Daphne du Maurier's novel Mary Anne is a fictionalised account of the life story of her great great grandmother, Mary Anne Clarke née Thompson (1776-1852). It is a vivid portrait of overweening ambition, set during the Napoleonic Wars. From 1803 to 1808, Mary Anne Clarke was the mistress of Frederick Augustus, the Duke of York, a son of King George III and brother of the later King George IV. However Mary Anne's taste for luxury and power led her to use her lofty connections in a thriving trade in military commissions, causing a political scandal and personal disgrace. “Likely to rank as the author's best book.” - Saturday Review “This novel catches fire.” - New York Times Daphne du Maurier (1907 – 1989) was a successful English author; her novels include Rebecca, Frenchman's Creek, My Cousin Rachel, and Jamaica Inn. Published by The Companion Book Club in 1952. The dust jacket is torn.  Dampness on end papers, long since dried. Pages and binding are presentable with no major defects.