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Lead book review

Nymphomaniac, fearless campaigner, alcoholic – Nancy Cunard was all this and more

Nancy Cunard’s defiance of convention began early, fuelled by bitter resentment towards her mother, says Jane Ridley

23 April 2022

9:00 AM

23 April 2022

9:00 AM

Five Love Affairs and a Friendship: The Paris Life of Nancy Cunard, Icon of the Jazz Age Anne de Courcy

Weidenfeld & Nicolson, pp.336, 25

The title of Anne de Courcy’s riveting new book might give the impression that Nancy Cunard had no more than five lovers. In fact she had many, many more.

Born in 1896, Nancy was the only child of fantastically ill-matched parents. Her mother, Maud – she later changed her name to Emerald – was an American heiress and socialite.

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