The Lord Cornbury Scandal: The Politics of Reputation in British America (Published for the Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture, Williamsburg, Virginia) - Hardcover

Bonomi, Patricia U.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0807824135 ISBN 13: 9780807824139

Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press, 1998

Synopsis

For more than two centuries, Edward Hyde, Viscount Cornbury--royal governor of New York and New Jersey from 1702 to 1708--has been a despised figure, whose alleged transgressions ranged from raiding the public treasury to scandalizing his subjects by parading through the streets of New York City dressed as a woman. Now, Patricia Bonomi offers a challenging reassessment of Cornbury. She explores his life and experiences to illuminate such topics as imperial political culture; gossip, Grub Street, and the climate of slander; early modern sexual culture; and constitutional perceptions in an era of reform. In a tour de force of scholarly detective work, Bonomi also reappraises the most "conclusive" piece of evidence used to indict Cornbury--a celebrated portrait, said to represent the governor in female dress, that hangs today in the New-York Historical Society. Stripping away the many layers of "the Cornbury myth," this innovative work brings to life a fascinating man and reveals the conflicting emotions and loyalties that shaped the politics of the First British Empire. "A tour de force of historical detection.--Tim Hilchey, New York Times Book Review "Bonomi's book is more than an exoneration of Cornbury. It is a case study of what she aptly calls the politics of reputation." --Edmund S. Morgan, New York Review of Books "A fascinating, authoritative glimpse into the seamy underside of imperial politics in the late Stuart era.--Timothy D. Hall, Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography "An intriguing detective story that....casts light upon the operation of political power in the past and the nature of history writing in the present.--Alan Taylor, New Republic For more than two centuries, Edward Hyde, Viscount Cornbury--royal governor of New York and New Jersey from 1702 to 1708--has been a despised figure whose alleged transgressions ranged from looting the colonial treasury to public cross dressing in New York City. Stripping away the many layers of "the Cornbury myth," Patricia Bonomi offers a challenging reassessment of this fascinating figure and of the rough and tumble political culture of the First British Empire--with its muckraking press, salacious gossip, and conflicting imperial loyalties.

About this title

Review:

A tour de force of historical detection.

"New York Times Book Review"

Historical detective writing at its best.

"The Journal of American History"

"A model of historical investigation.

Edmund S. Morgan, "New York Review of Books""

An intriguing detective story that exposes the weaknesses in the case against Lord Cornbury.

"New Republic"

Professor Bonomi is to be congratulated on a fine piece of historical revisionism.

"Times Literary Supplement"

A model of historical investigation.

Edmund S. Morgan, "New York Review of Books"

About the Author:

Patricia U. Bonomi is professor emerita of history at New York University. Her books include Under the Cope of Heaven: Religion, Society, and Politics in Colonial America and A Factious People: Politics and Society in Colonial New York.

About this edition

• Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0807824135
• ISBN 13: 9780807824139
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 304