The Bolter
The Story of Idina Sackville, Who Ran Away to Become the Chief Seductress of Kenya's Scandalous \"Happy Valley Set\"
By Frances Osborne | Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
About the book
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR • AN O, THE OPRAH MAGAZINE #1 TERRIFIC READ • In an age of bolters—women who broke the rules and fled their marriages—one woman was the most celebrated of them all. • “Even today Lady Idina Sackville could get tongues wagging.\"—NPR
\"Taylor Swift might count Lady Sackville among her muses. Swift’s fans...have linked Idina to The Bolter, a song on the record-breaking album, The Tortured Poets Department\"—Tatler
Idina Sackville's relentless affairs, wild sex parties, and brazen flaunting of convention shocked high society and inspired countless writers and artists, from Nancy Mitford to Greta Garbo. But Idina’s compelling charm masked the pain of betrayal and heartbreak.
Now Frances Osborne explores the life of Idina, her enigmatic great-grandmother, using letters, diaries, and family legend, following her from Edwardian London to the hills of Kenya, where she reigned over the scandalous antics of the “Happy Valley Set.” Dazzlingly chic yet warmly intimate, The Bolter is a fascinating look at a woman whose energy still burns bright almost a century later.
\"Sackville’s passion lights up the page.” —Entertainment Weekly • \"An engaging, definitive final look back at those naughty people who, between the wars, took their bad behavior off to Kenya and whose upper-class delinquency became gilded with unjustified glamour.” —Financial Times • “Intoxicating.” —People
Editions of The Bolter
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780307476425
- AltFormat
- ISBN 9780307270146
- EBook
- ISBN 9780307272324
Read an Excerpt
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR • AN O, THE OPRAH MAGAZINE #1 TERRIFIC READ • In an age of bolters—women who broke the rules and fled their marriages—one woman was the most celebrated of them all. • “Even today Lady Idina Sackville could get tongues wagging.\"—NPR
\"Taylor Swift might count Lady Sackville among her muses. Swift’s fans...have linked Idina to The Bolter, a song on the record-breaking album, The Tortured Poets Department\"—Tatler
Idina Sackville's relentless affairs, wild sex parties, and brazen flaunting of convention shocked high society and inspired countless writers and artists, from Nancy Mitford to Greta Garbo. But Idina’s compelling charm masked the pain of betrayal and heartbreak.
Now Frances Osborne explores the life of Idina, her enigmatic great-grandmother, using letters, diaries, and family legend, following her from Edwardian London to the hills of Kenya, where she reigned over the scandalous antics of the “Happy Valley Set.” Dazzlingly chic yet warmly intimate, The Bolter is a fascinating look at a woman whose energy still burns bright almost a century later.
\"Sackville’s passion lights up the page.” —Entertainment Weekly • \"An engaging, definitive final look back at those naughty people who, between the wars, took their bad behavior off to Kenya and whose upper-class delinquency became gilded with unjustified glamour.” —Financial Times • “Intoxicating.” —People
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Bolter about?
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR • AN O, THE OPRAH MAGAZINE #1 TERRIFIC READ • In an age of bolters—women who broke the rules and fled their marriages—one woman was the most celebrated of them all. • “Even today Lady Idina Sackville could get tongues wagging.\"—NPR
\"Taylor Swift might count Lady Sackville among her muses. Swift’s fans...have linked Idina to The Bolter, a song on the record-breaking album, The Tortured Poets Department\"—Tatler
Idina Sackville's relentless affairs, wild sex parties, and brazen flaunting of convention shocked high society and inspired countless writers and artists, from Nancy Mitford to Greta Garbo. But Idina’s compelling charm masked the pain of betrayal and heartbreak.
Now Frances Osborne explores the life of Idina, her enigmatic great-grandmother, using letters, diaries, and family legend, following her from Edwardian London to the hills of Kenya, where she reigned over the scandalous antics of the “Happy Valley Set.” Dazzlingly chic yet warmly intimate, The Bolter is a fascinating look at a woman whose energy still burns bright almost a century later.
\"Sackville’s passion lights up the page.” —Entertainment Weekly • \"An engaging, definitive final look back at those naughty people who, between the wars, took their bad behavior off to Kenya and whose upper-class delinquency became gilded with unjustified glamour.” —Financial Times • “Intoxicating.” —People
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Bolter?
Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Biography and non-fiction prose > Biography: general
Where can I read a sample of The Bolter?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780307476425
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Bolter?
Frances Osborne
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Bolter is available as paperback(ISBN 9780307476425) and altformat(ISBN 9780307270146) and ebook(ISBN 9780307272324)
Where can I buy The Bolter online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy The Bolter from below
Where can I buy The Bolter?