Élite hostesses as disruptive forces : the country house in interwar Britain

Abstract

British high society in the interwar years was led by a small group of hostesses who were instrumental in heralding consistency after the upheaval of the Great War. Yet, they were also beacons of change, introducing the famous names of the day to each other. Likewise, the country house was entering a period of adjustment as many changed hands or were utilised more often due to the advent of the motor car and quicker travel. This article analyses the role of two hostesses who were at the centre of two of the greatest scandals of the 1930s and argues that the seclusion of the country house was significant to events. Wallis Simpsons role as de facto hostess at Fort Belvedere is explored through the writings of her contemporaries and analysed in the context of the Abdication Crisis. Nancy Astor's role as chatelaine of Cliveden House is explored in relation to her involvement with the Cliveden Set.