Duchesses - Living in 21st Century Britain - Hardcover

The title of 'duchess' has long been part of Britain's heritage. In 2011, it was brought up to date with the marriage of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, when the Queen conferred a number of titles on her grandson, among them Duke of Cambridge. Catherine joined that select group of the highest ranking duchesses, well-know royals whose husbands are dukes as members of the Royal Family. But another group of women sit just one notch down from royalty, at the top of the aristocratic tree with their dukes. These non-royal duchesses enjoy titles that were bestowed by monarchs for centuries but they are a dying breed: it is unlikely that any more non-royal dukedoms will be created. Here, for the first time, ten of Britain's non-royal duchesses speak candidly about their role and their lives in the 21st century, an era when privilege is an unpopular concept. Each duchess also selects her favourite ancestor in the role, providing a colourful gallery from the 17th to the 20th century. The parallel biographies provide a thought-provoking comparison - for what does it mean to be a duchess in the 21st century? The results are often surprising and always fascinating.

After graduating, Jane Dismore taught English Literature to A-level in secondary schools and wrote for magazines on a freelance basis. A complete change of lifestyle saw her running private yachts in the Mediterranean for several years. which she combined with writing. She had a regular radio slot, presenting her features on the British Forces Broadcasting Service. After returning to England she qualified as a solicitor and worked in private practice for 19 years. In 2013 her first non-fiction book, The Voice From the Garden, was long-listed for the New Angle Prize for Literature. She now writes full-time.