Mary Wortley Montagu (jan 1, 1689 – jan 1, 1762)

Description:

Lady Mary Wortley Montagu was the daughter of the 5th Earl of Kingston, and eloped with Edward Wortley Montagu rather than accept an arranged marriage. When he became the British ambassador to Turkey in 1716, she joined him in Constantinople, where she immersed herself in Ottoman culture. Her Turkish Embassy Letters, based on her experiences there, offer sharp observations on everything from politics to women’s lives and were groundbreaking in their time. After returning to England, her marriage became distant, and she threw herself into writing, exchanging witty poetry with Alexander Pope—until they had a falling-out and turned their pens against each other. In 1739, she left England, supposedly for her health, but really to be with the Italian writer Francesco Algarotti. That romance fizzled, but she spent the next two decades living in France and Italy, often in unconventional relationships, including a long stay with Count Ugo Palazzi. When her husband died in 1761, she returned to England to reunite with her daughter but found little happiness there. Suffering from cancer, she died just months later. Her letters, published in 1763, captivated readers across Europe and secured her reputation as a sharp, witty observer of society, culture, and the position of women.

Added to timeline:

Date:

Images: