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The Angel and the Cad
At the age of sixteen, Catherine Tylney Long became the wealthiest heiress in England, and the public found their 'angel'. Witty, wealthy and beautiful, Catherine was the most eligible of young ladies and was courted by royalty but, ignoring the warnings of her closest confidantes, she married for love. Her choice of husband was the charming but feckless dandy William Wellesley Pole, nephew of the Duke of Wellington. The pair excited the public's interest on an unprecedented scale with gossip columns reporting every detail of their magnificent home in Wanstead, where they hosted glittering royal fetes, dinners and parties. But their happiness was short-lived; just a decade later William had frittered away Catherine's inheritance and the couple were forced to flee into exile. As they travelled across Europe, they became embroiled in a series of scandals that shocked the public and culminated in a landmark court case. Meticulously researched and rich with dazzling detail, The Angel and the Cad is a tale of love and betrayal that twists and turns until the final page.
392 pages, Paperback
First published June 18, 2015
About the author
Geraldine Roberts
3 books8 followersGeraldine Roberts is an author and historian specialising in the Regency era. Her books are meticulously researched from original letters and diaries, focusing on the achievements of real women and the complex dynamics within their marriages. Her first book, The Angel and the Cad, is published by MacMillan, and is an Amazon #1 bestseller. Her new release, The Rebel and the Peacemaker, will be published worldwide by Canelo in June 2026.
Geraldine grew up in East London, and worked in a bank for many years, before following her dream to be a writer. In 2010, she obtained a Master’s Degree in History (with distinction) from Queen Mary University of London, followed by a Foundation in Performing Arts from The City Literature Institute (City Lit). She has written several short plays and is a member of a theatre improvisation group that meets once a week to create scenes and sketches.
For more information and updates visit www.geraldineroberts.com
Geraldine grew up in East London, and worked in a bank for many years, before following her dream to be a writer. In 2010, she obtained a Master’s Degree in History (with distinction) from Queen Mary University of London, followed by a Foundation in Performing Arts from The City Literature Institute (City Lit). She has written several short plays and is a member of a theatre improvisation group that meets once a week to create scenes and sketches.
For more information and updates visit www.geraldineroberts.com
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December 21, 2020Oof, this turned out to be a pretty rough read, given the essentially story is here “total arsehole ruins woman’s life.” While it was clearly meticulously researched, I found the prose style functional rather engaging, but the story (grim as it was) and the broader context of women’s rights in the Regency kept me turning those pages.
The basics here are that Catherine Tylney Long is a sweet-tempered, beautiful heiress. She marries—for love—an utter prick, who spends her entire fortune, literally sells her house brick by brick, takes several mistresses, one of whom is clearly, shall we say, unwell, and eventually starts using the kids a weapons to control Catherine within their marriage. Catherine, finally pushed beyond endurance, starts challenging the entire framework of Regency society in order to separate from her profoundly abusive husband.
And then, because this is real life, and real life rarely offers closure, dies.
In the plus column, William doesn’t get the children. Which was apparently massively unusual for the time.
Ouch. I mean. Just ouch.
The book, to my mind, does a really good of centralising Catherine in the narrative—as it would be very easy to make it all about the dickishness of William since he’s very often the active party. After all, Catherine was a virtuous Regency woman which meant mostly she sat at home and took care of her family—and I sincerely appreciated the way that this was never shown as a lack of spirit, understanding or conviction. Given how values have changed, thank God, I think it would have been very easy to make Catherine come across as a mouse. Rather than as the rather admirable person she was who simply lived in a different time, with different standards of behaviour.
I also liked the exploration of the role, err, celebrity played in the couples lives. It’s an intriguing perspective.
The basics here are that Catherine Tylney Long is a sweet-tempered, beautiful heiress. She marries—for love—an utter prick, who spends her entire fortune, literally sells her house brick by brick, takes several mistresses, one of whom is clearly, shall we say, unwell, and eventually starts using the kids a weapons to control Catherine within their marriage. Catherine, finally pushed beyond endurance, starts challenging the entire framework of Regency society in order to separate from her profoundly abusive husband.
And then, because this is real life, and real life rarely offers closure, dies.
In the plus column, William doesn’t get the children. Which was apparently massively unusual for the time.
Ouch. I mean. Just ouch.
The book, to my mind, does a really good of centralising Catherine in the narrative—as it would be very easy to make it all about the dickishness of William since he’s very often the active party. After all, Catherine was a virtuous Regency woman which meant mostly she sat at home and took care of her family—and I sincerely appreciated the way that this was never shown as a lack of spirit, understanding or conviction. Given how values have changed, thank God, I think it would have been very easy to make Catherine come across as a mouse. Rather than as the rather admirable person she was who simply lived in a different time, with different standards of behaviour.
I also liked the exploration of the role, err, celebrity played in the couples lives. It’s an intriguing perspective.
April 29, 2015
This book is set within the Regency Period; which is usually defined as the period after the French Revolution to the eve of the Reform Act (1811 – 1830). This was a time of conflict, and, with the Napoleonic wars making Grand Tours unfeasible for the wealthy, English Society looked inward. It was also a time of extremes, with a huge gulf between rich and poor. Only two per cent of adults (adult males that is) had the power to vote. The ‘Angel’ of this book, Catherine Tylney Long, was one of the wealthy, although this was largely due to a twist of fate, in a time when women were very much under the control of male relatives.
