So, a good reason to pick up this book is that you have seen the exquisitely crafted 2014 movie "Belle." If you haven't, do. Anyway, the movie is based on the true story of a mixed race girl being acknowledged and brought up by the aristocratic white half of her family. In 18TH CENTURY BRITAIN. Kind of a big deal.

Unfortunately, all we factually know of her today comes from a lovely and intriguing painting, a few legal documents, the household account books, and the diary of one acquaintance. The story is there, but the gaps are tantalizing.

That's why this book has to focus more on her uncle/guardian, Lord Mansfield, the Lord Chief Justice of England. He was called on several times in his professional career to rule on slaves' rights...a touchy subject, given that the economy of the British empire was growing ever more dependent on its slaves. While he couldn't legislate new laws, he could interpret what already existed as humanely as possible. His rulings paved the way for the abolition of the slave trade. This stand becomes more meaningful knowing that he had a mixed race niece at home.

There are enough source documents to confirm that Dido Belle did have a privileged standing in her white family. She wasn't just a glorified servant. She was a daughter of the house. She was accustomed to spend time with them. She was educated enough to have beautiful and clear handwriting (a couple samples actually exist!). Lord Mansfield kept adding codicils to his will, leaving her money, then worrying that it wasn't enough and leaving her more money. An older cousin also left her a legacy, as a "mark of regard."

What I like about this story, both as a movie and real-life history, is what it illustrates about people. In that time and place, no white person was obligated to care for an illegitimate "mulatto." There were no repercussions: the rules gave you every right to close your eyes. But the Mansfields made their own decision to be decent.

I think that's awesome. ( )

There's not a lot of "history" here - that is, not a lot of actual documentation in the story of "Dido Elizabeth Belle." But Paula Byrne has done a good job with what little there is.

Really though, there's a lot more here about William, Lord Mansfield, the Chief Justice. But, to be honest, it is a lot easier these days to market films and books which foreground attractive young women. ( )

This is an interesting and well written book but it is definitely not "the true story of Dido Belle" because hardly anything is actually known about her. The admirable 2013 film about her is a work of almost total fiction. ( )

This is not quite what the title claims since there isn't actually very much about Dido Belle herself in it - not much is known about her - but it is an interesting look at the world in which she lived, and at attitudes to slavery and race in England at the time (and how these were slowly beginning to change a little). It was definitely an interesting read. If you want to know the true story behind the film (which took rather a lot of liberties even with what is known) then it is worth a read. ( )

Interesting, an insight in the abolition of slavery movement.