In which Dido Belle followed me through London

Last year, I visited Kenwood House, a 17th century stately home next to Hampstead Heath, which was expanded in the 18th century when it became the home of Lord Mansfield, the Lord Chief Justice, and is now open to the public (you might also recognize it as a filming location from Notting Hill).

Kenwood House

He and his wife were “childless but from about 1766 they agreed to accommodate their niece, Anne Murray, and two great-nieces, Elizabeth Murray and Dido Elizabeth Belle. Dido was the illegitimate daughter of a formerly enslaved young black woman named Maria Bell and Mansfield's nephew Sir John Lindsay. It was extremely unusual at this time for a mixed-race child to be raised not as a servant, but as part of an aristocratic British family.” I was fascinated by the portrait of the cousins, hung in 2007 and previously attributed to a German painter, Johan Zoffany, but now believed to be the work of Scottish painter David Martin (the actual painting is in Scone Palace in Scotland). The docent told me that Dido (1761-1804) was a beloved member of the family, as demonstrated by her position of equality with her white cousin in the painting.

Portrait of Dido Elizabeth Belle Lindsay and Lady Elizabeth Murray

Five days later, I visited the Museum of London Docklands, which had a major exhibition on the slave trade and Britain and, to my surprise, I saw a reproduction of that same portrait of Dido Belle and her cousin. I was intrigued that this label states that while she was raised by the Earl of Mansfield, she “was never treated as an equal member of the family.” Interesting difference of opinion! Contemporary accounts describe Dido as helping her uncle with his correspondence so she was definitely educated and valued to some extent. He also left her a small annuity, although significantly less than her cousin, who did not need it as she married well.

Docklands Museum

Then, when I visited the British Library four days later, what did I find in the gift shop but a children’s book that imagines the adventures of Dido Belle and Elizabeth Sancho, daughter of Ignatius Sancho (1729-80). He was born into slavery but brought up in England, where he became a prominent abolitionist, writer, and musician. Little is known of his daughters but he was painted by Gainsborough in 1768 and, eventually a property owner, he is remembered as the first person of African descent to vote in a British general election. Dido Belle appeared to be everywhere and I shared my amazement with the cashier in the gift shop, who turned out to have visited Kenwood House the same day I did!  I suppose it was not as much of a coincidence as it seemed: museums are trying to incorporate historical figures of color to their exhibits and they have to make the most of those whose stories were captured.  Moreover, Dido Belle has a very interesting story!

Title: The Lizzie and Belle Mysteries: Drama and Danger
Author: J.T. Williams
Illustrator: Simone Douglas
Publication: Farshore/HarperCollins, paperback, 2022
Genre: Juvenile Historical Mystery
Setting: 18th century London

Ignatius Sancho, a noted Londoner, is about to play Othello in Drury Lane – never before has a black man played this iconic black part on the stage – and his proud family is at the theatre to see history made. Then, in the second scene, a grand chandelier falls onto the stage, injuring Sancho and dramatically ending the show. His daughter Lizzie and Dido Belle, niece of Lord Mansfield, saw a mysterious figure on the balcony and decide to investigate whether someone was trying to hurt Sancho and why. Can two black 12-year-old girls discover together what the famous director David Garrick cannot? And can they prevent another attempt on Sancho’s life when the production resumes?

The book is beautifully designed and illustrated, and I could not resist purchasing it, although I have no niece the right age or inclination for juvenile historical fiction. It is a pleasant read that provides an authentic flavor of 18th century life but would be improved by an editor ruthlessly removing anachronistic phrases and historical inaccuracies. I recognize that two girls inspired by actual historical figures who trying to solve a mystery must travel freely throughout London for the story to work but as one wears boy’s clothes (which would attracted a lot of unwanted attention) and the other is the much-discussed great-niece of the Lord Chief Justice, so I think creating a plausible explanation for their behavior and peregrinations would have made the story stronger. An author can explain anything away but please do not give the reader reason to doubt your narrative.  So - it could have been a lot better and more historically accurate but I think most ten-year-olds would enjoy it.  I do applaud Williams and the publisher for launching an entertaining mystery series inspired by real black British figures and hope it finds its audience.

This is the ninth of my 20 Books of Summer and I also read it for the Historical Fiction Read Challenge and for Carol’s Cloak and Dagger Reading Challenge.  It is also for my brother who asked why I always write about books.

Source: Personal copy

Kenwood House photo credit: https://www.epicenglandtravel.com/kenwood-house/