Annabel: An Unconventional Life

by Annabel Goldsmith

Lady Annabel Goldsmith is a daughter of the 8th Marquess of Londonderry. In these memoirs she tells of her aristocratic upbringing with an increasingly eccentric father, a Conservative MP with strong liberal leanings, and a mother who died young from cancer. She tells of her marriages, her children, and the tragedies she has faced in her life.

Genres: Memoir, Biography, Nonfiction

304 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2004

About the author

Lady Annabel Goldsmith was an English socialite, author and political activist. She was the eponym of Annabel’s, the exclusive Mayfair nightclub founded by her first husband, businessman Mark Birley.

A prominent London society hostess during the 1960s and 1970s, she attracted media attention for her extramarital relationship with Anglo-French financier Sir James Goldsmith, a member of the Goldschmidt banking family, whom she later married. A descendant and heiress of the Marquess of Londonderry, her primary occupation was as a mother of six children born over a span of 25 years. She also founded the "Democracy Movement", a Eurosceptic political advocacy group, and published several works of memoir and commentary.

Lady Annabel died on 18 October 2025, at the age of 91.

Reviews

[Margie · Rating 3 out of 5]

They may have thought us terribly naughty, but we didn't mind.

It sort of sums up Lady Annabel. Bad behavior and serial adultery are the name of the game in this book. And believe me, it's the glossed-over version.

Lady Annabel is fascinating, in a train-wreck-I-can't-believe-I'm-staring kind of way. Almost unimaginably rich, pregnant by her lover while still married to her husband, very proud of her bosom and her tan; just an absolute hot mess. You will come away from this book somewhat stunned, but also not fully informed. She glosses over a lot, which is somewhat flabbergasting given how much she does cover. And she covers things that are pretty awful, yet described with a very devil-may-care attitude. Just simply awful behavior.

There are many sources of further (juicier) information about Lady Annabel. One way to start is to read the article below, and then google all the names you find in the article, and then in the wikipedia links you'll likely come across. It's a sordid rabbit hole to fall into, which could take weeks (and as Mark noted, almost requires a white board and a map).

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/artic...

[Lisa of Hopewell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I skimmed the rest--not much there.....

Down to 2 stars....she thinks her kid comendeering a busy hospital elevator is "cute" and writes appreciatively of other horrible behavior. Reminds me of the Kennedys. Don't think I'll waste time finishing this.

Down-graded this to 3 stars. I always get bored after their debutante season! Now I just have to wait for Mick Jagger to show up later on. That might perk it back up a star or two.


I love to read anything about the British Aristocracy....they have more in common with the lower classes than the middle class and it's just fun. Annabell's life should be a hoot. Only about 2 chapters in, but it reads well.

[Grizel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unconventional, but also heavily sanitized. Read `The Last Curtsy' to find out what she doesn't tell you about her sister-in-law. Read anything on Jimmy Goldsmith to find out what she doesn't tell you about him. What other unsavory characters is she glossing over?

[Ruth Forbes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read. Annabel's sense of humour bubbles all the way through. Her life was not without tragedy.
An interesting picture of life in society in England.

[Pauline Hanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting but glossed over view of the emotionally difficult parts of Lady Annabel’s life. At times she and others in her band also seem able to pass over the sufferings of others with levity and lack of care. However I have to say I’m still inspired by her openness, zest for living and healthy give it a go attitude to life. She seems to be very accepting of people and her youthful spirit is winning.

[Chelsea Burk · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a wacky bunch those rich British aristocrats are. Tiger attacks, mysterious drownings, a phobia of rubber bands. A real grab bag. Did not care for the part where she abandons a mom cat and her kittens.

[Lizzie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Memoirs of Lady Annabel Goldsmith. If you don’t know who she is, you won’t care. Her first husband named the nightclub Annabel’s in London after her. She’s not that unconventional, it’s just that she openly had an affair with the man who became her second husband and then tolerated his mistresses when they got married. Oh well, it was entertaining.

[Johanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did find this an interesting read, though I hadn't sought it out. It was given to me by a friend who is interested in local history. Wynyard Hall, one of Annabel's homes, is not far from where I live and I attended a sumptuous wedding there a couple of years ago. It's very much about "how the other half live", though Annabel comes across as a very likeable person.

[Juli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was better than I thought it would be -- Goldsmith is a good storyteller. She doesn't gloss over difficult topics including death of her son, illness, but then doesn't over-share either. Opening chapter is not good for anyone afraid of flying (!).

[Susan]

great bio

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

total trash. kinda love it.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. I chose to read it instead of the Diana Chronicles and I was so glad I did.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great easy read. simple yet something you can get lost in.
I love to read about other peoples lives especially when they are so different from my own.

[Saturday's Child · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh, how the other half live.

[Maureen Flatley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rereading one of my favorite memoirs from Lady Annabel Goldsmith, a goddess in London in the 60's and beyond. Fabulous.