WELLINGTON'S MARRIAGE: A SOLDIER'S WIFE.

London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1987. 186 pp, large 8vo (9 1/2" H). B&w plates. "Hero of Waterloo, soldier statesman, the life of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, has been the inspiration for many books. But one aspect of his life has been strangely neglected - his marriage. In 1806, after a protracted and secret courtship, Wellesley married the love of his youth, Kitty Pakenham. It was to be an ill-starred union. (Drawing on numerous letters and diaries, the author reveals) the true story behind the marriage. It begins with Arthur and Kitty's courtship in Dublin in the 1790s, against a turbulent background of rebellion in Ireland and wars in Spain and Portugal, his rejection by the Longford family and subsequent departure to Flanders and India in search of military and financial success, and his return twelve years later 'for one purpose only' - to marry Kitty. The wedding finally took place in April 1806, and Arthur and Kitty were united at last. But their happiness was short-lived, as it soon became apparent that they were both much changed since the early days of their romance and had widely differing expectations of married life. Within three years the marriage had practically disintegrated. Arthur left Kitty and his sons for the Peninsular War, in which he served for six years without once taking home leave. Kitty's hopes of reviving the marriage on his return were never realized. It is a moving story of two people with high hopes and good intentions, for whom the reality of life was fraught with misunderstandings and disappointments." Pages are lightly browned, moderate browning to edges of text block. Dust jacket has slight browning on spine.. First Edition.. Hard Cover. Very Good/Very Good+.