Florizel is a prince and Perdita is a shepherdess (really a princess though) in this story, so one could imagine the 🔥🔥🔥 between Mary and George while Mary was speaking her lines as Perdita to Florizel and the actual Prince of Wales. #PaulaByrneBookClub

Mary Robinson got many offers from wealthy men to be placed under their protection, like Sir John Lade (heir to brewery fortune). Portrait by Joshua Reynolds. Gossip rags claimed that they were having an affair. #PaulaByrneBookClub

Even though Mary Robinson was well thought of for her acting ability, her family didn’t approve of her profession, like her brother John and her mother Hester. #PaulaByrneBookClub #Perdita

Mary Robinson had a second daughter, Sophia in 1777. She suffered from convulsions like her sister Maria Elizabeth, but Sophia didn’t survive. Sheridan was more upset about the child than her own father Tom (who kept on with his affairs) #PaulaByrneBookClub #Perdita

Portrait of David Garrick

This is a nice link to “The Story of Theatre” on the Victoria & Albert Museum with a section on 18th century theatre and one on David Garrick (portrait below). I was able to visit the V & A museum last summer but did not see this. Next time. #PaulaByrneBookClub

Mary’s husband was released from the Fleet on Aug 3, 1776 and her poems “Captivity” and “Celadon and Lydia” were published in 1777. You can read copy of it here (actual photos of the book) archive.org/details/bim_ei… #Perdita #PaulaByrneBookClub

The Robinsons had been “faking it till they made it” with their fabulous lifestyle but weren’t able to “make it” and instead were foreclosed upon by their creditors in 1774 just before Mary was due to have her baby. #Perdita #PaulaByrneBookClub

Paula talks about the difference between the “city” of the east end of London vs the “town” or “ton” of the west end. I’ve been curious about the actual meaning of “ton” a word that comes up a lot in Bridgerton #Perdita #PaulaByrneBookClub

Mary’s mother found out that Thomas lied about being the legitimate heir of his uncle Thomas Harris, was in fact his illegitimate son and wasn’t even an eldest son. #Perdita #PaulaByrneBookClub

For those of you who are reading #Perdita, what are you most curious about, and what are you looking forward to reading about?
#PaulaByrneBookClub

I knew nothing about Mary Robinson before I saw Paula’s talk with Hilary Davidson on Dec 18 for the Chawton House exhibit. Their talk was excellent, and piqued my interest. So here we go…

#PaulaByrneBookClub #Perdita #MaryRobinson

Hello #PaulaByrneBookClub here’s a friendly reminder that we are reading Perdita: The Literary, Theatrical, Scandalous Life of Mary Robinson. This time around I’d like to get more discussion on the TL so I’ll be posting next weekend around the 29th of December.
Prologue, ch 1.
Let’s go!!!

Photo of title page of Perdita on Kindle app on iPad

Perdita by Paula Byrne is available on Kindle and from so many bookshops.
I look forward to our discussion! #PaulaByrneBookClub #Perdita #MaryRobinson

Cover of the book Perdita by Paula Byrne

I’ve taken a breather from the #PaulaByrneBookClub and I’m ready to read another book written by Paula Byrne which will be

Perdita: The Literary, Theatrical, Scandalous Life of Mary Robinson

🧵