. Great audiobook.

[Kerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I do have some complaints about the book, it's overall enjoyable, interesting, and readable, even if it doesn't quite succeed in what it sets out to do. The book is also well-researched, though I'm curious how the portraits of the mistresses can hang in the house when it was severely damaged by fire at least twice. How did the portraits survive, and if they weren't in the house, how did they make their way (back) to it?

The book is framed within the tale of a 20th-century scandal, and while it may be a good hook, by the time you get to where it picks up again, you've forgotten who was who and what they did and why it was so terrible. And while the histories of the mistresses of Cliveden might have been interesting, the work is so heavily punctuated by the stories of their men that it doesn't concentrate sufficiently on the women to justify the title. So the house had some interesting owners--does it justify writing a book about them?

[Shawn Thrasher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Natalie Livingstone is rich, and can probably write and publish anything she wants - and I'm glad she chose to write a book about the famous English manor house that she and her husband purchased in 2012. Cliveden is probably best known for Lady Astor and the Cliveden set, the notorious appeasers of the 1930s who kissed up to Hitler and tried to keep Britain out of (what they considered) a senseless war with Germany. But the house has a long, interesting history. Livingstone told the story of the house through the different women who lived there. A biography of the house, a biography of each lady, and certainly a biography of the time. And quite fascinating - the house has seen a lot!

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

what a wonderful way of learning about history of a wonderfully beautiful estate home. all five sections were well documented and written so that I did not want to put the book down. Although when I read history I read it slower because I google the people and events and areas to learn more and to also soak in the knowledge. Read it and see which of these striking women are your faves for me I would say Elizabeth Villiers and Anne Marie's sections actually taught me so much about the era's they lived

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the author of this book tried hard to "sex it up", adding snippets of insulting poetry and scandals, the end result was just too wordy for me. No, I don't need the names of all 16 sculptors who were commissioned to blah blah blah etc. There's some interesting and entertaining history here, but you need to dig to get at it.

[Bridget · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I wouldn’t describe this book as dry, as it is very readable. It is rather dull. I would have liked to lean more about the personalities of each “mistress” and their partners. It is very well researched and sheds a light on 5 not so well known women in history.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It could have been a dry read but wasn't. The author gave great info and kept it flowing.

[Juliahoney Kamenker · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was good but it went off way too much on historical background and not as much about the house itself

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very easy listen spanning 400 years of Cliveden house, starting with the Buckingham scandal and ending with the Profumo affair. The house is centre stage throughout but it’s 5 mistresses all have their stories well told.

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this book up because I liked the cover & have visited Cliveden. Thought it was a good mix of history of the house & it's mistresses.
Anna Maria 1642-1702,
Elizabeth 1657-1733,
Augusta 1710-1772,
Harriet 1806-1868,
Nancy 1879-1964

[QOH · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the result of a Goodreads giveaway. Although I read a lot of English history, I probably wouldn't have picked this for myself.

3.5, rounded up to 4 because I would have gone for 3, but I'm cranky because it's hot out and I'm taking that into allowance.

The title is poorly chosen. Sure, it's somewhat about the women who lived in (were the mistresses of) Cliveden and they are the scaffolding of the book, but look to the subtitle for what you'll find what's really here: centuries of powerful men who lived there alongside the history of England while Cliveden was built, burned, rebuilt, burned, and rebuilt, then burned by scandal.

Why wouldn't I have picked it on my own? I don't like the trend of women writing about stately homes (with the possible exception of the Duchess of Devonshire because she's a Mitford and Mitford girls get to break all the rules). It's like assuming Elizabeth only liked Darcy because she wanted Pemberley. Also, it's 2016. Women. Writing about homes. My grandmother subscribed me to Better Homes & Gardens when I married, and it seemed quaint then. Does anyone want to know my Wedgwood pattern?

Sorry for the digression.

Although most of the facts align well with what I already know, occasionally the author lets loose with a howler like 1852 being one generation removed from the American Revolution's end. (1781 or 1783, depending on your point of view.)

You will not often find me saying a non-fiction book is too long, but this one is. Someone not familiar with 17th or 18th century history might get lost keeping track of the Annes, Marys, and Elizabeths. For all that, it ends abruptly, the author skipping over Cliveden's time leased by Stanford and then various hotel groups (including her husband's, and her way of hinting they just happened to luck into the place through elbow grease is charming but unbelievable). You can go back and re-read the introduction and timeline, but that only gives you a small picture of what happened after the 60s.

[Coleen Dailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting history of a house or better an estate and 5 of the women who lived there. From the Restoration of Charles II to the twentieth century this house and its occupants have been and hosted some of the most famous people in history. The house was constucted, remodeled, burn and rebuilt and was always in the most prominent architecture of the time. Home to actual mistresses, a princess of Wales, a friend of Queen Victoria and Nancy Astor all lived here. A good read.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

History of a stately home and its mistresses. This well-researched book was only fair to read. It had way too many footnotes to read comfortably in an electronic format, as it did not allow ease in flipping back to the text. Every time I clicked on a reference, it went there directly, but I had to go back to the table of contents to get back to where I had left off reading - so I quickly stopped looking at the references. It likely would be better to read this in hard copy. The subjects of the book could have been fascinating, but the author (probably rightly) handled it more as a scholar might, but didn't seem to fix entirely on either a scholarly or popular approach, and it seemed to me that the flow and readability big the book suffered as a result. It didn't entirely grab me as a result of the jumpiness of the narrative. This was a library loan, and it was automatically snatched back when I was about halfway through. (Since it wasn't keeping my attention too well, I was reading other books simultaneously. This one helped me drop off to sleep if I read it in the evening - not high praise unless you're an insomniac. If you are, then I'd recommend it as bedtime reading.) I will not bother to get back in the library queue to finish it up, though if I still had it, I'd likely finish it .... Eventually. I do believe it would have benefited from more illustrations, especially as the changes to the house and garden, and how the countryside around Cliveden changed through the centuries. There were a LOT of descriptions, but they weren't always clear. If you've always wondered about the history of a stately home and of the people who lived there, as I do, you might enjoy this book - but I'd recommend getting it in hard copy; the electronic format doesn't do it justice, and creates obstacles to enjoyment of this story.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

In The Mistresses of Cliveden, author Natalie Livingstone has re-assembled the history of Cliveden and the story of its châtelaines. The finished product alternates between the high born behaving badly and an architectural primer. This is neither wonderful nor terrible. The chapters on Augusta (mother of 13-colonies'-tyrant George III) and Harriet (BFF to none other than Queen Victoria herself) were the most interesting on a personal level.

As for the house, I wish Livingstone had devoted more ink to its use as a Canadian hospital during World War I, particularly as the hospital at Cliveden was not located within the house, as it was at Highclere Castle, but was actually a brand-new, specially-constructed facility located on the grounds. Unfortunately, the treatment of house-as-hospital is consistent with much of the book. Livingstone spends minimal time describing the routines of the hospital, the ways in which various family members interacted with it, or what the men themselves thought. In other words, surface deep.

This is frustrating because there are stories here, no question, but in focusing so squarely (narrowly?) on the house's mistresses, Livingstone's approach to many of them feels too oblique. Beyond the hospital example, above, I'd over the treatment of Nancy Astor's string of butlers and maids. Surely there's more to tell than what is written here, and I'd bet dollars to donuts it would add a little more color to tell it, but instead the reader gets only a handful of lines and the merest outlines of the story.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

While some of the history presented was a review of things I’ve read elsewhere, overall – I found the organization of this book – around a single estate – to be enjoyable an effective. Spanning over 200 years, the book provides detailed history of the estate itself and the various homes built there over the years, the various “mistresses” of Cliveden and the overarching history of Britain. I was sort of disappointed at the final section – not so much because of the book as because I’ve always rather liked Nancy Astor and this book certainly captured some of her less endearing qualities and beliefs. Yikes!

[Carole (in Canada) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"On a symbolic level, a 17th Century country house was an index of status and expressed the genealogy, political power, prestige and character of its owner." (quote from the book)

This was a fascinating book encompassing 300 years of history on Cliveden and it's occupants. The political intrigue, scandal and escapades of it's owners provided history with great entertainment. The book highlights five of the most powerful and ambitious women and their lovers/husbands and families. Each provide nuggets of historical information that give you a glimpse into the mindset and life style of the aristocracy in their time period. Each put their own stamp not only in the political arena but on the house and grounds. I was very interested in learning more about the Duchess Of Sutherland, but found each of the mistresses intriguing in their own way.

Anna Maria 1642-1702:

"...Anna Maria's name had become synonymous with the vices of lust and violence." (quote from the book)

A pleasure-loving sixteen year old (picture Lydia Bennet of Pride & Prejudice being let loose at court) who was married to Francis Talbot, 11th Earl of Shrewsbury who was 36. When the 2nd Duke of Buckingham, George Villiers first saw her, he was smitten and they carried on an affair (though he too was married) that would eventually lead to a duel between the Duke and the Earl. The Earl would soon die of injuries and the Duke would continue his affair with Anna Maria. It is his love for her and his impression of Versailles, that would inspire him to build Cliveden. Anna Maria would also become known as the 'lost mistress' of Cliveden.

Elizabeth Villiers 1657-1733:

"Her year at Richmond equipped Elizabeth with two immensely important attributes - a strong female sensibility and a sense of ease in the company of royalty. These were skills that would serve her well in the next phase of her life." (quote from the book)

The 2nd Duke of Buckingham was Elizabeth's second cousin once removed. Again political intrigue, religion and scandal abounded. Elizabeth carried on an affair with the Prince of Orange (William) even though he too was married. Elizabeth also provided counsel for William even after he became King of England. In thanks, he arranges a marriage for her to George, fifth son of the Scottish Duke and Duchess of Hamilton and ten years her junior. He is best known as Lord Orkney. In 1696, he obtains the deeds to Cliveden and Elizabeth becomes the next mistress.

