This biography investigates the transformation of Edwina Mountbatten from a socialite of immense wealth into a dedicated humanitarian figure during the turbulence of the mid-twentieth century. Janet Morgan utilizes extensive access to private journals and personal correspondence to reconstruct the life of a woman often defined by her marriage to Lord Louis Mountbatten. The narrative examines the tension between her public reputation for opulence and her private commitment to relief work, providing a detailed account of her contributions to the Red Cross during World War II.

This work is regarded as a comprehensive and well-researched biographical study that successfully moves beyond the superficial tabloid reputation of its subject. The inclusion of personal papers provides a level of depth that makes it a standard reference for those interested in the lives of twentieth-century British public figures.