Main entry:

Constantine, David, 1944-

Title & Author:

Fields of fire : a life of Sir William Hamilton / David Constantine.

Publication:

London : Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2001.

Description:

xxvii, 324 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations ; 24 cm

Notes:
Includes bibliographical references (pages 305-309) and index.
Life before Naples, 1730-64 -- Naples -- Vases and the volcano -- The king -- Amusements and successes, 1768-73 -- 'Going thru' life tollerably', 1773-80 -- Mixed events, 1780-August 1783 -- The widower on leave, August 1783-November 1784 -- The transaction of Emma, 1784-6 -- Private passions in political times, 1787-91 -- Doing the state some service, 1792-8 -- Wreck and disgrace, 1798-1800 -- 'I will bear up as long & as well as I can.' November 1800-April 1803.

Summary:

This volume presents the biography of Scottish diplomat, antiquarian, archaeologist and vulcanologist, Sir William Hamilton (1730-1803). He was foster brother to George III, ambassador to King Ferdinand of the Two Sicilies, and lived most of his life under Mt. Vesuvius, immersing himself in studying volcanoes and the region's art history - vases in particular. For 35 years he reported the volcano's moods to the Royal Society. Since Naples was a diplomatic backwater, he had time to publish extensively. He risked his life for his passion, venturing near eruptions and escaping across lava with smoking soles.

Resources:
Contributor biographical information
Publisher description

ISBN:

0297818880
9780297818885

Subject:

Hamilton, William, Sir, 1730-1803.
Hamilton, Emma, Lady, 1765-1815 Marriage.
Hamilton, Emma, Lady, 1765-1815
Hamilton, William (Diplomat)
British Italy Naples History 18th century.
Vases, Ancient Collectors and collecting.
Ambassadors Great Britain Biography.
Ambassadors Italy Biography.
Britanniques Italie Naples Histoire 18e siècle.
Vases antiques Collectionneurs et collections.
Ambassadeurs Grande-Bretagne Biographies.
Ambassadeurs Italie Biographies.
Ambassadors
British
Diplomatic relations
Marriage
Persoonlijke levenssfeer.
Great Britain Foreign relations Italy Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.
Kingdom of the Two Sicilies Foreign relations Great Britain.
Naples (Italy) Biography.
Vesuvius (Italy)
Grande-Bretagne Relations extérieures Italie Royaume des Deux-Siciles.
Vésuve (Italie)
Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
Great Britain
Italy
Italy Naples
Italy Vesuvius

Form/genre:

Biographies.
History

Holdings:

Location: Library main 222845
Call No.: DA483.H32 C6 2001
Status: Available