Read My Heart Dorothy Osborne and Sir William Temple, A Love Story in the Age of Revolution

by Jane Dunn

When Sir William Temple (1628-99) and Dorothy Osborne (1627-95) began their passionate love affair, civil war was raging in Britain, and their families--parliamentarians and royalists, respectively--did everything to keep them apart. Yet the couple went on to enjoy a marriage and a sophisticated partnership unique in its times. Surviving the political chaos of the era, the Black Plague, the Great Fire of London, and the deaths of all their nine children, William and Dorothy made a life together for more than forty years.
Drawing upon extensive research and the Temples' own extraordinary writings--including Dorothy's dazzling letters, hailed by Virginia Woolf as one of the glories of English literature--Jane Dunn gives us an utterly captivating dual biography, the first to examine Dorothy's life as an intellectual equal to her diplomat husband. While she has been known to posterity as the very symbol of upper-class seventeenth-century domestic English life, Dunn makes clear that Dorothy was a woman of great complexity, of passion and brilliance, noteworthy far beyond her role as a wife and mother. The remarkable story of William and Dorothy's life together--illuminated here by the author's insight and her vivid sense of place and time--offers a rare glimpse into the heart and spirit of one of the most turbulent and intriguing eras in British history.

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

416 pages, Hardcover

First published October 6, 2008

About the author

Jane Dunn is a leading biographer, the author of Moon in Eclipse: A Life of Mary Shelley, A Very Close Conspiracy: Vanessa Bell and Virginia Wolf, and Antonia White: A Life. Elizabeth and Mary: Cousins, Rivals, Queens was published in the spring of 2003 and spent seven weeks in the top ten of the Sunday Times bestseller list. A fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, Dunn lives near Bath with her husband, the linguist and writer Nicholas Ostler. Her most recent book is Read My Heart.

Reviews

[Sally Moore]

This is a sometimes heart-breaking, true life story of fascinating star-crossed lovers in 17th C England that begins in the ECW and ends after the restoration. I love non-fiction, and thoroughly enjoyed this book, mostly for its subject matter. While Jane Dunn accurately and often poignant details the romance and subsequent lives of the two subjects, William Temple and Dorothy Osborne, the rendering lags in the last third of the book, and I found an uneven distribution of voice in the switch from one to the other subject in different phases of the book, which was most disappointing. Dorothy's voice is lost after the period where her courtship letters end, and while the author switched to a convincing voice through William's business letters at this point, Dorothy seems to have been silenced through large quantities of this section. I also found some of the author's assumptions about the subjects to be too great a leap, her conclusions not borne out by the evidence presented. There is a distance from both subjects in the second half of the book, where Dunn switches from a detail of their personal lives to that of their public duties. While still of interest, it lacks the intensity and detail of the first part of the book. I would definitely recommend this book, as the subjects are fascinating, and Dunn does a great job of analyzing Dorothy's early letters and bringing both Dorothy and William's youthful passions and motivations to life in the early section of the book.

[Consuela · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about two real people who lived mid-17th century in England, fell in love and decided to get married. However, because they were both of the upper class, that was a decision seldom left to the couple. Most marriages were arranged for financial or political advantage. Dorothy and William wrote to each other for 6 years and finally overcame all the many obstacles and were married for over 40 years. Most of the letters quoted in this book are Dorothy's, because William's letters were either confiscated by Dorothy's hateful older brother, or she had to burn them to keep them from being confiscated. Her writing is playful, serious, beautiful, and they do unfold a wonderful love story. Their determination to marry only each other flew in the face of opposition from both of their families, who tried to make them marry others. But they were resolute in their decision to have only each other. There was also a great revolution going on at the time with Charles I being forced out of power. This affected both of the families -- but Dorothy's much more since her father had staked his loyalty with the King. Dorothy and William had to wait until the then ripe old age of late 20s to marry each other.

The book is quite scholarly and when I finally stopped reading the many footnotes and endnotes, it was at least a faster read (but not fast -- it's over 400 pages). I thought it lagged a bit in the middle because it goes off in great detail about William's diplomatic career. When Dorothy is not the equal focus in the book, it wasn't nearly as interesting. It wasn't a happy ever after story for them: Dorothy gave birth to nine children, but 7 of them died at birth or in infancy. Their beloved daughter Diana died when she was 13, and their last remaining son, John, who did live until his 30s and married and had two children, also preceded them in death. I won't tell how he dies because even though I'd known about the children all dying before them, I was shocked at how he died.

