The Walpoles of old had been middling country gentry-ancient name, quiet prosperity-before Robert had come along and, through a blend of shrewdness and charisma, wolf-halled his family into riches and the nobility. For her part Catherine had her own dalliances. This often kept him away from home, as did a long-time mistress who acted, more than his wife did, as his hostess and companion. His father, Sir Robert Walpole, was the King’s prime minister. Naturally, his mother, Catherine, spoiled him. Two siblings before him had died in infancy, and so in the family order it went: three older children, loud, healthy and opinionated two grave markers and then young Horace toddling up behind-half child, half potential grave marker. Born in England in 1717, the last of his mother’s six children, he was fragile and prone to illness from birth. epub (iBooks)Īs a child, Horace Walpole frequently heard it said of himself that surely he would die soon. Carrie Frye | Longreads | December 2014 | 16 minutes (4,064 words)ĭownload.
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