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- Virago
- Virago
Virago Modern Classics, Fiction, Classic fiction (pre c 1945), Historical adventure, Historical romance, Historical fiction
A brilliant piece of historical fiction. A tale of overweening ambition set during the Napoleonic Wars and based on du Maurier's own great-great-grandmother.
'Like its heroine the book is possessed of such unforgettably vivid charm that one is seduced' L. S. Hilton, author of Maestra
In Regency London, the only way for a woman to succeed is to beat men at their own game. So when Mary Anne Clarke seeks an escape from her squalid surroundings in Bowling Inn Alley, she ventures first into the scurrilous world of the pamphleteers. Her personal charms are such, however, that before long she comes to the notice of the Duke of York.
With her taste for luxury and power, Mary Anne, now a royal mistress, must aim higher. Her lofty connections allow her to establish a thriving trade in military commissions, provoking a scandal that rocks the government - and brings personal disgrace.
A vivid portrait of overweening ambition, MARY ANNE is set during the Napoleonic Wars and based on the life of du Maurier's own great-great-grandmother.
Praise for Mary Anne
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With unfailing du Maurier skill, the author has coupled family interest with dramatic sense - Elizabeth Bowen, Tatler
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Like its heroine the book is possessed of such unforgettably vivid charm that one is seduced - L. S. Hilton
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She wrote exciting plots, she was highly skilled at arousing suspense, and she was, too, a writer of fearless originality - Guardian
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Daphne Du Maurier
Daphne du Maurier (1907-1989) was born in London, England. In 1931 her first novel, The Loving Spirit was published. A biography of her father and three other novels followed, but it was the novel Rebecca that launched her into the literary stratosphere and made her one of the most popular authors of her day. In 1932, du Maurier married Major Frederick Browning with whom she had three children.
Many of du Maurier's bestselling novels and short stories were adapted into award-winning films, including Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds and Nicolas Roeg's Don't Look Now. In 1969, du Maurier was awarded the Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (DBE). She lived most of her life in Cornwall and died there which is the setting for many of her books.
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