Although Catherine was the eldest child of her parents, Sir James Tylney Long and Lady Catherine Sydney Windsor, the family fortune was set aside for a male relative. However, circumstances meant that Catherine inherited and became the richest heiress in the kingdom. Although she possessed an immense fortune and property, including her childhood home, Draycot, and Wanstead House, Catherine had a happy childhood, sensible parents, and a close relationship with her two, beloved sisters, Dora and Emma. Her change of circumstances from relatively poor relation to heiress, led to Catherine moving to London with her mother and sisters.
Of course, Catherine’s combined youth, wealth and beauty, led to gentlemen clamouring for her attention. Coming out into Society meant that Catherine was expected to find a husband and she certainly enjoyed all the balls and parties that she attended. She received many proposals, including royalty, but her heart was set on the dashing charmer, William Wellesley Pole. Pole was not wealthy, but he was well connected – nephew of the Duke of Wellington – widely travelled and a man of taste; extravagant taste. Athletic, a good dancer, charming and well dressed, Catherine was swept off her feet by this handsome and dashing gentleman, even though her family suspected that his interest was purely financial. It was almost unheard of for a woman in Catherine’s position to marry for love and not status and Society was shocked by their betrothal.
This fascinating account of Catherine’s life and marriage is full of interesting facts. For William and Catherine were the celebrity couple of their day – indeed Catherine’s white wedding dress created a fashion still followed today. The press clamoured for details of their life and, in a scary parallel with modern celebrity life, Catherine even had a stalker. Every aspect of the couple’s new married life was reported on; from their lavish lifestyle to their status as fashion icons, and the lavish work carried out on Wanstead House to make it as splendid and modern as possible – with William presiding over hunts and the couple hosting balls and parties. Carriages, horses, hounds, jewellery and clothes were purchased in abundance and soon, it became clear, that Catherine was unable to curb William’s spending. For a young woman brought up to give to charity and care for the poor, William’s indifference to anyone but himself must have been hard to understand.
We follow William and Catherine as their marriage unfolded – not into a life of wedding bliss, as it should have done for this golden couple – but into a mire of debt, despair and, finally, scandal. This enthralling book takes us from the English countryside, to London, Paris and Italy. Although this is a heart breaking read in parts, Catherine comes across as an intelligent and strong woman; a good mother and a kind sister, loved by her family – and, indeed, by William’s. If you like books such as, “Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire,” by Amanda Foreman or “Aristocrats,” by Stella Tillyard, then I expect you will also enjoy this tale of a woman who fought a male dominated world for her own rights and those of her children.
Although Catherine was the eldest child of her parents, Sir James Tylney Long and Lady Catherine Sydney Windsor, the family fortune was set aside for a male relative. However, circumstances meant that Catherine inherited and became the richest heiress in the kingdom. Although she possessed an immense fortune and property, including her childhood home, Draycot, and Wanstead House, Catherine had a happy childhood, sensible parents, and a close relationship with her two, beloved sisters, Dora and Emma. Her change of circumstances from relatively poor relation to heiress, led to Catherine moving to London with her mother and sisters.
Of course, Catherine’s combined youth, wealth and beauty, led to gentlemen clamouring for her attention. Coming out into Society meant that Catherine was expected to find a husband and she certainly enjoyed all the balls and parties that she attended. She received many proposals, including royalty, but her heart was set on the dashing charmer, William Wellesley Pole. Pole was not wealthy, but he was well connected – nephew of the Duke of Wellington – widely travelled and a man of taste; extravagant taste. Athletic, a good dancer, charming and well dressed, Catherine was swept off her feet by this handsome and dashing gentleman, even though her family suspected that his interest was purely financial. It was almost unheard of for a woman in Catherine’s position to marry for love and not status and Society was shocked by their betrothal.
This fascinating account of Catherine’s life and marriage is full of interesting facts. For William and Catherine were the celebrity couple of their day – indeed Catherine’s white wedding dress created a fashion still followed today. The press clamoured for details of their life and, in a scary parallel with modern celebrity life, Catherine even had a stalker. Every aspect of the couple’s new married life was reported on; from their lavish lifestyle to their status as fashion icons, and the lavish work carried out on Wanstead House to make it as splendid and modern as possible – with William presiding over hunts and the couple hosting balls and parties. Carriages, horses, hounds, jewellery and clothes were purchased in abundance and soon, it became clear, that Catherine was unable to curb William’s spending. For a young woman brought up to give to charity and care for the poor, William’s indifference to anyone but himself must have been hard to understand.
We follow William and Catherine as their marriage unfolded – not into a life of wedding bliss, as it should have done for this golden couple – but into a mire of debt, despair and, finally, scandal. This enthralling book takes us from the English countryside, to London, Paris and Italy. Although this is a heart breaking read in parts, Catherine comes across as an intelligent and strong woman; a good mother and a kind sister, loved by her family – and, indeed, by William’s. If you like books such as, “Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire,” by Amanda Foreman or “Aristocrats,” by Stella Tillyard, then I expect you will also enjoy this tale of a woman who fought a male dominated world for her own rights and those of her children.
March 4, 2017
A brilliantly written and well researched book that shines a light on the compelling lives of a Georgian / Regency "celebrity" couple whose actions would go on to influence fashion and the law decades after they lived. Catherine, a young and very rich heiress, marries Williams - against the advice of friends and family - a man she will love all her life, even when he turns against her. William proves to be a sociopathic individual who blaims everyone else for the results of his own reckless behaviour and soon grows bored of domestic bliss with his wife. As the times dictated, Catherine can do little to nothing to stop his behaviour; he brings them into debt, he looses jobs, uses bullying and threats to get his way. Wives were meant to be obedient and passive, and Catherine wants to make the marriage work - even when she's made aware of his affairs - she doesn't want to give up on him. But when Catherine tries to curb Williams behaviour and save their families futures, his attention turns to using their children as a weapon against her, not expecting that Catherine will fight back! In a time where societal norms and even the law was fully on Williams side, Catherine aims to keep her children safe at all costs - including challenging patriachal society and the law. Unforgettable characters and a remarkably strong protofeminist in Catherine - I heartily recommend this book!
