The Temptress: The Scandalous Life Of Alice De Janze And The Mysterious Death Of Lord Erroll (2010) - Plot & Excerpts
A well written biography about a beautiful American heiress who travelled to Kenya in the 1920s and joined the "Happy Valley" colonial set. She had an on-off affair with Josslyn Hay, Earl of Erroll, who was murdered in 1941. Prime suspect was Jock Delves Broughton, who was brought to trial and exonerated. The author points his finger at Alice, as the murderess. Paul Spicer is the son of Margaret Spicer, a friend of Alice de Janze, and Roy Spicer, Commissioner of Kenyan Police at the time of the murder. He has fairly strong reasons for coming to his conclusion which differs from that of other writers.It is a good story, written about well known characters, but I found it really boring. The Temptress was written in the same vein as "The Bolter: Edwardian Heartbreak and High Society Scandal in Kenya" by Frances Osborne. It tells the story of another of Kenya's Happy Valley femme fatales - in this instance Alice Countess de Janze.We follow Alice's tempestuous life from her beginnings as a young American socialite to French Countess, and then to one of the leading ladies of the Happy Valley set.This was a woman who certainly did not adhere to the mores of the time nor the accepted social norms, but was a woman who did as she pleased - a reckless, courageous pioneer for feminism or a selfish, spoilt, temperamental young woman in the mould of Veruca Salt."I always get my own way. I always take what I want and throw it away when I don't like; don't forget this ever."Here was a woman at the heart of the "White Mischief" murder of Joss Hay, earl of Errol in 1941. And whilst many have theories as to the identity of the killer, this author, whose mother knew Alice and lived amid the cast of colourful characters, proposes his own theory.An intriguing read.
What do You think about The Temptress: The Scandalous Life Of Alice De Janze And The Mysterious Death Of Lord Erroll (2010)?
Fascinating account of Alice's life. I wonder of we'll ever truly know who killed Lord Errol.
—sweetheather
I think that he is right about Alice Well written fills gaps
—Jbibbs
An interesting companion to "White Mischief".
—Sja05c
