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

This year, 2014, is the centennial of the start of World War I. Many books have been written about the war and the years before and after. The best books seem to be ones which center on an event or a person involved in the war. British author, Anne de Courcy, has written an excellent book, "Margot at War: Love and Betrayal in Downing Street, 1912-1916", about Prime Minister Henry Asquith and his wife, Margot. The title, "Margot at War" seems able to be construed two different ways. "War", of course, can allude to the World War I and the attendant matters of those years, BUT, it can also allude to an on-going battle Margot waged against her step-daughter, Violet, and Violet's best friend, Venetia Stanley, for Henry's affections. Margot Tennant was Henry Asquith's second wife. He was her first husband. They married after the death of his first wife, with whom he had four sons and one daughter, Violet. With Margot, Asquith had two children who lived past birth. Margot was known for her wit and intelligence and she married Henry Asquith for love. Unfortunately, after the birth of her last child, she was advised by her doctors not to have more children. She broke off marital relations with her husband, but remained devoted to him. Anne de Courcy does an excellent job in expanding her book past the affairs of the heart. Henry Asquith's pre-WW1 years in office were not placid ones. The questions of Irish Home Rule, the Suffragette movement, the changing economic society, as well as the on-going diplomatic questions as Germany and Great Britain jockeyed for power, were all problems to be dealt with. Deal with them he did, as he also fell madly in love with Venetia Stanley. But was he "in love with Venetia" or "in love with being 'in love'"? Was Henry Asquith having a physical affair with Venetia Stanley? He was 60 and she was in her mid-20's. He was England's Prime Minister and she was an unmarried society darling. Author de Courcy doesn't answer the question; maybe it can't be answered. Certainly Asquith was in love with Venetia. He wrote her love letters every day, often while in government sessions. His aides and others he worked with often noted his paying more attention to Venetia than his duties of state allowed. The war was going badly, government and military scandals abounded, and the Prime Minister was writing copious numbers of love letters, often containing government secrets. By the end of 1916, Asquith was forced from office. By that time, Venetia Stanley had married another man. Henry Asquith and Margot retired together. One of his four sons from his first marriage had been killed in battle, just one of the millions on both sides killed in a senseless war. Anne de Courcy's book is an excellent look at affairs of state and affairs of the heart. There's much more on the affairs of state, but love - whether requited or not - is part of the picture.

as with her other works this book is impeccably researched and rich in detail. I do love Anne de Courcys writing style, its hard to believe that she wasnt actually there living these events first hand. However i struggled to find one sympathetic character in this book. They all seemed to me to be self-indulgent, self-obsessed , entitled, utterly selfish and lacking any empathy or morals whatsoever. I struggle to see why anyone would even want to write about any of these awful peope. I appreciate that they were all typical of their time and class but I cant help being glad that they are all now very dead.

An interesting but in the end curiously superficial look at Asquith's almost affair with Venetia Stanley. The issue of whether the affair was consummated is only discussed two thirds of the way through, the views of others on the conduct of the protagonists are hardly discussed, nor is the effect on Asquith's ability to govern. Inevitably wider issues such as the almost stumbling into war have to be mentioned, but they occasionally are irrelevant to the upper class world with which the author is concerned: the references to how specific 'ordinary' people experienced life in Berlin after war was declared, the inevitable reference to the Christmas truce somehow feel gratuitous and deflect focus from the book's titular concerns. Other central figures, especially Edwin Montagu, Asquith's Private Secretary and also enamoured with Venetia, are only sketchily drawn. Interesting, always readable, but in the end, a little dissatisfying.

Loved this book. Very informative, anecdotal, social history of a dark period in history, but never sluggish or teachery

A very mixed bag from other reviewers. Only one seemed to have got the point of the double war: one in the trenches, the other for Asquith's affections, both very intriguing and very well presented. I suppose coming straight from her wonderful 'The Viceroy's Daughters', I did feel a slight dropping off of drama (hence 4 stars), but again the story gained so much authority through her extensive use of pertinent contemporary quotes. I think I gained most from the detailed unfolding of the conduct of the war from its start up to Asquith's resignation. Of particular interest was the Dardanelles disaster and the Lansdowne Letter, more clearly dealt with in Anne de Courcy's always impeccable prose. But I agree that Asquith's letters to Venetia Stanley (written in Cabinet as the army floundered) would of themselves seem a more than adequate reason for resignation!

A superb read and fascinating insight to Margot and other characters living through very difficult times while facing up to dpersonal problems in the daily lives of Margot, Herbert Asquith and senior political figures during the build-up and duration of World War One. A book to be read and enjoyed.

A book for my husband. He says it is an amusing and interesting read.

I ploughed on with it in case there's anything interesting. Since we lived in Tadworth/Walton-on-the-Hill/Kingswood (we lived in a house built by Sir Robert McAlpine as a wedding present for his daughter) the bit about Lloyd George was good. The author is Anne de Courcy. As you will see from my Profile page, I've read four books on Margot Asquith because of the centenary of the outbreak of WWI & I liked the Brock best, then Bennett. The Autobiography is her speaking voice obviously prompted by diaries.

Well researched and written, engenders sympathy for a woman who is generally portrayed to be sharp tongued , interfering and tactless. Daughter of a the wealthy Tennant family, looked down on by the British aristocracy for being in trade, Margot had a blissful childhood. Asquith was a widower with children when he persuaded Margot to marry him. After several harrowing childbearing attempts with only two surviving children, Margot was advised to "close the bedroom door" to the husband she adored. Much of the book describes the build up to World War 1, and then details the relationship Asquith encouraged with Venetia Stanley - there seems to proof that the relationship was actually an affair, but one has to be amazed at the amount of time he spent courting and writing to her. If only her letters to him survived, what a tale they could tell - I suspect she was a young lady out of her depth with his intensity. Its a good read - I certainly recommend.

Zeitgeschichte historisch genau aufgearbeitet. Besonders interessant die Vorgeschichte zum 1. Weltkrieg. Heute interessanter den je. Flüssig geschrieben,gut zu lesen.

My Mum loved the book 💕

My interest in British personalities has been aimed toward those with roles in WWII, so Margo Asquith was totally unknown to me. She was influential, unusual, generous and outspokenn, yet, taken for granted by her family. This must have been some feat to overshadow someone as bright, perceptive and connected as she was. I am glad to have acquainted myself with this lady and her family.

I didn't use this product for anything other than satisfying my own curiosity.