May 4, 2015
Catherine Tylney Long inherited a fortune at a very young age. She was pretty and well behaved as well as being highly intelligent and determined underneath her calm and gentle exterior. She captivated society and the newspapers when she made her come out into Regency society, even capturing the attentions of the Duke of Clarence to the extent that he proposed marriage.
Catherine's family tried to persuade her to accept the Duke's proposal but Catherine had fallen in love with William Wellesley Pole - a nephew of the Duke of Wellington. William was clever and handsome but also indiscreet, manipulative and very fond of his own way. He was for a time working in the diplomatic service but his indiscretions and tactlessness almost started a war.
Against family opposition Catherine and William married. As was the law at the time all Catherine's income became William's property but her trustees managed to tie things up so that he only had a lifetime's interest in the land and estates and he could not sell any of them. Catherine herself was given an income of eleven thousand pounds - which was a fortune at that time. Out of that she provided annuities to her unmarried sisters.
For a while the marriage was harmonious but problems soon surfaced involving William's infidelities and his extravagance which quickly put the couple into debt in spite of Catherine's fortune putting her in the billionaire category by today's standards. William had a great many advantages and could have made a parliamentary career for himself but his character seemed to prevent him settling down and making something worthwhile of his life. Instead he indulged in all the worst excesses of the period.
The marriage broke down but that wasn't the end of it. William was determined to gain custody of his children even against the opposition of his uncle the Duke of Wellington. The stress and strain of trying to keep her children safe from William caused Catherine's early death and her children were eventually entrusted to the care of her sisters after a custody battle during which William failed to convince the court that he was a fit parent.
The court case marked a turning point in legal terms and led to the law being changed a few years later to ensure that young children could remain with their mothers in the event of divorce or separation.
This is a fascinating story which involves some of the most famous people of the period. It is well written and as exciting as any historical novel. It gives an idea of how women were treated by society and by the law at the time. There are plenty of notes on sources used, a bibliography and an index.
Catherine's family tried to persuade her to accept the Duke's proposal but Catherine had fallen in love with William Wellesley Pole - a nephew of the Duke of Wellington. William was clever and handsome but also indiscreet, manipulative and very fond of his own way. He was for a time working in the diplomatic service but his indiscretions and tactlessness almost started a war.
Against family opposition Catherine and William married. As was the law at the time all Catherine's income became William's property but her trustees managed to tie things up so that he only had a lifetime's interest in the land and estates and he could not sell any of them. Catherine herself was given an income of eleven thousand pounds - which was a fortune at that time. Out of that she provided annuities to her unmarried sisters.
For a while the marriage was harmonious but problems soon surfaced involving William's infidelities and his extravagance which quickly put the couple into debt in spite of Catherine's fortune putting her in the billionaire category by today's standards. William had a great many advantages and could have made a parliamentary career for himself but his character seemed to prevent him settling down and making something worthwhile of his life. Instead he indulged in all the worst excesses of the period.
The marriage broke down but that wasn't the end of it. William was determined to gain custody of his children even against the opposition of his uncle the Duke of Wellington. The stress and strain of trying to keep her children safe from William caused Catherine's early death and her children were eventually entrusted to the care of her sisters after a custody battle during which William failed to convince the court that he was a fit parent.
The court case marked a turning point in legal terms and led to the law being changed a few years later to ensure that young children could remain with their mothers in the event of divorce or separation.
This is a fascinating story which involves some of the most famous people of the period. It is well written and as exciting as any historical novel. It gives an idea of how women were treated by society and by the law at the time. There are plenty of notes on sources used, a bibliography and an index.
December 4, 2020
Something I would never have thought to have picked up, but enjoyable and scandalous historical biography! All local areas in Epping Forest too.
July 15, 2019
TOUGH READ.
I didn't actually enjoy a lot of it. Picture that girlfriend or sister who first, started dating a guy you didn't like, a guy EVERYone said was bad news - who then married him - who then stuck with him, apparently oblivious to the fact that he was cheating, lying and spending her money - whose situation finally got so bad that she ended up 'on the lam' with her children, eventually literally hounded to death by him.
Ok, probably you don't know someone like that. So imagine a beautiful, sweet, intelligent young woman of noble birth, widely courted for her own sake and that of her fortune - she's the richest woman in England, years before she's come of age. Make her marriage to a good looking rogue the toast of the town. Throw in a youthful mistress who, if not touched in the head, is - well, I think she must have been touched in the head. And finally, set the whole story in a time before women could divorce, when they and their children were basically owned by their husbands.
it's a good story, well told, but pretty painful to read. It's almost a relief when the worst happens, because right up until Catherine Tylney Long marries William Wellesley Pole, and then again, right up until she finally accepts what nearly everyone around her already knows, you're trying to somehow make the story go a different way, the way you throw a bowling ball and then lean to one side to try to change its trajectory.
The worst is pret-ty bad, compounded by a society structure that, while acknowledging how bad her situation was, in no way wanted a precedent for women being able to challenge men and win. That is exactly what makes it worth reading. If this cautionary tale doesn't render you impervious to the rakish charm of scoundrels and wicked lords, as well as at least conscious of the recalcitrance of the power structure when it comes to change - nothing will.
