As a descendant of the Duke of Wellington, Jane Wellesley has a family history that is rich in incident and populated by a multitude of well-known figures. Drawing on family sources and stories, she intersperses an account of the life of her famous ancestor with a memoir of her father, Valerian, the eighth duke, focusing particularly on his wartime exploits and his parents' failed marriage. A sense of connection between the generations is palpable, binding the two halves of the narrative together. But while her privileged position is the book's biggest asset, it is also one of its drawbacks, for though Wellesley is a fluid writer – reverential without being cloying – the sense of loyalty to her subjects inevitably skews this engaging portrait.
