Letters of a Diplomat's Wife, 1883-1900

"Letters of a Diplomat's Wife, 1883-1900" by Mary King Waddington shares a series of intimate letters penned in the late 1800s, offering a window into the life of a diplomat's wife. As the wife of the French Ambassador to England, Waddington's letters paint a vivid picture of her experiences rubbing elbows with important people and witnessing big events, such as the Czar's coronation in Russia. The beginning of the book introduces Waddington and her role as a diplomat's wife, as her husband takes on the job of Ambassador. She thinks about their life in Paris before heading to Moscow for the Czar's coronation. Her letters reveal excitement mixed with worry about her upcoming diplomatic duties, like being nervous about traveling to Russia amid concerns over political unrest. She also notes social interactions and cultural experiences that she comes across. The introduction sets the stage for Waddington's detailed telling of her life, which is shared throughout the book.