Mistresses by Linda Porter
A vivid account of the many mistresses of Charles II, the king who was, according to one diarist 'addicted to women'
In telling the story of Charles's mistresses, Porter skillfully interweaves the politics with the passion. . an enlightening read. -- Tracy Borman * The Sunday Times *
The lives of these seven women make a terrific story and Porter tells it well. -- Andrew Taylor * The Times *
A fresh look at Charles' reign through the many women who shared his bed. * The Herald *
Historians have long been obsessed with the sexual shenanigans of Charles II . . . This salacious story is delivered with a suitable mix of seriousness and mirth, but there’s also appropriate pathos: poor Catherine, wife of the randy king, is the tragic heroine of this delightful romp. * The Times, Best History Books of the Year 2020 *
A stunning romp through the sexual court politics of the Restoration! Linda Porter's pacy book offers a balanced and revealing account of the mistresses of Charles II, and of his long-suffering wife. It's a vivid historical page-turner with the enigmatic figure of the King at its core, in turns funny, tragic and eye-popping, and a seamless blend of state affairs and scandal. Linda Porter's grasp of the period is masterful. -- Alison Weir
In her [Linda Porter's] hands the lives and characters of the women who shaped the reputation of the Restoration court emerge as far more discrete and individual than the identikit line-up of Lely beauties whose portraits are one of the most recognizable identifiers of the period . . . It is testament to Porter's skill as a historian that by the end of Mistresses the darkness at the heart of the brilliant Restoration court is so bleakly exposed. -- Lisa Hilton * Spectator *
Engaging and well-researched . . . One of the book's strengths is Porter's uncompromisingly impartial treatment of the king while discussing the lives of the key women in his life. * Literary Review *
The lives of these seven women make a terrific story and Porter tells it well. -- Andrew Taylor * The Times *
A fresh look at Charles' reign through the many women who shared his bed. * The Herald *
Historians have long been obsessed with the sexual shenanigans of Charles II . . . This salacious story is delivered with a suitable mix of seriousness and mirth, but there’s also appropriate pathos: poor Catherine, wife of the randy king, is the tragic heroine of this delightful romp. * The Times, Best History Books of the Year 2020 *
A stunning romp through the sexual court politics of the Restoration! Linda Porter's pacy book offers a balanced and revealing account of the mistresses of Charles II, and of his long-suffering wife. It's a vivid historical page-turner with the enigmatic figure of the King at its core, in turns funny, tragic and eye-popping, and a seamless blend of state affairs and scandal. Linda Porter's grasp of the period is masterful. -- Alison Weir
In her [Linda Porter's] hands the lives and characters of the women who shaped the reputation of the Restoration court emerge as far more discrete and individual than the identikit line-up of Lely beauties whose portraits are one of the most recognizable identifiers of the period . . . It is testament to Porter's skill as a historian that by the end of Mistresses the darkness at the heart of the brilliant Restoration court is so bleakly exposed. -- Lisa Hilton * Spectator *
Engaging and well-researched . . . One of the book's strengths is Porter's uncompromisingly impartial treatment of the king while discussing the lives of the key women in his life. * Literary Review *
Linda Porter has a doctorate in History from the University of York, where she studied early modern English and French history under the late Professor Gwyn Williams. She was the winner of the 2004 Biographers Club/Daily Mail Prize, which helped launch her on a new career as an author. She is the author of several works of historical biography including, Mary Tudor: The First Queen, Katherine the Queen, Crown of Thistles and Royal Renegades. She is a regular contributor to BBC History Magazine and History Today. She lives in Kent.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781509877058 |
| ISBN 10 | 1509877053 |
| Title | Mistresses |
| Author | Linda Porter |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Pan Macmillan |
| Year published | 2020-04-16 |
| Number of pages | 304 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |