Sheila

The Australian beauty who bewitched British society

Robert Wainwright

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Paperback

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English

Allen & Unwin
01 February 2014

Biography: general; Biography - Australian

ABBEY'S CHOICE FEBRUARY 2014 ----- Born on a NSW sheep station, she wedded earls and barons, was feted by London and New York society, and when she died was a Russian princess. Yet Sheila Chisholm has remained largely unknown until a mere two-sentence reference in the official biography of the Queen Mother sparked a search by Robert Wainwright to uncover the full story of this Australian beauty's journey from the paddocks of NSW to the grand houses of Europe.

Vivacious, confident and striking, Sheila Chisholm met her first husband, Francis Edward Scudamore St Clair-Erskine, a first lieutenant and son of the 5th Earl of Rosslyn, when she went to Egypt during the Great War to nurse her brother. Arriving in London as a young married woman, the world was at her feet - and she enjoyed it immensely. Edward, Prince of Wales, called her 'a divine woman' and his brother, Bertie, the future George VI of England (Queen Elizabeth's father), was especially close to her. She subsequently became Lady Milbanke and ended her days as Princess Dimitri of Russia. Sheila had torrid love affairs with Rudolph Valentino and Prince Obolensky of Russia and among her friends were Evelyn Waugh, Lord Beaverbrook and Wallis Simpson.

An extraordinary woman unknown to most Australians, Sheila is a spellbinding story of a unique time and a place and an utterly fascinating life.

Sheila: The Australian Beauty Who Bewitched British Society by Robert Wainwright at Abbey's Bookshop 131 York Street, Sydney

By: Robert Wainwright
Imprint: Allen & Unwin
Country of Publication: Australia
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 153mm, Spine: 41mm
Weight: 612g
ISBN: 9781743311318
ISBN 10: 1743311311
Pages: 424
Publication Date: 01 February 2014
Audience: General/trade , General/trade , ELT Advanced , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Robert Wainwright has been a journalist for 25 years, rising from the grassroots of country journalism in Western Australia to a senior writer with the The Sydney Morning Herald. His career has ranged from politics to crime, always focussing on the people behind the major news of the day. He is the author of Rose: The unauthorised biography of Rose Hancock Porteous (2002), The Lost Boy (2004) and The Killing of Caroline Byrne (2009).

Reviews for Sheila: The Australian beauty who bewitched British society

Undeniably enjoyable. -- Spectator Undeniably enjoyable. Spectator Undeniably enjoyable. --Spectator A marvellously entertaining story that at times resembles a glossy television period drama. --Express -Undeniably enjoyable.- --Spectator -A marvellously entertaining story that at times resembles a glossy television period drama.- --Express Undeniably enjoyable. Spectator Amarvellously entertaining story that at times resembles a glossy television period drama. Express