The Baroness

A Rothschild by birth and a Baroness by marriage, beautiful, spirited Pannonica - known as Nica - seemed to have it all: children, a handsome husband and a trust fund. But in the early 1950s she heard a piece by the jazz legend Thelonious Monk. The music overtook her like a magic spell, and she abandoned her marriage to go and find him.

Arriving in New York, Nica was shunned by society but accepted by the musicians. They gave her friendship; she gave them material and emotional support. Her convertible Bentley was a familiar sight outside the clubs and she drank whisky from a hip flask disguised as a Bible. Her notoriety was sealed when drug-addicted saxophonist Charlie Parker died in her apartment. But her real love was reserved for Monk, whom she cared for until his death in 1982.

THE BARONESS traces Nica's extraordinary, thrilling journey - from England's stately homes to the battlefields of Africa, passing under the shadow of the Holocaust, and finally to the creative ferment of the New York jazz scene. Hannah Rothschild's search to solve the mystery of her rebellious great aunt draws on their long friendship and years of meticulous research and interviews. It is part musical odyssey, part dazzling love story.

“Wholly gripping”

Riveting, touching and insightful - Daily Telegraph

An extraordinary achievement - perfectly structured, astonishingly objective, wise, perceptive and beautifully written - Antony Beevor

- Guardian - Rachel Cooke

Eloquently-written labour of love - Daily Mail

Nimble writing and brilliant story - Independent

It's a gripping yarn that more than proves that life is stranger than fiction' - Literary Review

Hannah Rothschild is a freelance director and writer. Her feature documentaries, including the Jazz Baroness, have been shown on the BBC and HBO. She has written newspapers and magazines including Vanity Fair, Vogue, The Independent, the Spectator, Bazaar and House and Gardens. Vice President of the Hay Literary Festival, Trustee of the National Gallery and Waddesdon Manor, this is Hannah Rothschild's first biography.

'An extraordinary achievement - perfectly structured, astonishingly objective, wise, perceptive and beautifully written' Antony Beevor Beautiful, spirited Pannonica - known as Nica - was born in 1913 to eccentric privilege. Her family had, in only five generations, risen from Jews Lane in Frankfurt to great wealth in England. By the end of the Second World War, Nica seemed to have it all: wealth, children and a handsome husband. But in the early 1950s she heard Thelonious Monk playing ''Round Midnight' and the music overtook her: she abandoned her marriage to follow him to New York. Finding friendship among the musicians, her real love was reserved for Monk, whom she cared for until his death. 'Wholly gripping' Rachel Cooke, Guardian 'Eloquently written labour of love' Daily Mail 'Nimble writing and brilliant story' Independent 'It's a gripping yarn that more than proves that life is stranger than fiction' Literary Review

A Rothschild by birth and a Baroness by marriage, beautiful, spirited Pannonica - known as Nica - seemed to have it all: children, a handsome husband and a trust fund. But in the early 1950s she heard a piece by the jazz legend Thelonious Monk. The music overtook her like a magic spell, and she abandoned her marriage to go and find him.Arriving in New York, Nica was shunned by society but accepted by the musicians. They gave her friendship; she gave them material and emotional support. Her convertible Bentley was a familiar sight outside the clubs and she drank whisky from a hip flask disguised as a Bible. Her notoriety was sealed when drug-addicted saxophonist Charlie Parker died in her apartment. But her real love was reserved for Monk, whom she cared for until his death in 1982.THE BARONESS traces Nica's extraordinary, thrilling journey - from England's stately homes to the battlefields of Africa, passing under the shadow of the Holocaust, and finally to the creative ferment of the New York jazz scene. Hannah Rothschild's search to solve the mystery of her rebellious great aunt draws on their long friendship and years of meticulous research and interviews. It is part musical odyssey, part dazzling love story.

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