Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire, with Dr. Amanda Foreman

Dr. Amanda Foreman presents a talk about one of the most famous residents of Chatsworth House: Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire.
Dr. Foreman, who wrote the award-winning bestseller Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire, shared fascinating insights into the life and times of the Duchess and the ways in which her life was shaped by marrying into the Devonshire family and moving into Chatsworth House. The lecture can now be viewed here in its entirety.
This was the third lecture in the ICAA’s 2019 New York Summer Series in partnership with Sotheby’s, designed to coincide with Treasures from Chatsworth, an exhibition of one of the largest and most significant private art collections in Britain.
For more programs like this one, sign up for the ICAA's weekly newsletter, "Classicism at Home." Sign up today to receive a weekly escape into the worlds of architecture, art, and design. Each Tuesday you will receive a new edition, delivering online courses and lectures, documentaries, articles, film recommendations, and more directly to your inbox. Find out more and sign up here: www.classicist...
The 2019 New York Summer Series is made possible thanks to the following sponsors:
Foster Reeve Architectural & Ornamental Plaster
The Luxury Division of Pella

[@donnamorgese9237]

I love Georgiana.. absolutely love her. And the storytelling of her life is so captivating and easy relatable. Thank you for sharing such a remarkable story. The movie with Kiera Knightly is one of my favorites, utterly divine.

[@t5kcannon1]

Absolute nonsense.

[@ageofechochambers9469]

You don't know , the speaker is selling feminist fantasies and your in need of medication if you blv her .

[@stacytadlock7666]

Fascinating discussion about a woman whose life was so interesting to me given by the woman who was equally fascinating!

[@RonDell1935]

What a magnificent talk! Thank you Dr Amanda for yr moving, real and touching depiction of a lady wanting so much to do the right thing. You show the Duchess as having both a quiet and firm resolve and a desperation to be properly loved. We are sad when people suffer, yet grateful to know a little of such a colourful character in a bewildering life.

[@stregalilith]

Well said, Ron!

[@jackie4286]

Amanda Foreman"s book on Georgiana gives a great deal more information on this fascinating woman. It is really worth reading.

[@liz7757]

So many parallels with Princess Diana. Both magnificent women 💜

[@Z.O.1991]

Especially when her son kicked Elizabeth out shortly after the 5th Duke's death, just like Diana's brother kicked out their stepmother from the only place she called home.

[@meeeka]

And they both had less than human husbands.

[@sashek8451]

Incredibly, I just learned Sarah “Fergie” Fergusson is in Georgiana’s direct line, a 5x great granddaughter!! The child she gives up in the movie, Eliza..one of her daughters becomes a 4x g-gmother of Fergie. And therefore Fergie and Diana are also distant cousins through this connection.

[@samanthasmith61]

@@Z.O.1991 but it was expected though, when the husband died, the wife need to live in the dower house and relinquish everything to the son. Downton Abbey also did this to the Dowager Countess

[@mc7477]

That's one way of looking at it.

[@davinder1171]

Absolutely brilliant! I came across this by accident, but stayed and watched the whole thing through. I am so glad that I did. Thank you Amanda, such a great delivery.

[@starbug345]

This is one of the best “speeches” and story tellers I’ve watched on KZbin so far. How engaging and informative! I’m so surprised this hasn’t received more views. If you made a podcast, I 10/10 would listen and subscribe!

[@kennethcarlsen8920]

I couldn't agree more!!

[@denebolamau6288]

I purchased the Foreman biography at the Chatsworth gift shop in the summer of 99. A fascinating woman, Georgiana was also very literate as well, writing poetry and a novel. Quite a fascinating person.

[@stregalilith]

Lucky you! I bet that was a lovely outing!

[@georgiabelle5176]

Wonderful talk...you made her human to me and I love the way you described her growth and how she redeemed herself

[@JeckoSTARlaloo]

What a beautiful feature. Thanks for sharing this! The Duchess of Devonshire was a wonderful woman.

[@lauralaladarling3775]

Hello, A fascinating, entertaining and wittily narrated lecture on the remarkable life of the Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire. Thank you, for this sensitivedly drawn and insightful evening Dr. Amanda.

[@kennethcarlsen8920]

You are a FANTASTIC narrator/storyteller! I loved to listen to you! You could easily do audio-books!

[@nicolamarter8587]

What a wonderful, fascinating talk about an amazing woman. It's one of the best things I've ever watched on KZbin. Very moving and thought provoking, I didn't want it to end.

[@kingsgate57]

What and absolutely wonderful and fascinating lecture.

[@Carol-D.1324]

Magnificent lecture! I was riveted the whole time! I couldn’t break away from this incredible story. Loved everything about it!

[@kimsherlock8969]

Thankyou for your encouragement to be who we really are.

[@kimsherlock8969]

Wonderfulness in the drawing perfection in reality without a camera.

[@georgefrazer2231]

We can all reach our full potential despite what life throws at us. The duchess of Devonshire was an inspiration in the 18th century and is still an inspiration for us all. May we cherish her memory and be grateful that we have the example of such pioneering ladies of the 18th century. Thank you for this lecture. I have already read your book and found your lecture very insightful. Would you consider doing a similar lecture on Queen Charlotte. She also is a very interesting lady that few are familiar with.

[@adriannespring8598]

Its amazing the brutality of lacking caring/emotional connection & how it can destroy someone so deeply. Be both a motivation & a detriment.

[@Leigh11278]

Very well done. Was captivated the entire time. What a fabulous tone for story telling ❤️

[@craigathonian]

Thank you Dr.Foreman ! What a wonderful experience you make. I feel I know this extraordinary woman so much better now that we have had tea and gossiped about your good friend. You are such a unique and gifted person. I can see why you studied this lady. Like is attracted to like !

[@samanthaleediva1026]

By far one of the best and most interesting lectures I’ve heard recently

[@seashells5181]

Well done! Very well presented. You gave us a very personal insight into the life and times of the Duchess of Devonshire.

[@kimsherlock8969]

I feel her parents Capitalised on their daughters marriage expecting nothing other than .....The most powerful family in Britain to be in gilded bonds.

[@lisasargent2841]

Listening to this was a wonderful learning lesson & rebirth for me. Many, many thanks.

[@stephkg84]

Beautiful story. I stumbled upon the movie by mistake and was riveted. So glad this came up too.

[@notyourbiz235]

Wow.....Huge thanks for this lecture, dear Mrs Foreman

[@bunnythunders]

This was absolutely wonderful.

[@elizabethannegrey6285]

A fascinating talk about an extraordinary woman. To be pushed into such a marriage at sixteen, sink or swim, and flourish is remarkable.

[@greenfairy549]

Yeah she had a narcissist Mom

[@zoeevans6410]

What an inspirational talk!

[@suea.s.9975]

This is amazing!

[@sashek8451]

If what I read is true, incredibly, Sarah “Fergie” Ferguson is a direct descendent of Georgiana, a 5x great granddaughter! The child she is forced to give up in the movie, Eliza..one of her daughters becomes a 4x g-gmother of Fergie.

[@sarahdaily23]

What an amazing life and story.

[@sm0kybluedaze394]

Very interesting lecture! Thanks for sharing!!!! ✌🏼❤️🙏🏻

[@robny]

Amazing speech

[@tash-t6i]

Love this - well presented

[@MrBrownnn696]

Her story was so interesting

[@muffin6369]

It is incredible how many of the Devonshire House Circle felt the same way about Bess and some of them, like James Hare (the man looked like he was dead in life LOL) tried to tell her. But Georgiana wouldn't believe it. I mean she would have rather lost the Duke I think (at one time) than lose Bess. It's because she saw (like all good sociopath's) here is someone (Georgiana) who is lonely etc AND the capper was she's thinking I can get the Duke too.

[@24yearsago64]

She's the great great grandaunt of Princess Diana and they got the same fate.

[@lisaellis2593]

Unfair fate,.

[@earlsandyevens]

Would I be too absurd to see another Spencer here in the likes of Princess Diana?

[@benzynyc]

Not at all! The parallels are remarkable all the way down to their husbands’ hidden agendas, bulimia, their massive popularity and early death. Diana is her descendent in the most eerily way.

[@adipk919]

Loved this!

[@lovelive2216]

Wow this was amazing!!! ❤️✨❤️✨

[@diannefoster3297]

The Spencer family were neighbors and friends of the Washington family.

[@gwendolynbeecroft512]

This is wonderful to have history lesson online. Terrible time for woman I feel. They had no say in who they marry.

[@nokomarie1963]

I really enjoyed the book, but somehow, this talk is rather better. The book distilled as it were, tones of voice conveying all the background.

[@mariannenielsen425]

brilliant just briliant.

[@muffin6369]

Oh and they hardly touched ENOUGH on her EXTREME gambling problem in the movie. And it would have been nice to see her sister Harriet Lady Bessborough in the movie too. This video is awesome. I've gone on and on about the stupid movie and really didn't say how much I enjoy Amanda's presentations on Georgiana.

[@samanthasmith61]

to be fair her life can be made into like 4 season.. it's hard to cram the whole live story into 2 hour movie, they even stopped her journey just shortly after she gave birth and she never had bad behavior in the movie

[@trapped7534]

So many parallels between Georgiana and Princess Diana. Treated much the same… husbands that wanted a brood mare for bearing children. Thrown into the household when she had not had any experience whatsoever. The Duke was a lot like Charles. Not caring about the wives,just caring about themselves. Fashion was another thing that tied them.

[@hayleytownend9172]

Wowwwwwww ❤ so accurate

[@melindawakley7859]

I don’t believe for 1 second that during Georgiana’s illegitimate pregnancy that Bess took sides with Georgiana for Georgiana’s sake. Nope, doubt it. Her motivation was this, if she, Bess remained at home with William and Georgiana was banished from her own mansion. And was exiled alone abroad for 2 years. This would have looked very very bad for Bess from society’s point of view. Everyone would have known, that Bess had finally achieved her aim. In replacing Georgiana. In the most Machiavellian way. English society already despised Bess, so she opted for what they call in psychology ‘image repair’. Another thing, suffered badly in the years before she died. She went blind in 1 eye. And endured horrifying surgeries without anaesthesia.

