'This book is a very good read … The author has painted a fascinating picture of this gallery of individuals, whose lives were so different in outcomes and yet had similarities.' Janette Rutterford, The Economic History Review
List of figures; Acknowledgments; List of abbreviations; Family trees; Introduction; Part I. Money: 1. 'The Great Man of Buckinghamshire' The Lord Mayor, the Benefactor, and the moneylender: the Bennets; 2. 'My personal estate which God of his infinite goodness hath lent me' the grocer's apprentice: the Morewoods; Part II. Marriage: 3. 'The £30,000 widow' and Kensington House: the Finches, the Cliftons, and the Conways; 4. 'I was never one of fortune's darlings' city and country: the Gresleys; 5. 'One of the greatest fortunes in England' money, marriage and mobility: the Bennet heiresses; Part III. Murder: 6. “The most sordid person that ever lived' the murder of Grace Bennet; Part IV. Metropolis: 7. 'The Countess of Salisbury who loved travelling' from Hatfield House to the Grand Tour: the Earl and Countess of Salisbury; 8. 'A seventh son and beau major shall gain my Lady Salisbury' courting the Countess: George Jocelyn; 9. 'Diverse great troubles and misfortunes' losing a fortune: John and Grace Bennet; 10. 'Fortune's darlings' single women in Hanoverian London: the Dowager Countess of Salisbury and Grace Bennet; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index.