I didn't actually enjoy a lot of it. Picture that girlfriend or sister who first, started dating a guy you didn't like, a guy EVERYone said was bad news - who then married him - who then stuck with him, apparently oblivious to the fact that he was cheating, lying and spending her money - whose situation finally got so bad that she ended up 'on the lam' with her children, eventually literally hounded to death by him.
Ok, probably you don't know someone like that. So imagine a beautiful, sweet, intelligent young woman of noble birth, widely courted for her own sake and that of her fortune - she's the richest woman in England, years before she's come of age. Make her marriage to a good looking rogue the toast of the town. Throw in a youthful mistress who, if not touched in the head, is - well, I think she must have been touched in the head. And finally, set the whole story in a time before women could divorce, when they and their children were basically owned by their husbands.
it's a good story, well told, but pretty painful to read. It's almost a relief when the worst happens, because right up until Catherine Tylney Long marries William Wellesley Pole, and then again, right up until she finally accepts what nearly everyone around her already knows, you're trying to somehow make the story go a different way, the way you throw a bowling ball and then lean to one side to try to change its trajectory.
The worst is pret-ty bad, compounded by a society structure that, while acknowledging how bad her situation was, in no way wanted a precedent for women being able to challenge men and win. That is exactly what makes it worth reading. If this cautionary tale doesn't render you impervious to the rakish charm of scoundrels and wicked lords, as well as at least conscious of the recalcitrance of the power structure when it comes to change - nothing will.
August 4, 2015
In the early 19th century the richest young woman in England married for love. This was a huge mistake because he was a bit of a bounder who spent all her money and slept with anything with two legs. At first they were seen as the ultimate celebrity couple because of her money and sweet temperament and his good looks. They set trends that we still use today such as the white wedding and black tie events. But then things went sour because he was a numpty who thought he could do whatever he liked without consequence. This was a fantastic history book, the first I've ever read that contains the word 'dickhead'! Definitely worth a read.
April 12, 2025
Fabulous true story of a Regency heiress Catherine Tylney, forgotten by history. She could have been Queen but instead married for love to the nephew of the Duke of Wellington who was indeed a cad!!
Highlighting the immense inequality for women, Catherine was responsible for the first ever custody trial, resulting in the father of her children losing rights due to being an unfit parent.
This book is so well written and a real page turner, full of fascinating historical facts.
It's one of those books where you feel a loss when you've read it!
Well done for bringing this story to light.
Highlighting the immense inequality for women, Catherine was responsible for the first ever custody trial, resulting in the father of her children losing rights due to being an unfit parent.
This book is so well written and a real page turner, full of fascinating historical facts.
It's one of those books where you feel a loss when you've read it!
Well done for bringing this story to light.
November 17, 2025
I definitely can say, that "The Angel and the Cad: Love, Loss and Scandal in Regency England" by Geraldine Roberts is my book of the year.
What does it mean to marry for love and what does it mean to marry for money? Does true love really exist or maybe this feeling is only an obscure shadow? If you like period dramas, you'll enjoy this book. The story has everything: love, passion, intrigues, treachery, grievance and revenge. Forget Jane Austin, where all stories end with a marriage, providing a happy conclusion for the main heroines and heroes after navigating societal pressures and personal growth. The real life is cruel and much more unfair. Especially, if you are woman in XIX c..
Catherine Tylney-Long was the eldest daughter of Sir James Tylney-Long, 7th Baronet, of Draycot. After her little brother death she had inherited the vast fortune; worth £300,000 (equivalent to about £30,800,000 in 2023). She thus became known in fashionable London society as "The Wiltshire Heiress" and was believed to be the richest commoner in England. Her suitors included the Duke of Clarence, later King William IV, keen to pay off his great debts. But kind and beautiful angel was fell violently in love and eventually chose William Wesley-Pole (the young Anglo-Irish dandy, the nephew of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington). The couple married on 14 March 1812, but....their marriage became exceedingly unhappy.
Don't be surprise, popularity, status and wealth meant everything to William. From early years, his life was one big scandal. He even created a war between Ottoman Empire and Great Britain. But his extravagance, arrogance and adulterous were the main reasons, why his poor wife was sentenced to suffer. As wrote one newspaper at that time: "Thirteen years ago this excellent lady...rejected the address of royalty...and bestowed her hand, her heart, and a princely fortune on a man who...squandered them with a prodigal's hand way...A few years saw her ample possessions the prey of swarming creditors: her palatial mansion gutted of its brilliant furniture, and taken to its foundation, herself in exile in a foreign land...and at length deserted by the man for whom she had made such sacrifices, and who, after ruining her fortune, broke her heart."
I don't speak about the plot, but it is truly amazing. The story goes from London to Southern Italy, full of adventures and shameful rumors. Did you know that Wanstead House, the main residence of the Tylney family, influenced the architecture of the White house or white wedding dress of Catherine became the new trend in all Europe? The popularity of this couple created a gossip magazines and was a real fete for journalists not only in Europe. Meanwhile, the custody battle "Wellesley v Beaufort" provoked nationwide reflection and debate and its verdict was the first breakthrough in Chancery, paving the way for other women in child custody dispute. The case was also hugely influential in the USA, where its ruling formed the basis of the Juvenile Court system. The story even left its mark in a famous book "Vanity Fair" by William Makepeace Thackeray. So, if you didn't read this book, you definitely don't understand the Regency era.
