The Bolter: The Story of Idina Sackville, Who Ran Away to Become the Chief Seductress of Kenya's Scandalous "Happy Valley Set"

The 1920s and 1930s were an age of bolters—women who broke the rules and fled their marriages—and Idina Sackville was the most celebrated of them all. Her relentless affairs, wild sex parties, and brazen flouting of convention shocked high society and inspired countless writers and artists, from Nancy Mitford to Greta Garbo. But Idina's compelling charm masked the pain of betrayal and heartbreak.

Using letters, diaries, and family legend, Frances Osborne explores the life of Idina, her enigm...