Daughter of Empire My Life as a Mountbatten

Daughter of Empire My Life as a Mountbatten pdf, epub

Lady Pamela Hicks’s memoir, *Daughter of Empire*, is described as one of the “poshest” books ever written, offering a captivating glimpse into the lives of prominent figures from the twentieth century.

Born into the illustrious Mountbatten family at the tail end of the Roaring Twenties in Madrid, Lady Pamela’s life was anything but ordinary. As the daughter of Edwina Ashley, a glamorous heiress, and Lord Louis Mountbatten, she was surrounded by wealth, privilege, and a colorful array of characters. Her early years were filled with nannies, servants, and exotic pets like honey bears, chameleons, bush babies, and mongooses, while her parents’ social circle included royalty, movie stars, and political leaders. Noel Coward invited her to film sets, and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. joined her for tea.

When World War II erupted, Pamela and her sister were sent to live with Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt in New York, as her father was appointed the last Viceroy of India. It was during this time that Pamela matured, meeting student leaders freed from prison, working for the Allied forces in a canteen, and assisting in a clinic outside Delhi. She also formed lasting relationships with key historical figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru.

For fans of British aristocracy and those enchanted by the world of *Downton Abbey*, *Daughter of Empire* offers an insider’s view of a bygone era. Praised by *The Wall Street Journal* for its reflections on a vanished way of life and by *Vanity Fair* for Lady Pamela’s unique storytelling, the memoir stands as a richly entertaining account of history, privilege, and personal growth.