Frances Osborne recently discovered that her great-grandmother, Idina Sackville, may have been the inspiration behind Taylor Swift’s song “The Bolter” from her 11th album, The Tortured Poets Department. Sackville, who earned the nickname “The Bolter” due to her multiple marriages and scandalous love life, was a woman ahead of her time who faced criticism for her independent behavior and romantic choices.
Sackville’s tumultuous love life, including five marriages and scandalous affairs, was a major focus of her public image. Despite the fact that both she and her husband were unfaithful to each other during their marriages, Sackville bore the brunt of the criticism due to societal double standards. The derogatory term “bolter” was used to criticize women who left their husbands, while men who did the same were not judged in the same way.
Osborne sees parallels between Sackville’s story and Swift’s portrayal in her song “The Bolter.” Both women are depicted as leaving relationships that are not right for them, rather than having commitment issues. Osborne believes that both Sackville and Swift share a penchant for romanticism and a strong reputation that can be intimidating to potential partners.
Osborne speculates that Swift faces similar challenges in her love life as a successful and confident woman. She believes that Sackville, if she were alive today, would appreciate that her story has been immortalized in a song. Osborne’s children are excited about their mother’s connection to the song, showing support and enthusiasm for the family link to the inspiration behind Swift’s lyrics.
Osborne is currently working on a book about Sackville’s grandmother, Anna Brassey, who was a prominent travel writer in the 19th century. She sees similarities between Swift and Brassey’s stories, both facing challenges and double standards because of their gender. Osborne hopes that fans of Taylor Swift will focus on Sackville’s story as a tribute to a woman who fought to be herself in a time when individuality was not encouraged.
Overall, Osborne hopes that Sackville’s story will inspire others to be true to themselves and break free from societal norms and expectations. She believes that being oneself is a beautiful thing and encourages others to be strong and courageous in following their own path, just as Sackville did in her lifetime. Through Sackville’s story, Osborne hopes to shed light on the importance of individuality and courage in the face of societal pressures.
