The Favourite
The Life of Sarah Churchill and the History Behind the Major Motion Picture
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The scandalous true story of the duchess who became her beloved queen's blackmailer, published in a new and updated edition to coincide with the Oscar nominated film starring Olivia Colman, Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz. Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, was as glamorous as she was controversial. Politically influential and independently powerful, she was an intimate, and then a blackmailer, of Queen Anne, accusing her of keeping lesbian favourites - including Sarah's own cousin Abigail Masham. Ophelia Field's masterly biography brings Sarah Churchill's own voice, passionate and intelligent, back to life. Here is an unforgettable portrait of a woman who cared intensely about how we would remember her. 'An incredible story crackling with royal passion, envy, ambition and betrayal ... Field's account of the psychological power play between Queen Anne and her confidante is surely definitive. A tour de force' Lucy Worsley
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4.5 stars. I had so much fun reading this biography! Field explores the life of Sarah Marlborough in remarkable detail, never shying away from exploring both her flaws and admirable qualities. This biography covers everything from her involvement in polticss, her strong support for progressive Whig policies, her wealth and investments in properties, and her countless epic feuds with kings, queens, ministers, and her children and grandchildren. Field argues that Sarah's famous temper may have come from her frustrations that despite her surprising amount of influence as a woman, despite how intelligent and capable she clearly was, she still felt held back and silenced in a way she never would have been had she been born male. Other than this, however, Field is careful to stick to the historical evidence and facts, and in fact if I had one complaint it's that she never really draws too many conclusions on various conflicts in Sarah's life. I enjoyed this book far more than I was expecting to, after watching the fantastic film The Favourite based on Sarah's fall from grace, and in some ways fact was really stranger than fiction. Highly recommended.
