Kathleen Scott was the widow of Captain Scott who died in Antartica and has been a largely misunderstood footnote for her husband and their son, Peter Scott. Louisa Young, the author, is the granddaughter of Kathleen Scott and wanted to show the world a different side of her. Her unwavering devotion to seizing life and all it had to offer and to always choose happiness. The author does stress these points at every opportunity as well as giving long lists of the famous people in whose company she was often found but it felt more like laundry lists than anything else. While I admire the things that she did accomplish, especially as a woman during that time, I felt that much of the more interesting accomplishments were given very short mentions.
This is a huge issue with this book. The depth is lacking in so many areas. Places where it would have been really interesting to know more about. Her helping with recreating the faces of wounded soldiers. Her relationships with so many of the artists that she knew. But it was just mentioned and then quickly moved past.
I also found that the fact that there would be years in the chapter titles and then stuff from all over the place would get mentioned in that chapter so it was jumping time all over the place regularly very frustrating.
And then there is Kathleen Scott herself. I understand that the author wanted to help get better information about her out there but honestly, she came across as a misogynist, self-centered, and emotionally needy and controlling to me. I was mostly frustrated and just didn't find her likable at all. Apparently in real life she was but this book did not bring that across to me.
Page count: 320p/6,962p ytd/317,847p lifetime
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