More Secrets of Almina Countess of Carnarvon

More Secrets of Almina, Countess of Carnarvon

The Pocket Venus of Highclere Castle

With  photographs  & documents from the Leadbetter Collection

By William Cross

Almina  Victoria  Marie Alexandra  Wombwell,   5^th Countess of Carnarvon,  famed as the ‘Pocket Venus ‘ of Highclere Castle,  the widow  of  George Edward Stanhope Molyneux  Herbert, the  co-discoverer with Howard Carter of Tutankhamun’s  tomb,  is  the subject of  several  books on her life and times  straddling the  1870s -1960s.   

However, some   facts  including  more  revelations   of  the Countess’  secret life   remain  undisclosed :     there is the   detailed evidence to  finally reveal  of   the  paternity   of her son Henry (  Porchey),  later 6^th Earl .    Aristocracy and royalty are riddled with a stigma of   decay   and in- breeding, the result of  convenient liaisons  and  pragmatic arrangements ,   a  fix to resolve the  family’s  succession  where otherwise  there  are  risks from  close blood marriages, bad genes or  diseases  inflicted from  sexual debauchery. Almina did what she had to do.

Despite  an    exemplary effort  to save  lives in the Great War  through  her  well fashioned ‘ Lady Carnarvon’s  Nursing  Homes’  ( and later pampering to the rich and Royals  in  her famous  private  hospital in Portland  Place, London )   Almina  was   a shrewd  player,   her  activities funded  by  Baron Alfred de Rothschild’s legacies. But the Countess  was  predatory  by nature ,  a  social tyrant  who  always  wanted ( and usually  got)  her own way.    In addition to  two marriages ( her second husband was a  notorious cad,  Lt Colonel Ian Dennistoun)  she had  several  carnal affairs and was caught up in  Society cover-ups and  sex scandals.

In this   new study  Almina’s  biographer  William Cross  appraises  the Countess’  life  and  times  using   several hundred   remarkable photographs and documents    taken from  the  unique archive  of  her  godson, Anthony    ( Tony)  Leadbetter.   Almina lived  the  last   forty-odd years of her life  in a series of   private residences with a close circle of dedicated staff.  Tony’s aunt and mother were Almina’s housekeepers for over thirty years.  Tony grew up with Almina as a central figure in his  life, he inherited her  personal memorabilia.   This  book   completes  the  blistering legacy of Almina,  the most  wayward and charismatic of  Highclere’s chatelaines.

ISBN 10 1-905914-30-X  ISBN 13 978-1-905914-30-2

Published by William P. Cross

Book Midden Publishing

58 Sutton Road

Newport  Gwent

                                      NP19 7JF   

                               United Kingdom     

   THE NEW BOOK WILL BE PUBLISHED IN 2022

TO MARK THE CENTENARY OF THE DISCOVERY OF TUTANKHAMUN

FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE E-MAIL THE AUTHOR 

WILLIAM CROSS

williecross@virginmedia.com