Mistress of the Elgin Marbles

Book excerpt: “A lively and welcome account of a charismatic woman,” drawing on the personal correspondence of Lady Mary Bruce, wife of the Earl of Elgin (People). The remarkable Mary Nisbet was the Countess of Elgin in Romantic-era Scotland and the wife of the seventh Earl of Elgin. When Mary accompanied her husband to diplomatic duty in Turkey, she changed history. She helped bring the smallpox vaccine to the Middle East, struck a seemingly impossible deal with Napoleon, and arranged the removal of famous marbles from the Parthenon. But all of her accomplishments would be overshadowed, however, by her scandalous divorce. Drawing from Mary’s own letters, scholar Susan Nagel tells Mary’s enthralling, inspiring, and suspenseful story in vibrant detail. “Absorbing . . . required reading for anyone interested in cultural history, as well as the art of biography.” —Booklist “A sympathetic and emotionally charged portrait . . . [written] with insight and compassion yet without sentimentality.” —Publishers Weekly “A unique life related with animation, admiration, and affection.” —Kirkus Reviews