Catherine Hayes the opera singer is sometimes confused with the woman of the same name who was convicted of petty treason for the murder of her husband. She was sentenced to be burnt at the stake while one of her lovers who did the actual killing was hanged.
Thackeray got the two women confused and had to write an apology to Miss Hayes . In ‘Virtue and Vice’ there will be no such misunderstanding and neither will you read the often repeated but totally wrong accounts of her early life. I’m afraid the rags to riches story doesn’t bear up under investigation and there are at least three sources to prove the truth.
Earlier writers and researchers have failed to find the facts or indeed to understand the history of Ireland and Limerick in the 19c. Many appear to have been deluded into thinking that Miss Catherine Hayes was an uneducated servant girl with a natural talent for singing. The only bit that is right is that she was a naturally talented child. For the rest, ask yourselves how did she learn to read, write and speak French, Italian and perfect English as well as play the piano. I have one of her letters which would put many a modern school leaver to shame.
Catherine Hayes had an older sister called Henrietta who is seldom mentioned at all and when she is, she is portrayed as a neglected Cinderella figure. In fact she was also educated with Catherine and her knowledge of languages got her a job with Queen Amelie who was the last Queen of France living in exile in England. Possibly, she acted as an interpreter for the multitude of Royalist sympathisers from many countries who gathered at Queen Amelie’s residence near Richmond. They plotted to overthrow Napoleon III but were unsuccessful in their attempt to assassinate him.
Henrietta’s involvement with the Royalists may have been a factor which prevented Catherine from ever appearing at the Paris Opera. We know she tried to get into a production there but didn’t succeed. She too may have been a Royalist sympathiser or was suspected of being one by Napoleon’s agents.
This is the first time in history that the conventional life story of Catherine Hayes has been challenged. You are invited to send any comments, information etc. to us and, if we use the information, you will receive a free signed copy of the new sensational biography.
