tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775910475089264257.post4042323493811351868..comments2024-03-28T04:30:13.337-04:00Comments on The Duchess of Devonshire's Gossip Guide to the 18th Century: Tart of the Week: Bess FosterHeather Carrollhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03544318718074061879noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775910475089264257.post-35603879692817566922018-01-29T00:15:14.823-05:002018-01-29T00:15:14.823-05:00I think Georgiana was murdered by greedy bess. She...I think Georgiana was murdered by greedy bess. She wanted her title and inheritance. She quickly married and changed dowry amounts for her daughters raising the amounts higher than for his and Georgiana's daughters. <br />Georgiana suffered 7 hours of continuous violent convulsions right before she died. This is not symptomatic of liver disease or liver cancer. <br /><br />Sounds more like poison. The weapon of choice by women then.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08107838682061185827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775910475089264257.post-37382550409880996632015-08-03T22:49:20.287-04:002015-08-03T22:49:20.287-04:00My last name is Foster and we are originally from ...My last name is Foster and we are originally from Britain most of our family is still there, She came up when I went to see a Genealogist to figure out my family tree. I can certainly see the family resemblance! Maybe not in sleeping with basically anyone but that was how you got places back then because women could scarcely work... my family can be quite manipulative though especially my auntie, mother, and granddad! Along with her, before her, was another duke who gambled off his riches and changed his original surname "Forrester" to Foster to escape the debt collectors! So now here I am living off of student loans! Thanks a lot you grimy spoiled irresponsible ancestors! How fun it would have been to be "old money". kayla Noellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12629027248690310414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775910475089264257.post-37585665653664451732012-09-10T05:56:07.561-04:002012-09-10T05:56:07.561-04:00Had no idea! Thanks for letting me know!Had no idea! Thanks for letting me know!Heather Carrollhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03544318718074061879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775910475089264257.post-89694955768895551922012-09-09T11:19:12.785-04:002012-09-09T11:19:12.785-04:00Fictiionalized version of this story to be found i...Fictiionalized version of this story to be found in a book called "The Man in Grey" by Lady Eleanor Smith. A great read if you don't take it too seriously - there was also a movie with the same title.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15822966264852240011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775910475089264257.post-51819077487349754202012-09-08T05:09:36.254-04:002012-09-08T05:09:36.254-04:00History repeats itself :)History repeats itself :)Heather Carrollhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03544318718074061879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775910475089264257.post-30957424182102370862012-09-07T23:55:03.987-04:002012-09-07T23:55:03.987-04:00She reminds me of Camilla Parker-Bowes!!!!!!She reminds me of Camilla Parker-Bowes!!!!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775910475089264257.post-80777644157421001092012-07-30T10:36:34.957-04:002012-07-30T10:36:34.957-04:00Very interesting site, just found you. I, for som...Very interesting site, just found you. I, for some reason I am thoroughly engrossed with any article, clipping, etc., having to do with The Duchess of Devonshire. Loved the movie and am searching any and all information regarding her life. Seems like there sure was a lot of "tarts" back in the day. So much sex! Did anyone have morals back then or was that just normal? Anyhow, thanks for this great blogStaleys.blogspot.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08187901106773711964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775910475089264257.post-38948615913906524742012-03-09T20:48:18.937-05:002012-03-09T20:48:18.937-05:00My Goodness! It would seem that women have been cu...My Goodness! It would seem that women have been cunning and malicious creatures from the start, doesn't it? I despise the character of Lady Bess, and consider it a shame that her full name is Elizabeth. I have read about and personally known some lovely women with that ancient and proud name. How horrible that such a fame crazed, wicked woman should have the name, too. It is my hope that younger women will not romanticize the actions of the depraved character of Lady Bess. I have noticed a trend in the actions of popular culture to ignore the sanctity of womanhood (to be honorable to thine ownself first and foremost and doing so reveal the innate honor of all women) and launch themselves into experiences that debase first them as individuals and, as a result, lower the public well being of all of womankind. Truly, I hope that other women will view the historic behavior of Lady Bess and her many lovers (many of whom were married men - and presumably also a few married women) and ask the question, "Have you no shame, woman! Do you care for no one but yourself and yourself, alone?!"Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06913848537831238063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775910475089264257.post-63658745198521524142012-03-09T20:34:12.182-05:002012-03-09T20:34:12.182-05:00My goodness! Women have truly been cunning and ma...My goodness! Women have truly been cunning and malicious from the start, haven't they. I find it quite a shame that Bess's first name is Elizabeth. I have read about and known some lovely women with that ancient name. I am sorry to know that there existed in history a woman so very debased of moral character as to betray her friend (and possible lover) as well as seduce the friends husband, embarrass them both for all time, and then marry the man after his wonderful wife simply could no longer live with the sinister threesome arrangement and finally died to escape. <br />Woman kind much needs to strive for better than such a lowly example of how to behave as a true Lady of worth and position.Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06913848537831238063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775910475089264257.post-7616830405217013462012-02-18T00:05:28.782-05:002012-02-18T00:05:28.782-05:00Do you have any info about Mary, Countess of Erne,...Do you have any info about Mary, Countess of Erne, who was Bess's sister? Mary married the quite elderly John Creighton first Earl of Erne and apparently had an affair with Abraham Creighton, the Earl's young son by his previous marriage, producing a son who it seems is my great-great-great grandfather. Mary was in Bath in 1781 with Bess, having left the first Earl following her affair with his young son, when they both met Georgiana. Quite a pair Mary and Elizabeth, though Mary disappears from public life to a large extent.Michael Creightonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15290163340802332354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775910475089264257.post-91374787476955486032012-02-01T12:31:43.826-05:002012-02-01T12:31:43.826-05:00What a nasty piece of work. Famous people are out...What a nasty piece of work. Famous people are out of their minds. It's a wonder that the entirety of the nobility don't have congenital syphilis.nokomarienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775910475089264257.post-39712836210731068782012-01-22T22:43:32.508-05:002012-01-22T22:43:32.508-05:00I see that in a lot of ways Bess wanted to be G.....I see that in a lot of ways Bess wanted to be G..I feel badly for both woman...I find it shocking that G did put up with Bess s affair with the duke...I think it came as a shock to G that bess would betray her this way..But Her Love for Bess was so strong Because Bess made G feel she could not do with out her...I do think in her own weird way Bess did truely love G and G her.....Not in a gay way but in a sisterly best friend way.....I mean she was wearing G s hair when she died and had a lock of it beside her bed.....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775910475089264257.post-9111940679989112052012-01-21T13:15:20.611-05:002012-01-21T13:15:20.611-05:00I just saw "The Duchess" and though the ...I just saw "The Duchess" and though the cinematography, locations and costumes were lavish, the uninspired script left me hungry to research the Cavendish/Devonshires further. <br /><br />One mustn't judge either Georgiana or Bess too harshly, both women having lived in a world where being female and aristocratic was the equivalent of having bound feet. On the exterior it seems G was excessive and Bess a manipulator, yet neither woman, though upperclass, had any individual choices other than the clothes they wore, food and drink they consumed (or purged) and the pursuit of amorous adventures. Bess may have been manipulative but I believe was motivated to have an affair with the Duke in an attempt to secure both her and her children's future. An aristocratic woman could not work, and would go penniless and need to live off the kindness of other nobles rather than have the shame of working as commoners did. How different is it with the royals of today?!!!<br /><br />We musn't attach 21st century mores in critiquing either of the two Duchesses behaviours, as judging by how the Duke treated them both, and English society at the time, both were prisoners of their gender and social class.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775910475089264257.post-9899505246255251142012-01-17T18:16:31.443-05:002012-01-17T18:16:31.443-05:00Did anyone else think that the portrayal of the Du...Did anyone else think that the portrayal of the Duke in the movie was pretty harsh? From the Foreman book, it doesn't seem likely that he would have physically mistreated Georgiana.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775910475089264257.post-17455475051260055292011-12-29T10:41:30.867-05:002011-12-29T10:41:30.867-05:00Re-watched "Duchess" recently and, wanti...Re-watched "Duchess" recently and, wanting to learn more found your lovely blog! Will be back often- thanks!Mrs.Lindner's Art Room Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11428748739212319896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775910475089264257.post-53700105805078198072011-09-01T22:55:30.870-04:002011-09-01T22:55:30.870-04:00You are absolutely right, Privilege and Scandal is...You are absolutely right, <i>Privilege and Scandal</i> is an absolutely fantastic book...I have a review of it somewhere around here. It's true, Bess isn't the devil incarnate- on her deathbed she had a lock of Georgiana's hair. However, I find people tend to not want to read flattering descriptions of Bess and I don't mind obliging!Heather Carrollhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03544318718074061879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775910475089264257.post-54604665284257105952011-09-01T15:48:00.531-04:002011-09-01T15:48:00.531-04:00In