Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I have had a particular fondness for Nell Gwyn ever since reading a book called Sex With Kings and reading her hilarious antics as the mistress of Charles II, yet until now, have not actually read any fiction on her; and I must say, picking this book up was one of the best things I have ever done. Seriously. This is the first book by Susan Holloway Scott that I have read and after this I intend to read every book that she has written.
Meet Nell, our fiesty and hilarious heroine with a quick wit and a big and honest heart, who at a young age knows that her destiny lies in the arms and heart of England's beloved monarch, Charles II. Starting as the mistress of a gentleman, Nell soon climbs the ladder that ultimately leads to the love of her life- selling oranges at the King's Theatre, and then becoming the star of the stage and the darling of the British people.
We follow Nell's life through her own eyes, which has as many advantages to it as disadvantages; some being the fact that we get to see the events as they happen from Nell herself, but at times it is at the expense of the other equally memorable characters. You do get a sense of good character vs bad character throughout this novel. One of the best parts of this book is the authors attention to historical detail- she has not changed alot of the events or in fact the words of her characters- choosing simply to write them down as they happened, with fluid prose and laugh out loud moments of hysteria. Events fall into place with ease and Nell's narrative is easy to read and hilarious in content.
One of my critiscisms of this book is Nell's "blahzay" attitude to some of the major events of her life- the entire way through she is our lovable, honest and carefree heroine however when certain events happen to her, she doesn't seem to worry about them for too long and only displays the vaguest of emotion about them- for example her treatment compared to other mistresses. The other critiscism I have for this book is the way that nearly every chapter ends on a negative note of "worse to come" circumstances that don't actually occur or aren't as bad as they actually are- think drama queen, melodramatic etc etc.
Some of the sayings the author employed hindered my understanding- I got the general gist but after the third of these didn't really see the point in having them; yes they added to the period and the detail but as a modern reader I would have been just as happy with posh and elegant speeches than with C17 phrasing- although I love her very down to Earth; "Pox on ____" that Nell employs quite frequently- it really added to her characterisation.
Overall, this is the first book that I have read by this author and it most certainly will not be the last. The book was well researched, well written and had three dimensional characters- made all the better by the fact that unlike other authors Susan didn't feel the need to over dramatise/"Hollywoodise" the events and words of her characters, realising that they were hilarious without needing to edit them. I read this book in one sitting, starting in the morning and finishing without taking a breath late in the evening- time literally passed me by.
A brilliant book and a great look at the life of the extraordinary Nell Gwyn.
4 solid stars.
Click Here to see more reviews about: 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.
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