Nancy: The life of Lady Astor

by Christopher Hugh Sykes

The definitive biography of the unpredictable, often infuriating, indefatigable American who became the first woman member of the British Parliament.

Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction

543 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1972

Reviews

[Tomi Alger · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was challenging read for me. Lady Astor, who grew up in Virginia, then moved to England, married Waldorf Astor, became the first woman in Parliament. The book dealt extensively with her time in Parliament, how she voted, what she worked to pass, and how she caused controversy. It was too much politics for me. However, she was an interesting woman. She truly believed in causes for women and their equality. In the World Wars, at least one of their homes is used as a hospital. While married into a wealthy family, she did care for the people around her. She was a Christian Scientist and tried to promote that and get others to join. Much of the research and material shared is through letters she wrote and that others wrote to her. The book had belonged to my Grandmother, so I am glad for that connection to her, but I did not enjoy the book as much as I had hoped.

[Madrileña Reader · Rating 1 out of 5]

I doubt not the life of Lady Astor was interesting. However, the author seems to not have a proper grasp of what exactly was interesting about it as evidenced in this excessively long digression-packed 600-page book.

[Val · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very sympathetic biography rather than a completely objective one, but is also a well researched, complete one. It considers Nancy's political career, her opinions and prejudices and attempts to explain the background behind the latter. He had access to her political and family papers and Nancy's own abandoned memoir which covered her early years in Virginia.
It is difficult not to feel that Waldorf Astor was a much greater asset to the House of Commons than his wife. She only once managed to initiate any bills (almost certainly a watered down version of the legislation she would have liked), but she did speak on various subjects, often those relating to women and children or her naval constituency, and she was always going to be a very visible MP. She also had a charm and presence which made her accepted, even by some reactionaries, which must have made life for those female MPs following her that bit easier.
Her private life and personality are shown in the book. She was lively, impetuous, energetic (much of the time), kind and loyal (sometimes unexpectedly), opinionated and determined, but also bullying, prejudiced, misguided and ignorant at times. Once she adopted a cause, she usually remained committed to it all her life. She cared deeply about her children, although this led to possessiveness which sometimes caused problems as they grew up. She was fascinating.
Her electioneering methods were unconventional, she used flirtation, innuendo, back-chat, jokes and insults as much as political rhetoric. She turned cartwheels and showed her underwear. Conservative Head Office didn't know what to make of her, but many of her working class voters must have loved that rather undignified behaviour. She was not one of them, but she could make them forget that much of the time and was re-elected to her Plymouth constituency whenever she stood.

[Darla Ebert · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exciting read that kept my attention and gave a sense of the era which is such a PLUS. Only a talented writer could communicate this.
The middle of the book DID bog down due to the detailing of the political and suffragette life of Nancy Astor.
Still I would highly recommend the book if only for the feeling of time travel