The Great Marlborough and his Duchess

by Virginia Cowles

'He bore a greater burden, military and political, than any commander before or since,' Richard Holmes.

John Churchill may be considered one of England's greatest generals, if not the greatest. As the Duke of Marlborough he led a coalition of powers against the formidable Sun King, Louis XIV, from 1702 to 1712.

During a series of famous victories, including Blenheim and Ramillies, he shattered the French domination of Europe and paved the way for the establishment of the British Empire.

Yet Churchill was not only a military genius. He was a statesman too. His rise to fame threads its way through the reigns of four monarchs - from Charles II to Queen Anne. His life story is bound in intrigue, rebellion, war and treason. And his marriage to the beautiful and tempestuous Sarah Jennings, who was to become a favoured companion of Queen Anne, proved to be one of the great love stories of the century.

In this compelling biography Virginia Cowles presents us with astonishing battle scenes and political machinations. We get to know the man, as well as the soldier and statesman.

Virginia Cowles was born and brought up in Boston, Massachusetts, but moved to England at an early age. In 1937 she became a war correspondent for the London Sunday Times and later the Daily Telegraph, covering most of the great events of the times from the Spanish civil war and the Russian invasion of Finland to the German invasion of France and the Allied campaigns in North Africa and Italy. She was awarded the OBE for her services. Virginia Cowles also knew Marlborough’s famous descendant and protagonist, Winston Churchill, about whom she wrote her first biography.
Her other books include biographies of the Romanovs, the Rothschilds and the Astors.

Praise for Virginia Cowles

‘Recounted at great speed, and with splendid life, vigour and readability’ – Antonia Fraser, Evening Standard

‘A fascinating historical read’ - The Telegraph

‘A rarity and a joy – a witty novel’ – Birmingham Daily Post

‘A luminously sketched view of human folly’ – The New York Times

‘For the political background alone you must read Cowles’ book, which deals with it admirably’ – Country Life

Genres: History, Biography

585 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

(Harriet) Virginia Spencer Cowles OBE was a noted American journalist, biographer, and travel writer. During her long career, Cowles went from covering fashion, to covering the Spanish Civil War, the turbulent period in Europe leading up to World War II, and the entire war. Her service as a correspondent was recognized by the British government with an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1947. After the war, she published a number of critically acclaimed biographies of historical figures. In 1983, while traveling with her husband in France, she was killed in an automobile accident near Biarritz.

Reviews

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s one of those rare occasions when I am not sure at all how high or low rate a book. Truth to be told, I bought it (online), finally opened it, read a preface and practically on the spot regretted my choice. Somehow the beginning which states “The French are a chauvinistic people...” spoiled my anticipation of the great story waiting to be read. I nearly put the book down to not to be opened ever again, but in the end my wish to read about both John and Sarah Marlborough won, and I definitely do not regret it. The book is very thorough, very rich and easy to read. Story - undoubtedly captivating, and two its ambiguous (each in their unique way) heroes showed in a way it’s very hard not to feel sympathy for them. Yes, even for the completely unruly Duchess. But then there comes the caveat, or maybe two or three intertwined ones. First, no doubt that author researched(and probably researched well) her subject(s), but there is no bibliography attached, and if you look at references throughout the book itself, then it seems that main sources are Sarah herself and four volume work of Winston Churchill (descendant of the duke), what somehow makes you doubt their impartiality and hence the impartiality of the book itself. However, it’s something which in meantime I can forgive, since both Duke and his Duchess hardly will leave anyone without their own opinion, good or bad. Second, and that was much harder to swallow, author’s style endlessly reminds that the book was written by a journalist, not by a historian (at least not a contemporary one), and that often is quite irritating. Nevertheless the book itself and even more, its two protagonists as well, is more than worth to be explored and read.