The Dead Duke, His Secret Wife, and the Missing Corpse by Piu Marie Eatwell

And there is a conclusion of sorts, tho the reader is allowed to make up his/her own mind. Due to the Dukes odd habits, his tendency to be a hermit, and a similarity in looks, it seemed to be a legitimate possibility! Let me say this.years go by as the legal system debates over digging up a grave. At the turn of the century Anna Druce made the claim in court that her father-in-law was not merely a businessman.he was in actuality the 5th Duke of Portland who played a dual role.

Tho i tend to believe it's an issue that should be dead and buried, no pun intended. Tho all are entitled to their opinions, some comments make me wonder about where some brain cells went! Piu Eatwell has written an intriguing, in-depth, amazingly well-researched book on a topic whose mystery continues to this day. Read moreĬontrary to anything negative said about this book, there are NOT too many characters and it is NOT confusing in the least bit. This book is an absolute gem, a must-read for any who loves the quirks of British history, eccentric aristocrats, secret romances, strange doings in old graveyards and complex legal cases.

Fascinating story that will grip the reader to the last page, hard to believe it is not fiction and it really did happen, just begging to be turned into a movie IMHO. Finally in 1910, the grave was opened with much ceremony to settle the case once and for all, and it was discovered that.well I won't spoil the surprise. The case dragged on for 10 years and grew murkier and murkier, as it turned out that Druce had had a secret earlier marriage, and that potentially the children of that marriage were actually the heirs of the Portland dukedom. In 1890s London, a woman caused a sensation by petitioning to have the grave of her father in law, TW Druce, a well-known store-owner, opened so she could confirm he was actually the reclusive 5th Duke of Portland, who she claimed had been living a double life. Quite an amazing story you've probably never heard of before.

The Dead Duke, His Secret Wife, and the Missing Corpse by Piu Marie Eatwell