内容简介
Inanabsorbingmixtureofpoignantbiographyandwonderfullyentertainingsocialhistory,DaughtersofBritanniaoffersthestoryofdiplomaticlifeasithasneverbeentoldbefore.LadyMaryWortleyMontagu,VitaSackville-West,andLadyDianaCooperareamongthewell-knownwivesofdiplomatswhorepresentedBritaininthefar-flungcornersoftheglobe.Yet,despiteservingsuchcrucialroles,thevastmajorityofthesewomenareentirelyunknowntohistory.Drawingonletters,privatejournals,andmemoirs,aswellascontemporaryoralhistory,KatieHickmanexploresnotonlythepublicpompandglamourofdiplomaticlifebutalsothemostintimate,privatefaceofthismostfascinatingandmysteriousworld.Touchingonthelivesofnearly100diplomaticwives(aswellassistersanddaughters),DaughtersofBritanniaisabrilliantandcompellingaccountofmorethanthreecenturiesofBritishdiplomacyasseenthroughtheeyesofsomeofitsmostintrepidbutleastheraldedparticipants.
作者简介
KatieHickmanwasbornintoadiplomaticfamilyin1960andhasspentmorethantwenty-fiveyearslivingabroadinEurope,theFarEastandLatinAmerica.Sheistheauthorofthreepreviousbooks:ATriptotheLightFantastic--TravelswithaMexicanCircus,whichwasoneoftheIndependent's1993BooksoftheYearandwasshort-listedforthe1994ThomasCookTravelBookAward;TheQuetzalSummer,anovelsetintheAndes,forwhichshewasshort-listedforthe1993SundayTimesYoungBritishWriteroftheYearAward;andDreamsofthePeacefulDragon--aJourneyintoBhutan.SheisfeaturedintheOxfordUniversityPressguidetowomentravellers,WaywardWomen.