Lady Mary Wortley Montague, Her Life and Letters (1689-1762)

Lady Mary Wortley Montagu was one of the most vibrant voices of early‑eighteenth‑century England. Renowned for her sharp wit and keen eye for detail, she turned everyday gossip and high‑society scandal into sparkling prose that still feels fresh today. Her letters reveal a confident woman who measured herself against the great correspondents of her era, daring to claim that her own missives would entertain readers for decades.

When she accompanied her husband on his diplomatic mission to the Ottoman court, her letters became a vivid travel journal full of colour, humor, and startling observation. She recorded the sights, sounds, and customs of Constantinople with a lively, ironic tone, and even championed the introduction of smallpox inoculation to England after witnessing it abroad. Listeners will be drawn into a world where brilliance, daring, and a touch of scandal mingle, offering a compelling portrait of a lady who mastered the art of the letter.