Margot at War: Love and Betrayal in Downing Street, 1912-1916

During her time as the wife of British Prime Minister H.H. Asquith, Margot Asquith was known for her wit, style, and tendency to speak her mind. However, her final four years at 10 Downing Street were marked by intense emotional and political turmoil. The Prime Minister fell in love with his daughter's best friend, Venetia Stanley, while his Private Secretary also had feelings for her. Margot's relationship with her husband was already strained by her stepdaughter's jealous adoration of her father, and the outbreak of the First World War further heightened these tensions within Downing Street. Anne de Courcy's book delves into this extraordinary period, revealing how the Prime Minister's residence was run like an English country house, with socialising taking precedence over politics and love letters written in the cabinet room.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: 05 May 2022
Publisher: Orion Publishing Co

Margot Asquith, the wife of the renowned British Prime Minister H.H. Asquith, holds a unique place in the annals of British history as one of the most daring and unconventional Prime Minister's spouses. Renowned for her wit, style, and unwavering habit of speaking her mind, she transformed 10 Downing Street into a glittering social and intellectual salon. However, her final four years at Number 10 were marked by a period of intense emotional and political turmoil that engulfed both her private and public life.

In 1912, rumblings of discontent and calls for social reform echoed across the nation, emanating from various groups such as suffragettes, striking workers, and Irish nationalists. Against this backdrop of a government plagued by troubles, the Prime Minister found himself hopelessly captivated by his daughter's best friend, Venetia Stanley. To complicate matters further, his Private Secretary also fell deeply in love with her. Margot's relationship with her husband was already strained by her stepdaughter's jealous adoration of her father. The outbreak of the First World War only exacerbated these swirling tensions within Downing Street.

Drawing on unpublished material from personal papers and diaries, Anne de Courcy has vividly recreated this extraordinary period when the Prime Minister's residence operated akin to an English country house, prioritizing socialization over politics. Love letters were penned in the cabinet room, and gossip and state secrets were exchanged over the bridge table. Margot Asquith's life during this time was a tapestry of drama, intrigue, and personal struggles, reflecting the complex dynamics of a political family and the broader social and political landscape of the era.

Weight: 298g
Dimension: 129 x 196 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781474625159