Forbidden Wife: The Life and Trials of Lady Augusta Murray

On the night of April 4, 1793, Lady Augusta Murray and Prince Augustus Frederick planned to marry against the Royal Marriages Act, which resulted in Lady Augusta becoming a social pariah and her children being declared illegitimate. Julia Abel Smith's book "Forbidden Wife" is a dramatic biography set in the reigns of Kings George III and IV.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 27 October 2022
Publisher: The History Press Ltd

On the night of 4th April 1793, two lovers were conspiring to coerce a cleric into performing a clandestine ceremony. The wedding of the sixth son of King George III to the daughter of the Earl of Dunmore was not only intended to be concealed but also illegal. Lady Augusta Murray had only known Prince Augustus Frederick for three months, but their love had deepened, and they were determined to be married. However, the Royal Marriages Act prohibited such unions without the King's consent, and proceeding with the ceremony would forever alter Augusta's life. From a prominent socialite, she became a social outcast, her children were declared illegitimate, and her family was shunned.

In her book, Forbidden Wife, Julia Abel Smith delves into the lives of these two individuals using material from the Royal Archives and the Dunmore family papers. Set against the backdrop of the American and French Revolutions, this dramatic biography offers a captivating glimpse into the tumultuous times of the late 18th century.

Weight: 398g
Dimension: 129 x 198 x 33 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781803990330