Abigail Masham

I've just read 'The Early Churchills' and 'The Queen's Favourites' (a historical novel by Jean Plaidy.) What do people think of Abigail Masham's character?
Plaidy treated her sympathetically but I can't help thinking that she was very sly, ambitious and ungrateful to replace Sarah Churchill in Queen Anne's affections.

It is all too easy to see and relate to the story of Sarah and Abigail!

Personally I think Sarah became such a insufferable termagant that she was ultimately responsible for her own fall from grace! Abigail was merely in the right place at the right time and had been courted by the Tories who finally regained the reigns of power as Sarah and the Whigs collapsed! Sarah's behaviour toward the Queen was unbelievably disrespectful towards the end. The constant attacks on Marlborough in Parliament and at Court inflamed Sarah's wrath, but ultimately she did nothing to temper her ire and became utterly unbearable! Considering she was actually a rather intelligent woman, Sarah seems to have lost all semblance of politick and craft towards the end.

I think Abigail deserved her own good fortune....as the adage goes "All good things come to those who wait.' She accepted her cousin's help, but boy, did Sarah appear to expect loyalty and prove herself a heavy task master! Considering just how monstrously Sarah behaved it is hardly surprising that Abigail distanced herself and grabbed every morsel of good fortune she could!
 

Do you think that Abigail really liked the Queen? She seems to me to have been rather cunning and ambitious.

I agree with you about Sarah to a large extent! Apparently she even sued everyone who worked on Blenheim Palace! It was said that Churchill only put up with her because he was away so much.

Interesting....Historylover...I really do need to think about Abigail's feelings toward the Queen! I mean it is easy to say that no matter how mercenary one could have been, one must have felt sorry for Anne over the way Sarah behaved! I mean Anne was astonishingly tolerant and I am sure she was deeply wounded by some of Sarah's more vicious tantrums!

I agree with you about Marlborough...had he not been away on campaign heaven only knows what he may have resorted to at 'home'. I know it is terribly irrational but I really do dislike Sarah!

I really do need to dwell a little on Abigail and I shall get back to you!

You should watch the First Churchills (it is on Netflix), it really shows the rise of Abigail and the fall of Sarah very well.  I highly recomend the series to anybody interested in
Charles II/James II/William III/Mary II/Anne along with Sarah and Abigail. 

-Duke of NJ

I'd love to watch it.  I'll probably have to buy it because we have a very limited choice of DVD's in Australia.  Is it worth buying?