Wow! eBook
Lord of the Isle: The Extravagant Life and Times of Colin Tennant First Edition
Author(s): Nicholas Courtney (Author)
- Publisher: Bene Factum Publishing Ltd
- Publication Date: 30 Oct. 2012
- Edition: First Edition
- Language: English
- Print length: 320 pages
- ISBN-10: 190307164X
- ISBN-13: 9781903071649
Book Description
Colin Tennant was born to an immensely rich Victorian industrial family, he used his wealth to live an eccentric lifestyle of self-indulgence from the 1940s to his death in 2010. He bought the private island of Mustique in the W Indies and made it one of the world’s most exclusive destinations for the famous – royalty, film and pop stars, international businessmen and the jet-set flocked there. His parties were legend. Colin Tennant was an original member of the Princess Margaret set (even suggested as a possible husband) and her visits to the island were always newsworthy. This is the inside story of a remarkable and often tragic life which continues to cause ripples even after his death – not least because, to his family’s surprise, he left his estate to his manservant. The author personally knew his subject for forty years and is his literary executor so has had access to unseen family papers and photographs.
Editorial Reviews
Review
‘How to Blow GBP100 million: Nicholas Courtney has written a warts and all biography. One assumes Colin would have approved of that. He knew hew was neurotic, mercurial and impossible.’ –London Evening Standard
‘A lovely escapist read…a strange and probably unique story of impeccable taste and profligate spending…all told with a gentle Wodehousian affection.’ –Robin Hanbury-Tenson, Country Life
[Colin Tennant’s] story is well told in Nicholas Courtney’s biography, Lord of the Isle essential sun-lounger reading for anyone travelling [to the Caribbean]. –Nigel Tisdall, howtospendit.ft.com
About the Author
Nicholas Courtney is an author, broadcaster and lecturer. A qualified land agent, Colin Tennant appointed him as general manager of the Island of Mustique during the pioneer years (the early 1970s), and he was to stay for four years. Thereafter, they remained close friends. Over the next four decades Nicholas attended all Colin’s glamorous parties in London, the Caribbean and Scotland and accompanied him on many expeditions to India, Africa and the West Indies. He was ghosting Colin’s autobiography when he died and, as his literary executor, he has had unparalleled access to thousands of unseen family papers and photographs for this biography, as well as the help of the family and many friends. On leaving Mustique, Nicholas turned to writing non-fiction and amongst his many works are the award-winning, Gale Force 10, a biography of Admiral Beaufort, The Queen’s Stamps, Uncle Cox, and Swinley Special. He lives in London and Cornwall with his wife, Vanessa. He is currently a PhD student at the University of the West Indies, Barbados.
