[1] It portrays the career of Nancy Astor, the American-born socialite and Conservative Party politician who pioneered the role of women in the House of Commons.

Her family, like many others in the state, is poor but her father gets a job building railroads and becomes wealthy enough to buy a small country estate.

In England, Nancy becomes popular in society, meeting people such as Margot Asquith, Ettie Grenfell and Harry Cust.

She gains an admirer in Lord Revelstoke but refuses his proposal of marriage after the press exposes his illicit relationship with Ettie, who is married.

Although reluctant and affected by ill-health, Astor wins it at the second attempt, due in part to active election campaigning by Nancy.

On the domestic front, Nancy gains an aristocratic and intellectual admirer in Philip Kerr, but faces problems with her elder son Bobby.

Through the 1930s Nancy continues as an MP, but her strident Christian Science beliefs and intolerant attitudes lead to estrangement from some family and friends.

In World War II Cliveden again becomes a military hospital, while Nancy and Waldorf try to help the people of Plymouth during the Blitz; in Parliament she criticises civil defence measures.