Eccentrics

Aubrey and Auberon Herbert, the Sibthorpe Brothers, Lady Hester Stanhope and Edward Lear all feature, among many others, in this celebration of the Eccentric: extraordinary characters that have brightened up the historical scene in Britain for several hundred years. Whether running for President, sneaking into the Army with one eye, being offered foreign crowns, or building fantasy pleasure palaces only to have them fall down around their ears, the individuals gracing these pages have all greatly enlivened the British reputation for eccentricity. Disdaining to abide by the conventions and limitations of the societies in which they lived, John Jolliffe's eccentrics share one characteristic: the ability to live to the full. In a world where pressure to conform grows increasingly urgent, John Jolliffe's eclectic collection of characters featured in Eccentrics, serves as a reminder that without a little nonconformity life can grow drab and grey. Book jacket.