[Deathwatch] Elizabeth Longford, historian, 96

[Deathwatch Central <cdw@slick.org>]

Historian Elizabeth Longford Dies
Wed Oct 23, 1:15 PM ET

By BARRY RENFREW, Associated Press Writer

LONDON - The Countess of Longford, a leading historian who wrote
biographies of Queen Victoria and the Duke of Wellington, and raised a
family of prominent writers and thinkers, died Wednesday, her family
said. She was 96.

Lady Antonia Fraser, the novelist and biographer, said her mother died
of old age at home in southern England. "She died peacefully in her
sleep, like a Sleeping Beauty," Lady Antonia said.

"She was a well respected lady and a tremendous person."

The wife of prominent politician and intellectual, Lord Longford, the
countess was prominent in many different spheres, especially political
and intellectual circles. However, her close connections with the
aristocracy gave her unrivaled access to royal archives for her work.

As well as being a successful historian and biographer, the countess
was an educator and political activist. After working as a teacher in
the 1930s, she was an activist for the Labor Party for some 70 years.
She ran for Parliament three times, but failed to win a seat.

Longford turned to writing in the 1950s, initially focusing on
parenting. She began to write about English history, making her name as
a biographer, especially of royal subjects.

Her books, published under the name Elizabeth Longford, were praised
for combining sound scholarship with a lively writing style that made
them accessible to all.

The biographies of Queen Victoria and the Duke of Wellington were
considered among the best portraits ever written of these two major
figures in British history. Her connections to the British royal family
gave Longford unprecedented access to royal archives for the biography
of Victoria, which was hailed by some reviewers as a magisterial work.

Longford also wrote books on the poet Lord Byron, the British royal
family and the future of the monarchy.

Born in 1906 as Elizabeth Harman, she met and married Frank Pakenham, a
professor, writer and political activist in 1931 at Oxford University.
He also was the Earl of Longford, held various government positions and
became a noted campaigner for penal reform.

Lady Antonia said her parents met at a ball, where she asked him for a
kiss. "My father said he dare not, but despite that early obstacle they
went to have a wonderful marriage and life."

Born and brought up a Protestant aristocrat and a conservative, the
earl ended up as a socialist, a Roman Catholic, and an Irish
Nationalist. Lord Longford died last year at the age of 95.

The couple had four daughters — one of whom, Catherine, died in a car
crash aged 23 — and four sons, and more than 50 grandchildren and great
grandchildren.

The children include the novelist Rachel Billington and the historian
Thomas Pakenham.