The General in Winter

A story of love and friendship between Captain-General John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, the prime minister Sidney, Earl of Godolphin, and Marlborough's wife Sarah during the reign of Queen Anne. The book traces their role in the union of England and Scotland, and throws a new light on this formative period of British and European history.

[A] deeply researched study of the lives and political careers of two men--Sidney Godolphin, first Earl of Godolphin, and John Churchill, first Duke of Marlborough.... Harris's emphasis on the role played by friendship is innovative and enlightening, but it must be noted as well that the book will appeal mainly to specialists of the era.... Recommended.

Frances Harris was born and educated in Australia but has lived in London since 1968. She studied at London University between 1968 and 1975, after which she joined the staff of the British Library, as a curator of seventeenth and eighteenth century manuscripts. From 2003 until her retirement in 2010 she was Head of Modern Historical Manuscripts at the British Library. Since her retirement Dr Harris has held two honorary research fellowships at Birkbeck College and at the University of Sheffield.