I really enjoyed this book, but it's probably not to everyone's taste. There are so many historical details in it that it's easy to get lost in them. Dorothy is the one who holds the book together -- when the author writes about her, it's wonderful.

[Marylou Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book in that it is a beautifully insightful read into a really charming, real life romance between two people whose families were strongly opposed to the idea of their marriage. It's also a rich tribute to the epistolary writings of Dorothy Temple nee Osborne, a highly educated, witty and thoughtful young woman (characteristics that were not popularly associated with 18th century women). Of course, because Dorothy's husband William was such a well known statesman (responsible for negotiating the Triple Alliance among his other great achievements), this book also gives us a real sense of the time in which it was written. William and Dorothy were born at a particularly turbulent time in British history (civil war) but survived well into the Glorious Revolution and William was extremely close to three British monarchs, Charles II, James II and William III. All the history provides for fantastic reading, especially Charles' double dealings and William III military exploits. I'd recommend this book to those who are interested in this period of British history and to those who want a sense of it was it really like to live in these times. Jane Dunn's writing is very crisp and the book is an easy read. Yes, there are LOTS and LOTS of footnotes but if that bothers you, just don't read them. I personally enjoyed the footnotes because they gave great insight into the lives of the smaller players in the book. The only gripe I have (and the reason I gave it four stars instead of five) is that it drags on in some places and you get the feeling that the writer is repeating herself for no apparent reason. At 416 pages, it a fairly long read which could have been made shorter if the repetitions had been edited out.

[Marnetta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although wonderful scholarly writing by Jane Dunn, the actual letters written between Dorothy Osborne and Sir William Temple stole the book. I found myself skimming through just to find more excerpts from their love letters to each other.

[Edith · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. Very hard for me to get a fix on this joint biography of William Temple and Dorothy Osborn, two figures of the Restoration. Somehow, except in the second half of the book, when William is on center stage during the height of his ambassadorial career—he figured prominently in managing British diplomacy with Spanish Netherlands and Holland under Charles II, and was very close to William of Orange, later William III—the book is a bit unbalanced.

Dorothy is to the fore in the first part of the book. She and William fell in love in their very early twenties, and neither had any money. Neither family, one Cavalier, the other Parliamentarian, approved, but the two lovers refused to accept any other suitors. Eventually, after 7 years, the two married, but while they were separated they kept up a clandestine correspondence. Only one letter of William’s survived because Dorothy is thought to have burned them, fearing their discovery by her very peculiar brother Henry. But Dorothy’s letters survived and were widely admired when they appeared in public after her death. (I find her a little intense, myself.). It seems to me that somehow Ms. Dunn comes between the reader and Dorothy, and she repeats herself frequently. However, the first half does offer a very good picture of the experience of middle class, gentry, and noble women in the Stuart period.

After their marriage, Dorothy takes a back seat to William, and to a great extent, William’s sister Martha, who except for the brief period of her marriage, lives with the Temples for their entire married lives. (Oddly, Dunn does not really tell us anything at all about Martha until the second half of the book, though she quotes from Martha’s memoir of her brother frequently in the first part.) Dorothy is now heard from very infrequently. Handsome William, who is a very engaging and completely honest individual, and quite emotional, seems oddly suited to the diplomatic life, but he was very successful at triangulating among Charles II, his first cousin Louis XIV, and their mutual nephew William of Orange—he was firm, honest, and tended to see the best in the negotiating parties. He and Dorothy were material in arranging William of Orange’s marriage to Princess Mary, the daughter of Charles’ brother James, the eventual James II. Mary and Dorothy remained close for all of Mary’s short life. This portion of the book takes off, partly because William is a more engaging figure than Dorothy.

The Temples suffered many personal losses in their lives: brothers killed in the Civil War, to accident, to death in child bed, to infantile disease and stillbirth, smallpox, and suicide. Dorothy lost half a dozen babies at or shortly after birth, and her two surviving children predeceased their parents. Martha’s husband died of a fever a fortnight after their marriage. It is humbling to read of how they coped with these crushing events.

