Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #263531 in Books
• Published on: 2008-05-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

Review
'Philip Eade... is a natural writer: percipient, sympathetic, amusing... and those who have never heard of Sylvia Brooke are in for a treat' --Michael Holroyd

'An enthralling study of an extraordinary woman. Philip Eade's book reads like a thriller... it is wonderfully written' --Joanna Lumley

'Juicily entertaining... An exceptional life, one to which Eade does rich justice.' --Miranda Seymour. Mail on Sunday

Review
"This is a delightful book, and proof that truth is stranger than fiction" (THE TIMES )

"a splendid first book" (SUNDAY TELEGRAPH )

"Sylvia Brooke...cries out for the sort of juicy, scandal-laden biography that her odd career fuelled. Philip Eade does the job well, with zest, colour and scholarly high spirits." (INDEPENDENT )

"Eade records [Sylvia's] assorted adventures and those of the bizarre dynasty into which she married with wit and style" (SUNDAY TIMES )

"I'm a sucker for biogs about British eccentrics, and this is one of the best." (SUNDAY MERCURY )

MIRANDA SEYMOUR, MAIL ON SUNDAY
"juicily entertaining... an exceptional life, one to which Eade does rich justice."

Customer Reviews

Tropical climes
Interesting and well written, a must read this summer! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone wanting a biography of eccentric people in tropical lands.

Fun Read
"A fun and stylish romp through the life of an extraordinary socialite - and the age and class which she inhabited. Sex, drama and absurdities abound. Do yourself a favour - buy your wife or girlfriend a copy and read it yourself."

Not so outrageous really
Unlike other reviewers of this title,I found this book rather disappointing. The subtitle "An outrageous Englishwoman and Her Lost Kingdom" was not lived up to. There was very little outrageous that Sylvia did apart from have three daughters who made some showbiz marriages. There is lots of outrageous behaviour hinted at,, but very little detail. As for the 'Lost Kingdom' part after reading the book one still has very little idea over what life in Sarawak was like.