
Daughter of Empire
My Life as a Mountbatten
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Narrated by:
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Corrie James
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By:
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Pamela Hicks
About this listen
Few families can boast of not one but two saints among their ancestors, a great-aunt who was the last tsarina of Russia, a father who was Grace Kelly's pinup, and a grandmother who was not only a princess but could also argue the finer points of naval law. Pamela Mountbatten entered a remarkable family when she was born at the very end of the Roaring Twenties.
As the younger daughter of the glamorous heiress Edwina Ashley and Lord Louis Mountbatten, Pamela spent much of her early life with her sister, nannies, and servants-and a menagerie that included, at different times, a bear, two wallabies, a mongoose, and a lion. Her parents each had lovers who lived openly with the family. The house was always full of guests like Sir Winston Churchill, Noël Coward, Douglas Fairbanks, and the Duchess of Windsor (who brought a cold cooked chicken as a hostess gift).
When World War II broke out, Lord Mountbatten was in command of HMS Kelly before being appointed chief of Combined Operations, and Pamela and her sister were sent to live on Fifth Avenue in New York City with Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt. In 1947, her parents were appointed to be the last viceroy and vicereine of India and oversee the transfer of power to an independent Indian government.
Amid the turmoil of political change, Pamela worked with student leaders, developed warm friendships with Gandhi and Nehru, and witnessed both the joy of Independence Day and its terrible aftermath. Soon afterwards, she was a bridesmaid in Princess Elizabeth's wedding to Prince Philip, and was a lady-in-waiting at the young princess's side when she learned her father had died and she was queen.Vivid and engaging, well-paced and superbly detailed, this witty, intimate memoir is an enchanting lens through which to view the early part of the twentieth century.
©2012 Pamela Hicks (P)2014 TantorCritic reviews
The links to the Royal family are interesting insightful and pleasant.
The partition of India is somewhat rose tinted though.
Overall definitely worth a listen.
Interesting view into a household named aristocratic family.
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A fabulous account, honest, amazing and regal.
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Interesting personal stories
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Pamela
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Very interesting
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Incredibly Interesting
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descriptions, lots of humour, I listened to it twice and found it as engrossing the second time.
Fascinating
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Does speak about her parents’ unconventional marriage, including lovers. Addresses the question of whether her mother Edwina and Nehru were (sexual) lovers and concludes not.
What a shame the new king couldn’t find space for her at his coronation. What did she do to deserve such a snub?
Well meaning witness to royal and Indian history
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BRILLIANT!!!
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Memorable 😀
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