Publisher's Synopsis
Dorothea de Benckendorff was born December 28, 1785. Bright, vivacious and personable, she was destined to become an influential player in international diplomacy. Spending three of her most formative years in exile with her mother, Dorothea was not only the recipient of an excellent education, she was also the beneficiary of years of her mother's careful social training. She was adopted at a sell by an intimate friend of her mother, Empress Maria of Russia, after her mother's death. Dorothea's close connections to the Russian imperial family left her positioned for the life role she wished to play. Marriage to Count Christopher Lieven at the age of 14 (a custom typical of the place and time) furthered Dorothea's desire to contribute to the fascinating world of politics. Beginning with her husband's appointment by Tsar Alexander I as ambassador to Great Britain, Dorothea used her intellect, charisma and social skills to become a key player in European diplomacy during the early nineteenth century. This biography provides a detailed look at the life and times of Dorothea Lieven, a young woman who achieved the status of an independent stateswoman in her own right in the diplomatic communities of Russia, France and England. It examines the way in which Dorothea, entrusted with a secret diplomatic overture to England by Tsar Alexander I, participated in events which culminated in the birth of modern Greece. Using Princess Lieven's memoirs and other correspondence, the work provides a perspective on four Romanov rulers - Empress Catherine, Tsar Paul I, Tsar Alexander I and Tsar Nicholas I. The extent of Dorothea's political and diplomatic influence, through friendships with King George IV, the Duke of Wellington and Talleyrand as well as liaisons with Clement Metternich and Francois Guizot, is also discussed. An appendix contains a medical testimony regarding the princess' declining health as well as correspondence written by Princess Lieven. A reference list of key events in her life is also included.