defense of Bess, though she was a tart, she did...In defense of Bess, though she was a tart, she did seem to really care about both Georgiana and her sister Harriet. Not only did she VOLUNTARILY join Georgiana in exile when Devonshire discovered that she was 6 months pregnant with Charles Fox's kid, even though she knew that Lady Spencer, who was NOT happy considering Georgiana's illigitimate bun in the oven, was insistant on coming with them, she also knew that Devonshire had cut off Georgiana, and even Bess's allowance, so the ONLY source of money they would have would be whatever Harriet could somehow scrape together, without letting anyone know why she needed it. As is being stuck in exile with Georgiana for over a year wasn't enough of a reason to cut her some slack, she also stuck by Harriet through out most of her pregnanacy with her and Granville's second illigitimate child, and helped her to deliver the child in secret. So tart though she might have been, she still had a good heart deep down inside. Nor were Georgiana or her sister Harriet paragons of virtue either. <br /><br />I highly suggest the book Privilage and Scandal by Janet Gleeson, which is a VERY well written biography of Harriet.misstotokaoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11235616924612671562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775910475089264257.post-31633695603549805722011-07-26T18:10:43.303-04:002011-07-26T18:10:43.303-04:00Just watched the movie "The Duchess" and...Just watched the movie "The Duchess" and I could not believe how a woman who believed in the right to be free could not be "free."<br />I'm glad I live in the 21st century.<br />I really enjoyed the movie, which prompted me to look for more information.<br />Lavernelavernenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775910475089264257.post-64272678295339696352011-05-17T09:13:21.226-04:002011-05-17T09:13:21.226-04:00Char said
G was the whore having another man's...Char said<br />G was the whore having another man's baby whilst married to the duke and Bess protected her then G's lover Charles Grey chose his politics over G and their baby Eliza, G was an immature spoilt rich brat who the duke only married a wombCharnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775910475089264257.post-461013503966446562011-03-19T05:29:54.312-04:002011-03-19T05:29:54.312-04:00I bet the Duke was smiling!
Bess was a stunner.
...I bet the Duke was smiling!<br /><br />Bess was a stunner.<br /><br />Given G's tendencies, I reckon there was some 3-some action going on....<br /><br />:-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775910475089264257.post-27906623706035917212011-02-15T20:15:30.029-05:002011-02-15T20:15:30.029-05:00@Melinda, A good question and one I can only answe...@Melinda, A good question and one I can only answer with the fact that Bess was very very manipulative!<br /><br />@Debra, Bess did the same sort of thing with her own personal diary too, writing it with an audience in mind!<br /><br />Oh well, the Victorian ancestors did more editing damage than Bess in the end.Heather Carrollhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03544318718074061879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775910475089264257.post-77731316639062064542011-02-14T07:30:43.459-05:002011-02-14T07:30:43.459-05:00I just watched The Duchess for the first time (pro...I just watched The Duchess for the first time (procrastinator) and now I'm learning more about G. online. I'm glad I found this site ~ looks very cool, very interesting. The reason I'm having a hard time buying anything that Bess said is because she had the nerve to actually EDIT G's personal letters, sometimes chopping out whole sections of a page. Obviously she has left a very slanted impression of herself to history! Also, it's fascinating to realize that Diana was a descendant.Debranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775910475089264257.post-15409385683448275382011-02-12T07:56:48.349-05:002011-02-12T07:56:48.349-05:00Further comment and query. Georgaina had a deep an...Further comment and query. Georgaina had a deep and supportive relationship with her sister Harriet. And they shared loads of serious secrets. So why in gods name did she need Bess??? Also Harriet was held in the highest esteem by the Duke and she did assist in breaking the news to him about G's debts often. Ive never figured how Bess made herself so essential to them.Melinda in Australianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775910475089264257.post-41551828340179183372011-02-12T07:47:55.529-05:002011-02-12T07:47:55.529-05:00I read the Duchess years ago. And I was so shocked...I read the Duchess years ago. And I was so shocked that such a powerful pair of aristocrats could have been so sr.wed over. There is no doubt, Bess was an opportunistic whore. But lets remember she was cast out of her marraige, had no income and of a class that couldnt earn one. Issue is, even when ur down on your luck u dont shag your friends man... Well, maybe once (but not 4eva or marry)Melinda in Australianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7775910475089264257.post-18697404777878914652010-11-16T19:34:43.648-05:002010-11-16T19:34:43.648-05:00Fascinating article! I love history and am current...Fascinating article! I love history and am currently reading Privilege and Scandal,the biography of Harriet Spencer,Georgiana's sister. It's a wonderful book but I'm only on page 32 cause I keep finding things I want to look up on the net. I can't wait to read Geogiana's biography. What interesting sisters they were!!Kellnoreply@blogger.com