What does it mean to marry for love and what does it mean to marry for money? Does true love really exist or maybe this feeling is only an obscure shadow? If you like period dramas, you'll enjoy this book. The story has everything: love, passion, intrigues, treachery, grievance and revenge. Forget Jane Austin, where all stories end with a marriage, providing a happy conclusion for the main heroines and heroes after navigating societal pressures and personal growth. The real life is cruel and much more unfair. Especially, if you are woman in XIX c..
Catherine Tylney-Long was the eldest daughter of Sir James Tylney-Long, 7th Baronet, of Draycot. After her little brother death she had inherited the vast fortune; worth £300,000 (equivalent to about £30,800,000 in 2023). She thus became known in fashionable London society as "The Wiltshire Heiress" and was believed to be the richest commoner in England. Her suitors included the Duke of Clarence, later King William IV, keen to pay off his great debts. But kind and beautiful angel was fell violently in love and eventually chose William Wesley-Pole (the young Anglo-Irish dandy, the nephew of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington). The couple married on 14 March 1812, but....their marriage became exceedingly unhappy.
Don't be surprise, popularity, status and wealth meant everything to William. From early years, his life was one big scandal. He even created a war between Ottoman Empire and Great Britain. But his extravagance, arrogance and adulterous were the main reasons, why his poor wife was sentenced to suffer. As wrote one newspaper at that time: "Thirteen years ago this excellent lady...rejected the address of royalty...and bestowed her hand, her heart, and a princely fortune on a man who...squandered them with a prodigal's hand way...A few years saw her ample possessions the prey of swarming creditors: her palatial mansion gutted of its brilliant furniture, and taken to its foundation, herself in exile in a foreign land...and at length deserted by the man for whom she had made such sacrifices, and who, after ruining her fortune, broke her heart."
I don't speak about the plot, but it is truly amazing. The story goes from London to Southern Italy, full of adventures and shameful rumors. Did you know that Wanstead House, the main residence of the Tylney family, influenced the architecture of the White house or white wedding dress of Catherine became the new trend in all Europe? The popularity of this couple created a gossip magazines and was a real fete for journalists not only in Europe. Meanwhile, the custody battle "Wellesley v Beaufort" provoked nationwide reflection and debate and its verdict was the first breakthrough in Chancery, paving the way for other women in child custody dispute. The case was also hugely influential in the USA, where its ruling formed the basis of the Juvenile Court system. The story even left its mark in a famous book "Vanity Fair" by William Makepeace Thackeray. So, if you didn't read this book, you definitely don't understand the Regency era.
December 14, 2021
The first half of this book was a bit slow due to many detailed descriptions of furnishings and fashion but the second half is gripping. Wellesley is the ultimate villain and his actions prove to be devastating for his family. It’s an easy read and an enjoyable one.
May 8, 2017
DNF because the subject matter was too unpleasant for the kind of mood I was in. The low rating, however, is for the writing style, which irritated me by trying to make things sentimental and novel-ish. It begins with a very thrilleresque vignette of Catharine Tylney Long fleeing her house from a rampaging madman with her daughter in her arms...and then the next chapter is all about how her grand-uncle made his money. The writer also often writes directly about Catharine's intimate feelings, without referencing her sources and particularly without quoting them - for instance, after Catharine is married, she writes about how Catharine felt post-coitus lying in bed with her sleeping husband. I suspect she was speculating how Catharine might have felt rather than presenting her research and conclusions in an objective fashion. If Catharine did write a letter or diary to someone about those moments, then I would be fascinated to read a quote from the actual source. If she didn't, it's speculation - within the bounds of credibility certainly, but speculation all the same. This style of writing will likely make this a lot more readable for many people, but I found it exceptionally irritating. It is, after all, supposed to be a non-fiction book, not a novel.
March 29, 2021
I read this as a "historical" book for a book club challenge but also because of its link to where I live. It's the non fictional account of the marriage of Catherine Tylney Long to William Wellesley Pole who for some time resided in Wanstead House, which stood in what is now Wanstead Park, part of Britain's first public open space, managed by the Corporation of London and part of Epping Forest.
It is not a happy story but the amount of detail included by the author is impressive. Catherine was an unusual woman in that having become the wealthiest heiress in England at the time, she married for love. But she lived to regret her decision.
The book follows her life and the awful behaviour of her husband and gives a clear view of what life was like in Regency England. Women did not have rights back then but Catherine was an intelligent woman and she came to pave the way for change by successfully fighting for the custody of her children.
The narrative of the book is very matter of fact (I would imagine in audible form it would sound like a documentary) but the details and the twists and turns of Catherine's life made it very interesting and kept me engrossed. It's an impressive debut novel.
It is not a happy story but the amount of detail included by the author is impressive. Catherine was an unusual woman in that having become the wealthiest heiress in England at the time, she married for love. But she lived to regret her decision.
The book follows her life and the awful behaviour of her husband and gives a clear view of what life was like in Regency England. Women did not have rights back then but Catherine was an intelligent woman and she came to pave the way for change by successfully fighting for the custody of her children.
The narrative of the book is very matter of fact (I would imagine in audible form it would sound like a documentary) but the details and the twists and turns of Catherine's life made it very interesting and kept me engrossed. It's an impressive debut novel.
March 29, 2022
The joy of this book isn’t just that it’s a great story, but also that it’s all true and meticulously researched. It’s a fascinating period in English history when the rich families could be ridiculously extravagant and the poor went hungry.
It’s an incredible story of how men had all the power at this time. Men ruled the home and if a marital separation occurred were given custody of any children within the marriage. Men could have long term mistresses, all perfectly acceptable as long as they didn’t flaunt them in public. A rich man could damage another persons reputation and control the lives of family members. A man also took command of the finances and this story shows how one man could squander and lose a family fortune.