"Cliveden had been the vehicle in which Elizabeth could manage her progress from royal whore, spurned and vilified by one queen, to society hostess, entertaining another." (quote from the book)

Augusta 1719-1772:

"Augusta was undoubtedly an astute woman who had a firm grasp on the political realities of her time." (quote from the book)

Augusta, eighteen, was chosen by King George II to marry his twenty-nine year old charming but wayward son, Prince Frederick. Frederick was very protective of her and helped her to deal with public attention and court life. He was hoping to increase his allowance as well. He also was very media savvy. During this time, newspaper production soared.

"Events such as drawing-room functions were crucial opportunities for journalists to gather intelligence, and even international news was commonly prefaced with phrases such as 'it is whispered around the west end': clearly it was proximity to the court, rather than to the site of a newsworthy event, that made a report credible." (quote from the book)

Seems like nothing has changed in over 300 years!

They were able to lease Cliveden from the Villier family as Frederick was a close friend to the husband of Elizabeth Villier's daughter, Anne. Again, political intrigue was at the forefront. Unfortunately, Cliveden's fortunes would enter a period of neglect after the lease ended.

Harriet 1806-1868:

"Despite her tender age, she displayed a sense of serene self-assurance that would shape her life and future relationships." (quote from the book)

In 1823 at the age of 16 Harriet made her debut and within one week was engaged to her cousin, George Granville Leveson-Gower, then Earl Gower. He was 36. This was a love match despite most believing otherwise. The political atmosphere of this time period was turbulent to say the least. It was not until Victoria became Queen that Harriet became Mistress of the Robes and a lifelong friendship would ensue.

"For the next twenty years Cliveden would become Harriet's most rewarding project, her calm retreat and enduring legacy." (quote from the book)

Nancy 1879-1964:

"Forthright and fierce, with an acerbic wit, Nancy was to become one of the most powerful and compelling women of her era." (quote from the book)

Nancy was a divorcee when she married Waldorf Astor. She had boundless energy that needed direction. She went from hosting balls to more serious political events. These would soon set her off on her own political career that would embroil her in her own political scandals.

Cliveden was gifted to Waldorf and Nancy for their marriage in 1906 by his father, William Astor. By the beginning of the First World War, Cliveden would be used as a hospital by the Canadian Red Cross until the end of the war. Nancy had created a cemetery on the grounds of Cliveden for those men who died at the hospital; "42 inscribed stones marked the graves of her fallen soldiers". Nancy would also make other renovations to the property.

Bill Astor, son of Waldorf and Nancy, would inherit Cliveden. One of his renovations to the property would be a swimming pool. This pool would bring down a government...

Each of these women were shaped by their own upbringing, their religion, their marriages and their health. Each, in their own way, made a powerful impact not only in the political arena but on Cliveden. Yes, they are flawed...but aren't we all.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

These are the stories of five women that presided over the house of Cliveden (pronounced with a short i) spanning three centuries: Anna Maria, Elizabeth, Augusta, Harriet, and Nancy. Mistresses of the illigitimate and legitimate kind. Each with their own drama and positioning for various roles with the men. What they do for the men they seek and actually what the men do for them as well. I found Elizabeth sort of interesting. She was smart but not known for her beauty. I think the book just went on too long-too much of the same. Three mistresses might have been ample to spotlight as I lost interest by the time I got to Nancy even though more current times (the Astors) and Cliveden interesting as a hospital. Philippa Gregory is the writer to admire if you like this period in history and all that goes with it. She's hard to beat.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book in all senses of the word. Natalie Livingstone takes the lives of some of the female inhabitants of Cliveden as the premise. This is not really a history of the house as such, although this does play a part. It is more like a social history of a group of really interesting women through different ages. The reader learns about their changing positions and how they influenced the lives of the monarchy and the governments at the time. Although this could hardly be called a short book, it doesn't feel that long as there seems to be just enough about each of the women described. I thought it seemed well researched, engagingly written with well chosen illustrations.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was an interesting way of telling the history of England, and really enjoyed hearing about the women and the way female power was played out in the court.

However, some of the facts and events in this book seemed rearranged to the point where I am not sure it was entirely accurate. Also, the author referenced her own relationship to Cliveden a couple of times but never actually outlined who she was or how that came about, which felt like a big missing piece.

Overall, I was interested in the history this book told, but think it could have included more in order to truly live up to the name.

[Pamela Vicik-smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

For some reason I thought this book was a novel. I had been waiting for the right time to read it and was so excited to start it a few days ago. In the first chapter I discovered that not only was it not a novel, it was a very dry retelling of annotated facts.

Though there were some interesting tidbits, most of the book I found extremely boring. I had read somewhere that if one liked Downton Abbey they would love this book. I loved Downton Abbey but couldn’t wait to finish this book so I could move on to something else.

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

I settled into the first chapters of this book, and found that the original owner was Buckingham (The one who was Charles II's buddy). I have read other biographies of this man and they did not match this book at all. Some rather large details like children, living situation of wife and mother, etc.
I do not know which biography is more correct and I do not intend to seek out the scattered primary historical references, but it pulled me right out of the book and I could not bring up any enthusiasm for subsequent chapters.