Lady Mary Wortley-Montagu occupies a very special place in the hearts of everyone at Middlethorpe Hall.
A historic 300-year old red brick and limestone house, influenced by Sir Christopher Wren, set in 20 acres of gardens and parkland, Middlethorpe is an award-winning country house hotel. One of three Historic House Hotels of the National Trust, it offers 29 individually decorated bedrooms and suites, a two AA Rosette restaurant, and a boutique spa with its own indoor pool. All this within just 10 minutes drive of the centre of York.
But back in the 18th-century, the Grade II-listed house was the private residence of Georgian aristocrat, Lady Mary, with her politician husband and young son. Today the Lady Mary suite is named after her. A large painting of Lady Mary greets guests as they ascend the magnificent staircase of the house.
A famous literary bluestocking, she was known for her outspoken opinions on women’s rights. When they were published, her letters caused a sensation. Today her portraits are held in London’s National Gallery.
And now author Sean Lusk has published an illuminating historical novel about her extraordinary life, based closely on her letters. Hailed as “witty, insightful and moving” by The Sunday Times, A Woman of Opinion, is the story of a bold, irrepressible heroine.
Lady Mary Wortley-Montagu (1689 to 1762) never let society’s expectations stifle her. She wrote poetry and articles advocating for equality for women, as well as endless vivid, often scandalous, letters to her many powerful friends, including the poet Alexander Pope and dramatist John Gay.
She nearly died of smallpox at the age of 26, which ravaged her beauty, but she resolved to live on her wit and personal charisma. And later – extraordinary for a woman of her generation – she pioneered the development of the smallpox vaccine. After Mary engineered a job offer for her husband as English ambassador to Constantinople (now Istanbul), the couple lived in Turkey, where she observed women inoculating children against smallpox and brought the miracle cure back to England.
She was equally brave and unorthodox in her own private life. She eloped to marry her husband Edward, a Whig member of Parliament (against her father’s wishes). When the marriage fell apart she became infatuated with Francesco Algarotti, an Italian writer on the arts and sciences, and later lived for 10 years in Italy with the young Count Ugo Palazzi.
But the free-spirited Lady Mary also made enemies. Alexander Pope later turned against her (reportedly when he confessed his love for her), satirising her in his epic poem, The Dunciad. Even her own daughter sought to suppress her diary, fearful of the secrets it might reveal.
But today – finally – Lady Mary is centre stage, worthy of her own Netflix drama. And Middlethorpe Hall, with its open fires, fine antiques and trompe l’oeil detailing, is the perfect retreat to find out more about this brilliant woman.
Situated on the first floor of the historic hall and overlooking the beech avenue, the Lady Mary suite contains a living room with desk and sofa, a dressing room and a double bedroom with a “queen size bed” and stunning views of the grounds.
You can explore the gardens and parkland where she would have walked and written her diary, including a ha-ha, walled garden, small lake and beautiful specimen trees.
This November Middlethorpe Hall will host a talk with Sean Lusk celebrating the life of Lady Mary.
Book in now to glorious Middlethorpe Hall – to celebrate one of the most influential women of the 18th-century.
Tributes for A Woman of Opinion by Sean Lusk
“Lusk’s retelling of Mary’s story is by turns witty, insightful and moving…”
The Sunday Times
“Lusk’s narrative skilfully weaves together themes of identity, ambition, and the pursuit of happiness, offering readers a compelling story filled with emotional depth. You won’t forget Mary after reading this…”
Glamour Magazine
“Loosen your stays, settle back and enjoy!”
Saga Magazine
Author Sean Lusk
Sean Lusk’s debut novel, The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesley (where one of the characters is also based on Lady Mary Wortley Montagu) was a BBC2 Between the Covers pick, a Sunday Times Historical Fiction Book of the Month, and longlisted for the Walter Scott Prize.