The book moves along at a comfortable pace and is a great read. I like that the book is so well researched (the author is a historian) and I felt I had learned so much about this period of English history.
It’s an incredible story of how men had all the power at this time. Men ruled the home and if a marital separation occurred were given custody of any children within the marriage. Men could have long term mistresses, all perfectly acceptable as long as they didn’t flaunt them in public. A rich man could damage another persons reputation and control the lives of family members. A man also took command of the finances and this story shows how one man could squander and lose a family fortune.
The book moves along at a comfortable pace and is a great read. I like that the book is so well researched (the author is a historian) and I felt I had learned so much about this period of English history.
February 5, 2017
Wonderful factual account of Wanstead House history written by a local writer.
How different the whole of London would be right now if only she had married differently !!! Wow!!!
I could not put it down! It should be made into a BBC blockbuster, bodice ripping series!
How different the whole of London would be right now if only she had married differently !!! Wow!!!
I could not put it down! It should be made into a BBC blockbuster, bodice ripping series!
December 23, 2020
3.5 stars. Docudrama about a fabulously wealthy Regency-era English heiress who picked the wrong suitor, which eventually led to a landmark court case on child custody (previously exclusively paternal). If you wrote this as a novel, people would complain you were being too dramatic! Interesting to see some things we think of as modern phenomena (like creepy stalker-dudes) were already there in exactly the same way in the 1810s. It was surprising to see the "it's a small world" effect of all the connections between the characters to other prominent figures like the Duke of Wellington, Beau Brummel, Lord Byron, Queen Victoria, and even Elizabeth II, and the effects of Catherine and her story on well-known fiction like Jane Austen's works. My one complaint is that the author sometimes strayed from documented facts to novel-like highly specific portrayal of characters' sentiments (like Catherine's feelings waking up next to her new husband watching his sleeping breath, that kind of thing - did she write it in a diary entry or letter? Could we get footnotes to differentiate between documented sentiments vs conjecture?)
Anyone who has either been through or witnessed a starry-eyed yet doomed relationship and/or its messy downfall will find something familiar in Catherine's story. It's interesting to see how her case was perceived by others at that time compared to how it might have been interpreted today, with the similar trial-by-media of celebrity news then as now.
Recommended for fans of celebrity stories, relationship stories, legal/court stories, and accounts of non-military turning points in history, with special interest for fans of Jane Austen or the Regency era and readers with an interest in the history of women/feminism.
Anyone who has either been through or witnessed a starry-eyed yet doomed relationship and/or its messy downfall will find something familiar in Catherine's story. It's interesting to see how her case was perceived by others at that time compared to how it might have been interpreted today, with the similar trial-by-media of celebrity news then as now.
Recommended for fans of celebrity stories, relationship stories, legal/court stories, and accounts of non-military turning points in history, with special interest for fans of Jane Austen or the Regency era and readers with an interest in the history of women/feminism.
August 7, 2025
So I’ve gone with 3 stars with this one because although it’s an easy read and surprisingly gripping for a non-fiction book, the first part of the book is quite bogged down with long and overly detailed descriptions of mundane things like furniture choices and fashion items. I also wouldn’t feel the need to read the book again. That being said, the book really does make you feel for Catherine, the unexpectedly immensely wealthy English heiress who tried to marry for love and ended up picking a deplorable ass-hat for a husband. I don’t want to give too much away but the book centres around their landmark court case which set a precedent for child custody cases of the future. The second half of the book is certainly more dramatic than the first, although I do think the author over dramatised some events in attempts to novelise some of the characters emotions more clearly. This was definitely still an interesting read and would make a fantastic film script idea, it just was unnecessarily detailed on some things which made it drag a bit at the beginning.
September 3, 2017
A well researched book about two fascinating real people, one an absolute bounder and the other his loving long-suffering wife. This was a compelling story about their life. The general writing style is engaging and fluid, marred only by the author's occasional flights of melodrama. At times it read like a novel, with the author purporting to know Catherine Tylney's innermost thoughts and this did tend to jar with me.
Despite this criticism, I would recommend this book for anyone interested in the legal implications of marriage, separation and divorce for women in the Regency period.
Despite this criticism, I would recommend this book for anyone interested in the legal implications of marriage, separation and divorce for women in the Regency period.
April 21, 2020
I got this book at a charity shop as was enchanted by its cover and looked like a fantastic story. Upon starting to read the book I realised it wasn’t fiction but a historical recounting of Catherine Tylney Long’s life. I am not a non-fiction reader, however this book kept me captivated until the very end. A wonderfully and superbly written book. I will definitely be keeping it in my collection.
December 9, 2023
A compelling read. Well written with fascinating historical detail. William Wellesley Pole (nephew of the Duke of Wellington) was an utterly despicable man despite also being a man of charisma. His narcissism, utter disregard for others, his enormous sense of entitlement and self delusion- especially his lying and doubling down on his lies reminded me strongly of Boris Johnson and Trump!
April 13, 2022
This is a frustrating book. There are some really interesting aspects of legal and political history, but the whole thing is let down by Roberts's simpering and moralistic tone. A shame.
August 29, 2022
Awful, do not waste your time.
This book is a total snooze, a list of facts page after page after page.... unbelievably boring.
This book is a total snooze, a list of facts page after page after page.... unbelievably boring.
April 20, 2025
It was more like a long essay.
July 4, 2025
May not have got 5* if I didn't live in Wanstead and have been fascinated by the story for years!
