The name of Hermann von Puckler-Muskau (1785-1871) may not be too familiar today but, as historian James Bowman reveals in The Fortune Hunter, this impoverished German prince’s life offers a fascinating glimpse into the glittering world of Regency England.
Searching for a rich English wife, Puckler’s visit to these shores brought him into contact with such figures as Walter Scott, George Canning, Beau Brummell and John Nash, as well as bewildering group of eligible young ladies. He also kept extensive diaries, detailing the sights and manners of a rapidly changing nation, together with his own financial and romantic troubles. Written with flair and lightness of touch, Bowman’s delightful book brings this cultured, fun-loving foreign visitor vividly to life.