The King's Favorite: A Novel of Nell Gwyn and King Charles II
by Susan Holloway Scott
List Price:
Our Price: $6.50
You Save: $7.50 (54%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $3.50 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Susan Holloway ScottEdition: Paperback
Published: 2008-07-01
ISBN: 045122406X
Number of pages: 448
Publisher: NAL Trade
Book Reviews of The King's Favorite: A Novel of Nell Gwyn and King Charles II
Book Review: A Thoughtful Retelling of Nell Gwyn's Tumultuous Life
Summary: 5 Stars
A Thoughtful Yet Entertaining Retelling of Nell Gwynne's Life
It's not easy to take a familiar historical legend and make it seem new. The story of Nell Gwynne, who hopped from selling oranges during theater intermissions to the bed of the king of England is well-known, and the inspiration for old chestnuts like "Forever Amber." But in this thoughtful yet entertaining retelling, the author resists the familiar conventions and shows us new aspects of Nell and her royal consort. We see not only "pretty, witty" Nell famously selling her citrus-wares, but also her appalling girlhood poverty, her many friends (including the famous rake and poet Lord Rochester), and her protectors before King Charles. While Nell's life is the centerpiece, Restoration London (1660-1685) comes alive in all its unruly splendor, from the louche backstage of the playhouse to the splendor of the palace and Charles's court of beautiful loose women and international playboys, to the ghastly treatments employed by Rochester to treat his syphillis. The research to support all this is extensive and richly felt, but it never overwhelms the story, and it is the characters who carry the day. Nell, Lord Killigrew, King Charles, Lord Rochester, and the others are shown much as they must have been: witty, charming, and ultimately flawed, the way most real people always are. Highly recommended.
Summary of The King's Favorite: A Novel of Nell Gwyn and King Charles II
The acclaimed author of Duchess and Royal Harlot returns with the unforgettable story of a king?s last love and London?s darling?BR>Nell Gwyn has never been a lady, nor does she pretend to be. Blessed with impudent wit and saucy beauty, she swiftly rises from the poverty of Covent Garden to become a sensation in the theater. Still in her teens, she catches the eye of King Charles II, and trades the stage for Whitehall Palace?and the role of royal mistress.
Even though she delights the king, she must learn to negotiate the cutthroat royal court, where ambition and lust for power rule the hearts of all around her. For beneath her charm and light-heartedness, Nell has her own ambition?to become no less than the king?s favorite.
Contemporary Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Audiobooks on Cassette
- Audiobooks on CD
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- e-Books
- Engineering
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Medicine
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in My Favorite British Historical Fiction Books
Jane Boleyn: The True Story of the Infamous Lady Rochfordby Julia Fox
Ballantine Books; Published: 2007-12-26; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $13.45
Price in other shops:
The Traitor's Wife: A Novel of the Reign of Edward IIby Susan Higginbotham
iUniverse Star; Published: 2007-05-29; Paperback; Book
Best price: $16.19
Price in other shops:
The Life and Death of Anne Boleynby Eric Ives
Wiley-Blackwell; Published: 2005-07-29; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.25
Price in other shops:
Dark Angels: A Novelby Karleen Koen
Three Rivers Press; Published: 2007-05-29; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.00
Price in other shops:
Now Face to Face: A Novelby Karleen Koen
Three Rivers Press; Published: 2008-01-08; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.75
Price in other shops:
To Dance with Kings: A Novelby Rosalind Laker
Three Rivers Press; Published: 2007-05-22; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.99
Price in other shops:
I, Jacquelineby Hilda Lewis
The History Press; Published: 2008-11-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.31
Price in other shops:
Wife to Charles IIby Hilda Lewis
Tempus; Published: 2007-03-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.43
Price in other shops:
The King's Pleasureby Norah Lofts
Tempus; Published: 2007-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.29
Price in other shops:
The Concubine: A Novelby Norah Lofts
Touchstone; Published: 2008-06-10; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.89
Price in other shops:
Similar Books and other products
The Wise Woman: A Novelby Philippa Gregory
Touchstone; Published: 2008-05-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.25
Price in other shops:
Mistress of the Revolutionby Catherine Delors
Dutton Adult; Published: 2008-03-13; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $6.99
Price in other shops:
Daughter of York: A Novelby Anne Easter Smith
Touchstone; Published: 2008-02-12; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.99
Price in other shops:
The Perfect Royal Mistress: A Novelby Diane Haeger
Three Rivers Press; Published: 2007-02-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.80
Price in other shops:
The Other Queen: A Novelby Philippa Gregory
Touchstone; Published: 2008-09-16; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $17.13
Price in other shops:
The Lady Elizabeth: A Novelby Alison Weir
Ballantine Books; Published: 2008-04-29; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $12.40
Price in other shops:
Mistress of the Sun: A Novelby Sandra Gulland
Touchstone; Published: 2008-06-03; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $12.99
Price in other shops:
The Secret Bride: In The Court of Henry VIIIby Diane Haeger
NAL Trade; Published: 2008-04-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.06
Price in other shops:
Duchess: A Novel of Sarah Churchillby Susan Holloway Scott
NAL Trade; Published: 2006-08-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.98
Price in other shops:
Royal Harlot: A Novel of the Countess Castlemaine and King Charles IIby Susan Holloway Scott
NAL Trade; Published: 2007-07-03; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.49
Price in other shops: