The life-story of Lady Lucy Houston DBE must surely be one of the most romantic and dramatic epics of the last one hundred and fifty years, yet nowadays she is a 'woman unknown'. She had a beautiful face, a graceful figure and a sharp intelligence, and over the years she would exploit her charismatic charm, first as a teenager to entice a wealthy lover, and subsequently to lead three husbands to the altar. She was an ardent and productive campaigner for women's rights, conducting outstanding works of charity during the ...
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The life-story of Lady Lucy Houston DBE must surely be one of the most romantic and dramatic epics of the last one hundred and fifty years, yet nowadays she is a 'woman unknown'. She had a beautiful face, a graceful figure and a sharp intelligence, and over the years she would exploit her charismatic charm, first as a teenager to entice a wealthy lover, and subsequently to lead three husbands to the altar. She was an ardent and productive campaigner for women's rights, conducting outstanding works of charity during the Great War, such as providing a convalescent home for nurses returning from the front line. In recognition of these endeavours, she was made a Dame of the British Empire in 1917. After the death of her third husband, a known misogynist, 'under mysterious circumstances', she was temporarily certified mad, but his Will was to make her the richest woman in England. During the rest of her eventful and eccentric lifetime, she spent her fortune on a vast number of charitable causes, whilst waging a feisty political campaign against weak British politicians of all parties.As a great admirer of how Mussolini had restored Italy's patriotic self-esteem, she championed men like Winston Churchill as the future saviour of her own beloved country. But her greatest legacy arose from her steadfast support for the Royal Air Force, whose finances were being crippled. She funded the 1931 Schneider Trophy Race as well as the Houston Everest Expedition of 1933. This funding had a crucial bearing on the development of the Merlin engine and the Spitfire aircraft, essentially kick starting the chain of events that would ultimately end in allied victory during the Battle of Britain. She died before the cataclysmic war that she so accurately predicted however, her death being precipitated by an infatuation with Edward, Prince of Wales. In spite of her many eccentricities, the enchanting, infuriating, inspiring and endlessly controversial Lucy Houston deserves to be remembered as a very patriotic lady indeed.
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Add this copy of Lady Lucy Houston DBE to cart. $23.74, like new condition, Sold by GreatBookPrices rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Columbia, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2016 by Pen & Sword Aviation.
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Seller's Description:
Fine. 248 p. Contains: Unspecified. Includes unspecified. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
Add this copy of Lady Lucy Houston Dbe: Aviation Champion and Mother of to cart. $23.75, very good condition, Sold by John C. Newland rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Cheltenham, Glos., UNITED KINGDOM, published 2016 by Pen & Sword Aviation.
Add this copy of Lady Lucy Houston Dbe: Aviation Champion and Mother of to cart. $25.24, very good condition, Sold by Cornell Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Tewkesbury, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2016 by Barnsley: Pen & Sword Aviation, 2016.
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First edition (hardback). 8vo (24cm by 16cm), xiv, 248pp. 22 colour plates, 25 b&w plates. Original black cloth, dustwrapper. Gift inscription to the front free endpaper, else the book and the dustwrapper are in very good condition. ISBN 9781473879362.
Add this copy of Lady Lucy Houston Dbe: Aviation Champion and Mother of to cart. $32.78, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2016 by Pen and Sword Aviation.
