The Viceroy's Daughters

Anne De Courcy's meticulously researched biography of the three Curzon daughters contains the material and stories which today would have the tabloid newspapers editors racing for their cheque books. The book is primarily about the scandalous and often disastrous lives of three sisters, daughters of one of the grandest viceroys of India. It also throws considerably light on a number of other well-known members of aristocratic society between the two Great Wars. The reason for this was that quite simply their lives and in particular their love lives were all intertwined. Lord Curzon spent most of his life regretting that he was recalled from India and all the trappings that went with the post of Viceroy with supreme power. Although later in Government his talents were recognised with Cabinet Posts, Curzon felt that he had failed and this sense of failure extended to his marriages and more importantly to the relationship or more often than not lack of relationship with his three daughters. These three daughters, Baba, Cimmie and Irene, unashamedly shared each other's husbands and lovers just as they might have shared their toys when they were younger. The result was constant conflict, making up, intrigues and scheming, whilst using the power, money and the family name to bed-hop their way around society. The most intriguing character, who permeates much of the book, is Tom Mosley. Mosley was an unashamed philanderer who slept with all three sisters as well as countless other women as he changed his political affiliations to the point where he founded and led the British Fascist Party, The Blackshirts, during the 1930s. The book also sheds more light on the scandalous liaison between the Prince of Wales and Mrs Wallis Simpson, which led to his abdication and their ostracism from the Royal Family. The link in this case was The Prince of Wales best friend and best man Fruity Metcalfe. who was in charge of the Prince's hunting stables and was unhappily married to Baba Curzon. Ramsey McDonald said of Mrs Simpson after seeing her swept to Ascot in a royal carriage: The people of this country do not mind fornication but they loathe adultery - much of this highly entertaining historical book is about both. Review by John Russell (Kirkus UK)