For those interested in the Stuart period or women’s history, I would definitely recommend this book in spite of its flaws.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just completed this biography of Dorothy Osborne and William Temple. They lived through two revolutions (the English Civil War - Parliament against King and 1688 - William and Mary), turbulent times of great change and anxiety not dissimilar to our own. With their content in each other and satisfaction taken from simple pleasures (home, family, garden, hospitality, and a life well lived), I think they would have been excellent company and good mentors; but they also suffered, perhaps more than most. However, in old age William Temple was still able to write:

"The greatest pleasure of life is love: the greatest treasure is contentment: the greatest possession is health: the greatest ease is sleep: and the greatest medicine is a true friend."

Dorothy was his anchor, but she was in the fullest sense also his partner and intellectual equal. They came as a pair, and were the stronger for it. Dorothy’s remarkable letters to William during the seven years they were separated before their marriage are real gems, easy to read and still fresh for us today. Her wit, honesty, and intelligence shines through and brings us into a direct contact with her time, and more importantly the person. She reminds me a little of another favourite of mine, Vera Britain, especially her Testament of Friendship where she describes her friendship in the 1930’s with the author Winifred Holtby.

[Ken Sampson · Rating 4 out of 5]

[2017] I was drawn to this book because Dorothy Osborne was related to the Duke of Leeds - a well known land owner in West Cornwall. The premise of the book love-letters between two 17th century people doesn't grab you and it was a really unlikely read for me, but once you get into it - it grabs you and holds onto you. The details of live at the time is done so well - you actually start to care and end up wanting to know more. The narrative bounces along and it is an easy read. If you have any interest in England in the 1600s or the civil war and want to know what people actually felt, thought and did, then give this book a go.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dry reading. But I did learn things that I didn't know before.

[Bob]

Despite its inspiring title and synopsis, I felt tragically let down by this biographical love story. Unfortunately, it rested awkwardly upon the premise that its characters were well known to the reader and (somehow) were allowed to take 'back seat' to the historical events occurring during their lifetimes. I found I learned more about the War of the Roses and numerous geopolitical incidents during the 1600s than I did about their 'loving' relationship. It felt more like a 'Forrest Gump' story with the author attempting to show how many famous incidents/acquaintances were involved in the life of William Temple and Dorothy Osborne, yet never stopping to gauge if this impacted the reader in the least. I went looking for an evocative story of love's enduring power and fortitude - did not find it here.

[Leigh-ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was somewhat overwhelming to read... it was more detail than I'd want to know about the lives of almost anyone. The most interesting part of the book was their courtship, but after that, it was mostly a history lesson about William's political work in Belgium. If nothing else, it's fascinating that their letters have survived through so many generations, and the author is to be commended for managing such a huge amount of information.

Interesting aside, as William grew older and wanted to start to write his autobiography, the young man he hired as his secretary was Jonathan Swift.

[Daisy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is very detailed, that much I will give, although too detailed and too much information. I felt that both William and Dorothy deserved the credit the world gave them, to marry for love was almost impossible back in the 17th century and they waited 6 years to get married while being seperated during those lonely years. It was no wonder their love lasted for more than 40 years and their marriage became a legendary love tale. Sometimes, love can really last that long, as long as both of the couple don't give up hope, whoever can smile till the last minute is the person who can smile the best.

[Ledys · Rating 5 out of 5]

I *loved* listening to this amazing love story. Jane Dunn does a wonderful job in painting these two people, so far removed from us in time, as vividly as if she had actually known them. The book is just the right mix of factual evidence, historical background, and authorial commentary, to keep things interesting and still keep the reader grounded in the time and action. Loved it, and will read any other biography that Jane Dunn writes.

[Jane Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

History through the lives of those who were there is always interesting. In Dorothy Osborne and William Temple we discover two people who not only lived through, and had a part in, the great events of the 17th century, but whose story is not all typical of their time. A great romance, which survived all the opposition to result in marriage; a life-time of love and tragedy.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very readable and well-researched biography--sometimes it repeats or contradicts itself, but still does a good job of taking a foreign era with scanty records and making the people in it come to life.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful look at both their romance and the politics of the era. Excellent read.