The Merry Monarch's Wife by Jean PlaidyAKA: The Pleasures of Love
Queens of England series
Paperback, 336 pages
Three Rivers Press
January 22, 2008
★★★★½☆
Genre: Historical Fiction
Source: Personal Collection
“Charles II is restored to the English throne, and his court is lively and even scandalous. The country is eager for succession to be clear and certain: The next king will be the son of Charles II and his queen, Catherine of Braganza. Yet Catherine, daughter of the king of Portugal and a Catholic, has never been popular with the English people. She is also having great difficulty conceiving an heir, even as many of Charles’s well-known mistresses are bearing his children with ease. Catherine is aware that courtiers close to Charles are asking him to divorce her and take another wife—yet she is determined to hold her title in the face of all odds.”
Catherine of Braganza is a quiet, reserved, and innocent young lady when she comes to marry the Merry Monarch at the licentious court of Charles II. Her eyes are rather quickly opened when she is introduced to her new husband’s mistress, Barbara Palmer. Catherine would have to figure out how to handle her husband’s many mistresses: Barbara Palmer, Louise de Kerouaille, Nell Gwyn and many others. Catherine also has to handle the many plots that implicated her in attempts on the King’s life, hatred toward her for her Catholic religion, and failure to conceive an heir.
Plaidy does a great job at describing the many mistresses that Charles II has. We get to see not only how the court and countrymen reacted to these many women but also have an insight into what Catherine might have felt about them. She is a character that you can find much sympathy for, especially as another woman. I can imagine that it would be hard enough to handle one mistress, never mind several at once.
Prior to reading this book I had no experience with the court of Charles II. Charles is quite the interesting person. He was always lively and jovial and quick to brush off personal problems. It is amazing how carefree his life seems to be. While he cares about how his dalliances with other women affect his wife, he also expects her to handle them with decorum and not pay any attention to it (the nerve!).
Of the few Plaidy novels that I have read so far this is one of my favorites. The characters are very well developed and I could really feel for Catherine. Enough background information is given for a solid understanding of these people without having to look anything up to feel comfortable in that time period.
Plaidy is definitely becoming one of my favorite authors!
Reviews of this book by other bloggers:
Where to Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | RJ Julia
Also by Jean Plaidy:
Jean Plaidy also has written many other historical fiction books under several pen names. The other books in this Queens of England series include:
Loyal in Love (AKA Myself, My Enemy)
Queen of this Realm
Victoria, Victorious
The Lady in the Tower
The Courts of Love
In the Shadow of the Crown
The Queen's Secret
The Reluctant Queen
The Queen's Devotion (AKA William's Wife)
The Rose Without a Thorn
[My Review]
My reviews of other books by this author:
Find Jean Plaidy: Royal Intrigue Blog
Copyright © 2009 by The Maiden’s Court
I read The Loves of Charles II before I read this one and was expecting a dreary retelling of the woes of this queen, but it was actually not like that at all! Once she got over the fact that her husband was going to have his mistresses, she was a good companion to him. I liked it!
ReplyDeleteI have yewt to read a Plaidy which I know is crazy! As a fellow HF lover, I'm sure I will adore her books. I do own one now and hope to get to it soon.
ReplyDelete