After the Breakup: Asquith, Venetia, and the Montagus
After the 'death-blow' of Venetia's engagement in May 1915, Asquith was initially heartbroken and disgusted by her conversion to Judaism, transferring his obsessive correspondence to her sister, Sylvia Henley,. However, the relationship softened over time into a friendship; Asquith visited the Montagus occasionally, including a final, poignant visit to Venetia at her home in Norfolk in November 1927, just months before his death,. Despite the political rift caused by Edwin Montagu joining Lloyd George's government in 1916, Asquith remained personally magnanimous to the couple, even as his family reviled them,.
After the breakup: Asquith's Darkest Days
The emotional fallout of Venetia ending her correspondence with Asquith, coinciding with political turmoil and personal loss.
Chapter Timeline
Key events in chronological order
Asquith receives Venetia's letter announcing her engagement; he replies that it 'breaks my heart'.
Venetia leaves for Wimereux to nurse, partly to escape the emotional pressure from Asquith and Montagu.
Asquith visits Venetia at Boulogne; she tries to assure him their friendship can continue, but he writes back that he is 'heart-broken' and must stand aloof for a time,.
Venetia marries Edwin Montagu; Asquith does not attend but sends silver boxes as a gift,.
Asquith falls from power; Montagu eventually joins the Lloyd George administration, causing a deep rift with the Asquith family,.
Asquith pays his last visit to Venetia at Breccies, writing that he 'enjoyed every minute of my little visit'.
Character Perspectives(How each character saw that)
H.H. Asquith
He felt 'sore and humiliated' by the engagement and found Venetia's conversion to Judaism 'repugnant' and 'repulsive,' yet he retained a lingering affection, eventually resuming social contact though the 'divine confidence' was gone forever,,.
Venetia Montagu
She wished to marry Montagu without losing Asquith's friendship, telling Asquith she would not live 'religiously or spiritually a different life,' but she eventually drifted into a 'futile' social life that Asquith disapproved of,,.
Edwin Montagu
He remained devoted to Asquith personally, but politically he believed Asquith's government was doomed and joined Lloyd George to save the war effort, an act Asquith's family saw as treachery,.
Margot Asquith
Initially relieved that Venetia was marrying (hoping it would end Asquith's obsession), she later became furious when Montagu joined Lloyd George, viewing it as an act of 'political suicide' and desertion,.
Violet Asquith
She reacted with 'idiotic indignation' to the marriage and conversion, feeling Venetia had abandoned her father, and later cut off friendship with Venetia over Montagu's political choices,,.
Sylvia Henley
Venetia's sister became Asquith's 'sheet-anchor' and primary correspondent immediately after the breakup, receiving his confidences about how 'unnatural' Venetia's behavior was,.
Fun Fact
When Asquith visited Venetia in 1923 or 1924 and met her daughter Judith, he reportedly had tears on his cheeks and said 'This then is the child,' though society gossip strongly suggested the child was actually fathered by Lord Eric Dudley, a former lover of Venetia's, rather than her husband Edwin,.
Sources
- • Asquith Letters Full
- • Margot Asquith's Great War Diary
- • The Asquiths Book
- • Venetia & Edwin Letters
- • Cynthia Diaries
- • Naomi Levine