Conville & Walsh

Wendy Moore’s WEDLOCK has been announced as one of the first ten titles in the new TV Book Club, which begins this month. Conceived by Amanda Ross, the independent TV producer behind Richard and Judy’s Book Club, the show will begin on 17th January, and will feature a range of books.

WEDLOCK is the only non-fiction title to have made it onto the programme, although, as the Telegraph has reported, “This splendid book, well researched and richly detailed, is as gripping as a novel.”

WEDLOCK is the remarkable story of the Countess of Strathmore and her marriage to Andrew Robinson Stoney. Mary Eleanor Bowes was one of Britain’s richest young heiresses. She married the Count of Strathmore who died young, and pregnant with her lover’s child, Mary became engaged to George Gray. Then in swooped Andrew Robinson Stoney. Mary was bowled over and married him within the week. But nothing was as it seemed. Stoney was broke, and his pursuit of the wealthy Countess a calculated ploy. Once married to Mary, he embarked on years of ill treatment, seizing her lands, beating her, terrorising servants, introducing prostitutes to the family home, kidnapping his own sister. But finally after many years, a servant helped Mary to escape. She began a high-profile divorce case that was the scandal of the day and was successful. But then Andrew kidnapped her and undertook a week-long rampage of terror and cruelty until the law finally caught up with him.

The book has been acclaimed by the British press across the board. On its hardback release last year, the Daily Mail wrote that ‘Wedlock is the best biography that I have read in a long time. It’s gripping, addictive and painstakingly researched.’ Both of Wendy’s biographies have been successful in the USA, as well, with the New York Times writing that ‘biography needs more Wendy Moores.’

WEDLOCK has entered the Sunday Times bestseller list at number 7.