Cassandra Brydges (1670-1735), First Duchess of Chandos: Life and Letters

by Rosemary O'Day

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Book cover for Cassandra Brydges (1670-1735), First Duchess of Chandos

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Letters from one of the most fascinating women of her age illuminate her wide range of social, business and intellectual pursuits.

Cassandra Brydges, née Willoughby (1670-1735), was a remarkable woman; through her marriage at the age of 43 to the immensely wealthy and influential James Brydges (later the first duke of Chandos), she was connected to many of the most important members of society at the time. Unusually for the period, much of her writing survives, including an extensive collection of correspondence, and it is therefore possible to gain a richer picture of her life.
This book presents all the known extant letters of the duchess. They reveal a woman engaged in a very wide range of activities - from managing family and the family fortunes, investing on the stock market, socialising with a widerange of important and influential people, to matchmaking, expressing views on social conduct, painting, and researching family history. They are accompanied by an introduction, providing an overview of her life, and full notes.

Professor ROSEMARY O'DAY teaches in the Department of History at the Open University.
  • ISBN10 1843833425
  • ISBN13 9781843833420
  • Publish Date 22 November 2007
  • Publish Status Out of Print
  • Out of Print 28 May 2021
  • Publish Country GB
  • Publisher Boydell & Brewer Ltd
  • Imprint The Boydell Press
  • Format Hardcover
  • Pages 450
  • Language English