May 7, 2016
British author Geraldine Roberts, in her book, "The Angel and the Cad: Love, Loss and Scandal in Regency England", gives the story and repercussions of a marriage-from-hell. The man in the tale, William Wellesley Pole, the nephew of the Duke of Wellington, was a rotten person in every part of his life and was married to one of England's cherished heiresses, Catherine Tylney Long. Roberts' book dissects both families; their wealth, positions in society, and family ties. She also looks at the legal system in England at the time, which almost always gave full rights of a couple's children to the father.
William Wellesley was a true scoundrel. Born into one of the most accomplished families in England, Wellesley was a charming weasel who cheated and lied his way through life, always bailed out by his family. He was, I guess, "amoral", spending money and running up huge debts which he never took responsibility for paying. He married Catherine Tylney Long, the heiress of several huge estates who was known through out London society as a smart young woman who handled her own business affairs from an early age and was known for her kindness. She had been courted by the Duke of Clarence, son of George III, who eventually came to the throne as William IV. Unfortunately, Catherine fell in love with William Wellesley and married him and setting herself up for years of pain as William ran through her money like a drunken sailor and through her love and regard for him by his constant philandering.
Catherine and William's marriage produced two sons and one daughter. William spent money, depleting both his and much of his wife's fortunes. (Fortunately, she was in control of a certain amount of money that William could not get his hands on.) The exquisite Palladian estate Wanstead House, which had been in Catherine's family, was ultimately torn down and its art and treasures sold to pay William's debts. But Catherine stuck with William, through debts and philandering, because leaving William meant leaving her children to his custody. The couple spent years in exile in France and Italy; they could not live in England because of William's financial dealings.
While in Naples, William began an affair with the wife of a British army officer. Finally, after enduring years of unhappiness at her husband's hands, Catherine returned to England and filed for divorce. She lined up her support but unfortunately died before the divorce case was heard. The case turned into a custody case and William lost custody of his three children, which also exacerbated his financial woes because Catherine's money devolved onto her oldest son upon her death.
The trials - both the divorce case of William's lover from her husband, and William's custody case - were played out in the press in the mid 1820's. Seats at the trials were coveted and everybody seemed to have an opinion on the cases. William Wellesley lived until 1857. His foul reputation in society was justly earned by his despicable deeds. Geraldine Roberts is a lively writer and she does an excellent job in looking at Regency society - both high and low - and at a bad, bad marriage.
Another excellent book about a reprobate from the same time period is "The Profligate Son: Or a True Story of Family Conflict, Fashionable Vice, and Financial Ruin in Regency Britain", by Nicola Phillips.
William Wellesley was a true scoundrel. Born into one of the most accomplished families in England, Wellesley was a charming weasel who cheated and lied his way through life, always bailed out by his family. He was, I guess, "amoral", spending money and running up huge debts which he never took responsibility for paying. He married Catherine Tylney Long, the heiress of several huge estates who was known through out London society as a smart young woman who handled her own business affairs from an early age and was known for her kindness. She had been courted by the Duke of Clarence, son of George III, who eventually came to the throne as William IV. Unfortunately, Catherine fell in love with William Wellesley and married him and setting herself up for years of pain as William ran through her money like a drunken sailor and through her love and regard for him by his constant philandering.
Catherine and William's marriage produced two sons and one daughter. William spent money, depleting both his and much of his wife's fortunes. (Fortunately, she was in control of a certain amount of money that William could not get his hands on.) The exquisite Palladian estate Wanstead House, which had been in Catherine's family, was ultimately torn down and its art and treasures sold to pay William's debts. But Catherine stuck with William, through debts and philandering, because leaving William meant leaving her children to his custody. The couple spent years in exile in France and Italy; they could not live in England because of William's financial dealings.
While in Naples, William began an affair with the wife of a British army officer. Finally, after enduring years of unhappiness at her husband's hands, Catherine returned to England and filed for divorce. She lined up her support but unfortunately died before the divorce case was heard. The case turned into a custody case and William lost custody of his three children, which also exacerbated his financial woes because Catherine's money devolved onto her oldest son upon her death.
The trials - both the divorce case of William's lover from her husband, and William's custody case - were played out in the press in the mid 1820's. Seats at the trials were coveted and everybody seemed to have an opinion on the cases. William Wellesley lived until 1857. His foul reputation in society was justly earned by his despicable deeds. Geraldine Roberts is a lively writer and she does an excellent job in looking at Regency society - both high and low - and at a bad, bad marriage.
Another excellent book about a reprobate from the same time period is "The Profligate Son: Or a True Story of Family Conflict, Fashionable Vice, and Financial Ruin in Regency Britain", by Nicola Phillips.
October 18, 2025
A rich biography that places a pellucid lens on one of the great untold stories of the Regency age. Despite Catherine Long-Tylney’s real significance in British history, she’s largely forgotten today - a travesty this book powerfully corrects.
In her own time, Catherine was well known and immensely popular; she moved among the likes of the royals and Wellington, dominated the press as a sort of ‘Shy Di’ who blossomed into a fashion icon and later long-suffering wife, and her story helped prickle national consciousness on issues such as divorce, custody, women’s rights, domestic cruelty, and libel.
It’s a bit frustrating, then, that Catherine is somewhat decentralised in her own story, with the focus of this particular biography largely falling on her husband, William Wellesley Pole. Granted, his long, scandalous life is the stuff of novels - and so perhaps the shift is inevitable - but Catherine is no less interesting for her honorable lifestyle. I would have liked to have seen more of the story revolve on Catherine and her experiences than William’s constant philandering and general debauchery.
