Mrs. Jordan's Profession

Mrs. Jordan's Profession chronicles the life of Dora Jordan, one of the most celebrated comic actresses of 18th century Britain. As a single mother who became mistress to a future king, Jordan navigated both theatrical stardom and high society while supporting her large family through her work on stage. The biography traces Jordan's rise from an Irish theatrical family to her position as leading lady at London's Drury Lane Theatre. Her two-decade relationship with the Duke of Clarence (later King William IV) and their ten children together formed a central part of her story, even as she continued performing. Claire Tomalin reconstructs Jordan's world through extensive research of letters, legal documents, theatrical records and contemporary accounts. The narrative follows both Jordan's public career and private struggles as she balanced family obligations with professional demands. This work illuminates questions of gender, class, and power in Georgian England through the life of a woman who defied conventional boundaries. Jordan's story reveals the complex social position of actresses and royal mistresses in a time of changing attitudes toward women in public life.

Readers appreciate Tomalin's detailed research and engaging portrayal of Dorothea Jordan's complex life in Georgian theater and her relationship with the Duke of Clarence. Many note the book brings deserved attention to a forgotten historical figure and illuminates the period's social dynamics, particularly for women performers. Several readers highlight the clarity of financial details and theatrical history. A Goodreads reviewer noted: "The banking and money aspects were explained so even I could understand them." Common criticisms include dense passages about theater management and occasional confusion over the large cast of characters. Some readers wanted more analysis of Jordan's acting technique and performances. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (246 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (31 ratings) Amazon reviewers specifically praise the book's handling of Jordan's later years and exile, though some find these sections emotionally difficult. Multiple readers point out that while thoroughly researched, the narrative remains accessible to non-academics.

Lady Hamilton and Lord Nelson by Kate Williams The story of Emma Hamilton's rise from poverty to fame as an artist's model and her later relationship with Nelson parallels Mrs. Jordan's theatrical career and royal connection.

Perdita: The Literary, Theatrical, Scandalous Life of Mary Robinson by Paula Byrne This biography chronicles another 18th-century actress who became mistress to a royal, the Prince of Wales, while navigating the London stage and social scene.

The First Actresses by Elizabeth Howe The book examines the lives of pioneering women who entered the male-dominated theater world of Restoration England, including many who, like Mrs. Jordan, balanced stage careers with complex personal lives.

Nell Gwyn by Charles Beauclerk This account of Charles II's famous mistress traces her path from orange-seller to actress to royal companion, illuminating the same theatrical and royal worlds that Mrs. Jordan inhabited a century later.

The First Actresses: Nell Gwyn to Sarah Siddons by Gill Perry The text explores the social history of female performers in 18th-century Britain, examining their public images and private lives in the same period as Mrs. Jordan's career.

🎭 Dorothy Jordan, despite being one of the most famous comic actresses of her time, performed Shakespeare brilliantly and was particularly praised for her portrayal of Ophelia in "Hamlet." 👑 While living with the Duke of Clarence (later King William IV) for 20 years and bearing him 10 children, Mrs. Jordan earned more money than he did, supporting both their household and her children from a previous relationship. 📚 Author Claire Tomalin discovered previously unknown letters between Mrs. Jordan and the Duke while researching this biography, shedding new light on their relationship and her final years. 💰 At the height of her career in the 1790s, Mrs. Jordan earned the equivalent of £1 million annually in today's money, making her one of the highest-paid performers of her era. 🎪 Despite her fame and fortune during her lifetime, Mrs. Jordan died alone and in poverty in France in 1816, using an assumed name to avoid creditors.