[@Z.O.1991]

It's sad that the movie mainly focused on her love life and not her personal life, as well.

[@fenixdown22]

Thanks for posting, good stuff!

[@ageofechochambers9469]

#4:40 such a delusional premise, she married 1 the most eligible bachelor her rank allowed. She wasn't marrying a royal ( not allowed 🚫 ) a rich duke was the best she could do . Lives for both men and women were scripted back then you could rebel and become an outcast or play your part and reap the rewards. But there was no hot summer for females who wished the best prospects . Or to take a few years "to discover themselves " . Fyi the above is not a moral argument, justification or criticism its just explaining how things were . The speaker is not speaking in good faith , shes talking as if choices that are available today were available back then which wasn't the case .

[@kimsherlock8969]

No the possibility of doing for herself creatively is not reasonable. The feathers and the art of her Couture came from a imaginative Couturiers. As usual she used the brilliance of the arts to place herself in the admiration of society. Society with stuffed birds of paradise as a fancy for conservation on a small top hat. This was a time of competition even amongst the feathering of the Wealthiest hat.

[@bellebelle7868]

Her story is just like her great great somethings niece Princess Diana

[@vanceriddle4191]

I feel like I can’t read about anything in history without all the drama. I feel like the historians coming out of college are taught to do this.

[@angelabby2379]

but real history are full of drama.. lol these aren't text book this is real life... you see celebrities today and tell me they didn't have drama, one day they will just be like marilyn monroe.. a historical figure

[@BryantPP]

The power of fashion is immeasurable... You can charm people into anything if you dress the part that they're looking for in you. People don't give fashion NEAR enough credit. Everybody wants to be seduced.

[@pamelia-ow5gj]

A Spencer came to my neighborhood from.california. so I married him. Love earl Grey tea

[@michaeldunne3379]

Surprisingly little about her political activity on behalf of the Whigs, which was extensive throughout her life. There’s lots about it in the book. 🤔

[@muffin6369]

Lady Mary Coke was disgusted when she saw Georgiana and her friends popping their cheeks out just like Amanda said. LOL!

[@RonDell1935]

75

[@muffin6369]

Boy did the people who produced the movie make it completely different than what really happened. The had the Duke playing at 50 - 60 years old. What you wanted Ralph Fiennes THAT bad that you were willing to completely change his age and in a big way. And it changed things. And also the bit about Bess getting her children back with the Duke's help. And the big deal they made of that in the movie. That wasn't why she slept with HIM. Amanda said what the deal was and it was true.

[@daniellemichelle8320]

He looks more like in his 40s.

[@amberfun9148]

They aged everyone up because Keira Knightley was like 30 so the age gap remains the same.

[@marinaalinescu1660]

​@@amberfun9148it's not the same age gap though. It was 11 in real life and more like 23 in the movie

[@elizabethannegrey6285]

18.42 sounds a bit like Fergie

[@patriciapalmer1377]

Georgina's brother looked so the Spencer ! And Bess ? Feh !🤨

[@kimsherlock8969]

True Bohemian Her Husband wanted a wife so he could live his life with shoes called Brothel Creepers. Sad .

[@margaretgreenwood4243]

‘Single White Female’. A scary but accurate description of Bess

[@CallieMasters5000]

No mention of "The Favourite" or her affairs with Queen Anne?

[@lindapgolan7070]

That would have been Sarah Spencer, not Georgiana.

[@kimsherlock8969]

This sounds like Facebook

[@janicemurphy4373]

TWISTED IMORAL MINDS, AND SUPER DOUBLE STANDARDS THAT WAS SICK AND HIGH POWERED WITH SELFISHNESS, WAS JUST SO SAD!!!!!!!!!!

[@elizabethannegrey6285]

Pronunciation? Georgina or GeorgiAna?

[@paulaschlagle6963]

According to the book by Dr. Foreman it was the Cavendish family who changed the original pronunciation of Georgianna's name.

[@shanenolan5625]

For the algorithm. Sent you stuff about mental illness, mental hospitals, torture and execution, French feminist, ( female erotic) a thing about freud and young ( movie trailer) A thing about French married couples affairs. Something about a famous ancestor of princess Diana. Movie trailer and a documentary about her

[@paulakaysmith9151]

It REALLY was a bad match! 😔

[@parvanehshowrai7376]

ENGLAND IS EUROP

[@georginamannor4373]

It looks a prison or an old mental hospital

[@OdeInWessex]

Fascinating personality with an extraordinary story. I read Ms Foreman's biography of Georgiana which was superb however this was a flat, poorly prepared presentation with a serious lack of cohesion. I became so irritated by the seemingly interminable um's and ah's I didn't bother to watch the last 20 minutes of the piece, instead I'll read the biography again.