Belle (2013) is a British film inspired by the 1779 painting of Dido Elizabeth Belle (1761-1804) who was born to an enslaved woman and a captain of the British Royal Navy.

British writer Paula Byrne was commissioned to write a biography of Dido Elizabeth Belle and the book was published to coincide with the release of the film.

Dido Elizabeth Belle (1761-1804) was born into slavery. Her father, Captain John Lindsay of the British Royal Navy, took Dido with him when he returned to England in 1765 and left her to be raised by his uncle Willam and aunt Elizabeth.

The Earl and Countess of Mansfield lived at Kenwood House in Hampstead. They were already raising another great-niece, Lady Eliabeth Murray.

Dido Elizabeth Belle lived at Kenwood House for 31 years.

Because so little is know about Dido’s life, for her book Paula Byrne included information about slavery and the position of women in the 18th century.