“Horatia Nelson Ward has a terrible secret. She is the illegitimate daughter of British hero Admiral Lord Nelson, while her mother is the despised Lady Hamilton. And if she claims her heritage to redeem herself, she’ll ruin her children. Her silence is tearing her apart. Concerned loved ones coax her to disclose. But a sixty-year-old promise of silence seems impossible to break.”
Lily Style “Horatia’s Secret”
Welcome to Tea. Toast. and Trivia.
Thank you for listening in.
I am your host, Rebecca Budd, and I am looking forward to sharing this moment with you.
I am excited that Lily Style, writer, historian, and genealogist, and I are connecting the village of South Brent in Devon, Britain and Vancouver, Canada to discuss the remarkable life and legacy of Emma Hamilton, the great love of Admiral Lord Nelson.
Lily is the direct descendant of Admiral Lord Nelson and Emma Hamilton. She explores the past to piece together the real human stories lying behind dry facts. She writes regularly for Nelson-related publications. Horatia’s Secret is her first historical novel.
I invite you to put the kettle on and add to this exciting conversation on Tea Toast & Trivia.
Listeners, thank you for joining Lily and me on Tea Toast & Trivia.
And a special thank you, Lily for sharing your insights, your dedication to discovering the stories that have been hidden in the folds of history. It has been a privilege to connect with you and I look forward to reading Horatia’s Secret.
Listeners, I invite you to connect with Lily on her website, Lily Style, on Amazon, Goodreads, Facebook, and Emma Hamilton Society.
Until next time we meet, dear friends, keep safe and be well.
Tea Toast & Trivia 
18 replies on “Season 4 Episode 16: Lily Style on Horatia’s Secret and Bringing the Past Alive in Stories”
Such fascinating history and personal history, too.
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I am delighted that you listened in, Mandy. A few years ago I read “England’s Mistress: The Infamous Life of Emma Hamilton” by Kate Williams. I was fascinated by Emma Hamilton’s ability to embrace the challenges that came her way with grace and enthusiasm. I wrote a series of posts about Emma Hamilton and one of the questions that I received was: Were there any grandchildren or great grandchildren. I didn’t know. Fast forward abut 3 years and I received a message that indeed there were great grandchildren. And that is how I met David and Lily. I love how serendipity works!!
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Such serendipity indeed.
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Wow! I really enjoyed listening to this amazing story. The end of the interview was very interesting…the emergence of meeting David upon Lily’s move to her ancestral home. I loved ‘My Fair Lady’ and often find myself humming tunes from the play. Learning about Emma and her enchanting personality is fascinating…she is a literal ‘showstopper’. The whole ‘attitudes’ thing is remarkable. Given the times in which Emma lived, it is revolutionary. She was simply awesome!!! Such a great post! I think I may come back and listen in again! 🙂
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This was fantastic. I am as charmed by Lily as I have always been by Emma, her illustrious ancestress.
Lily gave strong considered insights into the role and influence of women in the 18c and how much soft power they actually wielded- when they often could not even inherit property in their own right.
I think she was spot on over how Emma’s lack of social status at birth proved an asset rather than a handicap – noble women had so few people they could freely associate with. Especially in Italy where they were largely sequestered- there is a tale of the Venetian Ambassador being utterly scandalised by the freedoms of English women who could actually leave the house and visit other women or their dressmakers unchaperoned.
Lily wove together a pair of beautiful and touching stories (Emma’s and Lily’s own) in a way that was so utterly enchanting that the time simply flew over.
So thanks Lily and thanks to you too Rebecca for finding and hosting such stimulating conversations.
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Fascinating history and a fascinating personal story woven together! It’s inspiring to hear how, in a long-ago age when it was nearly impossible to cross class and gender divides, Emma Hamilton managed to do so. Great conversation, Rebecca and Lily!
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I am delighted that you enjoyed this conversation, Dave. You would be very interested the life of Lady Hamilton because of her ties to history as well as societal transitions and creative endeavour. We want heroes but we are suspicious of outliers. I am grateful that there is movement to recognize the contribution of Lady Hamilton. By the way, a news update for April 14, 1939 – this is the day that John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath is published. Celebrating!!!
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Thanks for that news update, Rebecca! April 14 is now one of my favorite dates. 🙂
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Thank you very much, Rebecca and Lily, for this fascinating conversation about Emma Hamilton. The genealogical research into such a famous ancestor must have been a great deal of fun!
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I am delighted that you enjoyed this conversation, Liz. I agree – looking back into personal histories is like seeking treasures and finding stories of those who are connected to me via DNA. Quite extraordinary.
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It’s mind-boggling to think of the number of people I must be related to through common ancestors, and I know nothing about them–and I don’t even know they exist!
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Thank you, Lily and Rebecca for this interesting. historical story of past important individuals and their stories. Emma began life in a humble blacksmith’s home in a community whose social norms were socially tight. But Emma changed the course of her life by simply cutting her hair, changing the style of her dress, even leaving behind the tight fitting corset! These physical changes actually changed women’s ways of thinking and dressing, Emma was also very beautiful and intelligent, and as time past became a life-changing influence! She was fortunate to meet people of influence–painters and others who brought her into popularity. But Emma had a freshness about her that endeared her as she became very well know.to the Queen and Nelson. According to Nelson, it was Emma who provided provisions for his fleet, with which he destroyed the enemy. When Nelson came back from the war, very sick and wounded, Emma was there and fell into his arms. In the continuing months, Nelson was influential in government and Emma, of course, was very important in changing much in the passing culture norms. And with time and circumstances she and Nelson were married. This is a very important time in history!
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Thank you so much for your comments, Frances and for adding depth and breadth to this conversation. I agree wholeheartedly that this was a very important time in history. Emma Hamilton was a catalyst for change.
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HI Rebecca and Lily for this fascinating conversation about Lady Hamilton. I didn’t know much about her and this is very interesting and revealing. It is quite amazing that she was able to rise as she did at the time she lived when everything was so structured from a class perspective, and people were such snobs.
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Many thanks for listening in to this conversation, Robbie. Outliers have always fascinated me. If you read Malcolm Gladwell’s book “Outliers” he suggests that opportunity, timing, upbringing, effort, meaningful work and leaving a legacy are elements of becoming an outlier. For example, the 10,000 Hour Rule which is backed by science, suggests that elite performers had each totaled at least 10,000 hours of practice. But I can’t help thinking that there is more to this combination. It is seeing the world through a different lens, of embracing the events that come into our life, having an passion for something, and shunning mediocrity. And then there is serendipity…
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Thank you for sharing this very important time in history and for all your and Don’s research.
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Many thanks, Frances!
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So glad I listened to this!
Absolutely nothing less than absolutely fascinating.
Lily, you are a gem. I adore history, and feel like I am a bit more attached to it.
How wonderful you met David.
The book sounds like it’s going on my ever growing pile.
Rebecca, thank you for bringing Lily to your podcast. This is the best, yet!
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