Description
An exploration of the British aristocracy during the Romantic era as reflected by the life of Mary Nisbet, the Countess of Elgin, discusses her history-making work as the Ambassador Extraordinaire to the Ottoman Empire, from her efforts to bring the smallpox vaccine to the Middle East to her safe removal of classical marbles from the Parthenon. Reprint. 20,000 first printing.
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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.
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