Dismore Jane

''A fascinating and well-researched biography of a fearless woman, it combines history, adventure and romance. I loved it.'' - Lady Antonia FraserLady Dorothy ‘Dolly’ Mills was a trailblazer, whose larger-than-life personality led her to extraordinary adventures. Born in 1889 into the Walpole family, who were eminent in political and literary spheres, Dolly defied the constraints of her upper-class upbringing by marrying a poor army captain, prompting her disinheritance.From becoming the first English woman in Timbuktu she forged a reputation as one of the most renowned explorers in West Africa and beyond, travelling deep into Venezuela and the Middle East – territories often considered the preserve of men – breaking the mould and challenging her background and the expectations of her gender.Dolly wrote acclaimed travel books, documenting remote places and peoples, capturing history in the making. By the 1930s, she was the best-known female explorer, appearing on platforms and in books alongside prominent men. She was elected as an early female Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and was a strong advocate for women in the field, leaving a bequest for women explorers on her death in 1959.A feminist with unorthodox views which ultimately cost her her marriage, Dolly also wrote bold novels and incisive features for women. Despite life-changing obstacles, she never lost her love of donning a glamorous frock and downing a cocktail.No Country For a Woman is the first book about the life of the best-known female explorer, set against the backdrop of the decadent Jazz Age, and will captivate not only those who are fans of other famous explorers but also curious readers, interested in the lives of fearless women.

As a 13-year-old girl, Princess Elizabeth fell in love with Prince Philip of Greece, an ambitious naval cadet, and they married when she was 21. When Elizabeth suddenly became Queen at 25, their lives changed forever.With previously unpublished material and unique interviews with friends and relations, this book looks afresh at her life as princess, glittering yet isolated.Letters from Elizabeth and the royal family give an intimate insight into their lives and minds. Vivid detail and anecdotes reveal more about her, the era in which she grew up, and the people who shaped her life.The love and stability her parents provided, and the presence of her mother’s family, Bowes-Lyon, with their creativity and eccentricities, gave her a solid background from which to draw during the rapidly changing times of her long reign.This book tells the story of a young princess becoming a Queen.Praise for Jane Dismore:'Fascinating. Jane Dismore’s spellbinding account of the young Elizabeth II is packed with rich new research - a gripping read' - Jane Ridley, author of The Heir Apparent: A Life of Edward VII 'Excellently researched and interesting' - Sarah Bradford, author of Elizabeth: A Biography of Her Majesty the Queen