Mary King Waddington

author

Mary King Waddington

1833–1923

An American-born memoirist who spent much of her adult life in European diplomatic circles, she wrote vivid books about politics, society, and daily life in France and beyond. Her firsthand accounts bring the atmosphere of late 19th-century Europe to life in an easy, observant way.

4 Audiobooks

Italian Letters of a Diplomat's Wife: January-May, 1880; February-April, 1904

Italian Letters of a Diplomat's Wife: January-May, 1880; February-April, 1904

by Mary King Waddington

Letters of a Diplomat's Wife, 1883-1900

Letters of a Diplomat's Wife, 1883-1900

by Mary King Waddington

Chateau and Country Life in France

Chateau and Country Life in France

by Mary King Waddington

My First Years as a Frenchwoman, 1876-1879

My First Years as a Frenchwoman, 1876-1879

by Mary King Waddington

About the author

Born Mary Alsop King in New York City in 1833, she became Mary King Waddington after marrying the French diplomat William Henry Waddington, who later served as prime minister of France. Her life placed her close to major political figures and events, giving her an unusual vantage point on European public life.

She is best known for memoirs and diaries drawn from that experience, including My First Years as a Frenchwoman, 1876–1879, Letters of a Diplomat's Wife, 1883–1900, and My War Diary. These books are valued for their clear, personal picture of diplomatic society, international politics, and everyday life behind formal public events.

Waddington died in 1923. Today, her writing remains appealing for listeners who enjoy memoir, history, and the small revealing details that make another era feel close and human.