Nonetheless, this author’s ability to paint the story of their lives with sweeping, cinematic descriptions, combined with her eagle-eyed investigation of the original source material, makes this an “unputdownable” book. I heartily enjoyed every page and appreciated the author’s ability to connect Catherine and William’s experiences to other figures, movements, and timely questions of the period. But it is, in truth, Catherine’s sharp intelligence, courage, generous heart and savvy handling of William’s cruelties - toward herself, her family, and her children - that make this an utterly gripping read.
Definitely give ‘The Angel and the Cad’ a shot - and please, Amazon, add it to Kindle - you won’t regret it! (Though I have to admit that I have GENUINELY never disliked a historical husband more - William Wellesley Pole makes Henry VIII look like the biblical Joseph - which made finishing this book somewhat of a challenge. His behavior was genuinely enraging and Catherine should’ve wiped the floor with him).
In her own time, Catherine was well known and immensely popular; she moved among the likes of the royals and Wellington, dominated the press as a sort of ‘Shy Di’ who blossomed into a fashion icon and later long-suffering wife, and her story helped prickle national consciousness on issues such as divorce, custody, women’s rights, domestic cruelty, and libel.
It’s a bit frustrating, then, that Catherine is somewhat decentralised in her own story, with the focus of this particular biography largely falling on her husband, William Wellesley Pole. Granted, his long, scandalous life is the stuff of novels - and so perhaps the shift is inevitable - but Catherine is no less interesting for her honorable lifestyle. I would have liked to have seen more of the story revolve on Catherine and her experiences than William’s constant philandering and general debauchery.
Nonetheless, this author’s ability to paint the story of their lives with sweeping, cinematic descriptions, combined with her eagle-eyed investigation of the original source material, makes this an “unputdownable” book. I heartily enjoyed every page and appreciated the author’s ability to connect Catherine and William’s experiences to other figures, movements, and timely questions of the period. But it is, in truth, Catherine’s sharp intelligence, courage, generous heart and savvy handling of William’s cruelties - toward herself, her family, and her children - that make this an utterly gripping read.
Definitely give ‘The Angel and the Cad’ a shot - and please, Amazon, add it to Kindle - you won’t regret it! (Though I have to admit that I have GENUINELY never disliked a historical husband more - William Wellesley Pole makes Henry VIII look like the biblical Joseph - which made finishing this book somewhat of a challenge. His behavior was genuinely enraging and Catherine should’ve wiped the floor with him).
July 11, 2020
This book took a little while to pick up steam but, OH BOY, I didn't want to put it down once Catherine and William's story devolved from mildly interesting to true trainwreck. Someone smarter than me could probably make an insightful point about the irony of gawking back through the centuries at the misfortunes of people who were one of the first examples of a celebrity relationship being covered breathlessly in the tabloids, through their glories and especially through their tragedies, flattening them both into archetypes in the process. Time is a flat circle, etc. There were a few things that irritated me and knocked the rating down to four stars - some of the author's assessments of people and events I found dubious - but overall it's still a recommendation.
December 17, 2018
This was a well written incredibly interesting story based on real events. Wanstead House was partially the setting for this Georgian/Regency tale of rich titled British so called aristocrats. It could only happen and did happen in a world where women were exploited and men had all the power.And The name of Catherine Tylney Long did not go down in history as it should have then but perhaps now that a female historian has published this book it will make Catherine's name better known as the lady who was the first in Britain to challenge a father who was unfit to be a parent. Catherine's case was won and started many balls rolling in juvenile law.
May 17, 2024
even though I read a lot of regency romances, which always end happily, I know that sometimes even good people can have sad lives, and money doesn't buy happiness, and cheaters sometimes prosper.
Rakes don't often reform, and in this story a super rich heiress buys herself an incorrigibly rakish husband, finding happiness only in her friends and her children before everything comes crashing down. The groom is a nephew of the Duke of Wellington, and shares none of the iron duke's heroism. the only bright light in. the story is the heiress' victory in the courts after being extra unlucky in love.
Rakes don't often reform, and in this story a super rich heiress buys herself an incorrigibly rakish husband, finding happiness only in her friends and her children before everything comes crashing down. The groom is a nephew of the Duke of Wellington, and shares none of the iron duke's heroism. the only bright light in. the story is the heiress' victory in the courts after being extra unlucky in love.
August 9, 2015
The low rating is only because the Cad, William Wellesley is just so unpleasent that I didn't want to spend any time with him and his behaviour just got boring. I am fairly certain he would be diagnosed as having narissicm today.
Without him or perhaps if he was described slightly more nuanced, I might have not skipped about 1/2. The rest of the story was fascinating especially the court case in the end to get the children made Wards of Court and just how important that case was. That was fascinating!
Without him or perhaps if he was described slightly more nuanced, I might have not skipped about 1/2. The rest of the story was fascinating especially the court case in the end to get the children made Wards of Court and just how important that case was. That was fascinating!
June 25, 2016
Interesting
I was recommended this book by a friend. When I started the book I struggled with the book being written in the third person and I missed the total immersion I can usually feel with a well written book.
After a while I couldn't put the week down the research that must have gone in to this book must have taken years. I loved the details and the story is very interesting
My advice to anyone attempting this book is perseverance. It is a very interesting story. Well written and I am so disappointed I have finished it
I was recommended this book by a friend. When I started the book I struggled with the book being written in the third person and I missed the total immersion I can usually feel with a well written book.
After a while I couldn't put the week down the research that must have gone in to this book must have taken years. I loved the details and the story is very interesting
My advice to anyone attempting this book is perseverance. It is a very interesting story. Well written and I am so disappointed I have finished it
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