Lady John Russell [1815-1898] was born in Minto, Roxburghshire the second daughter of parents who were an earl and countess. Her family moved to Berlin when she was a teenager then to London where her father was First Lord of the Admiralty. She married Lord John Russell who had stepchildren and children of his own, they had more kids between them, and therefore had an ours, yours, and theirs passel of kids. Lord John was Prime Minister twice. One of the couple's grandsons was Bertrand Russell, who credited his grandmother as a major influence in his life. This memoir is written jointly by MacCarthy (a historian, not a family member) and Lady Russell's daughter Agatha.  With selections from her diaries and correspondence. Covers period from 1815-1898.  Lady Russell is described as a great reader, and Jane Austen is listed among her favorites. One of her letters shows during an illness in 1897 she had a Jane Austen novel read to her (that she had read many times before), followed by George Eliot, and Jane Austen definitely comes out the better in her description. Bookplates of previous owners. Corner bump, no jacket. Illustrated. 3rd ed. 1926. 325 pgs. USED. $40.00