William Cavendish, courageous, cultured and passionate about women, embodies the popular image of a cavalier. Famously defeated at the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644, he went into a long and miserable continental exile before returning to England in triumph on the restoration of King Charles II to the throne in 1660. Lucy Worsley brings to life a fascinating household of the seventeenth century, painting a picture of conspiracy, sexual intrigue, clandestine marriage and gossip. From Ben Jonson and Van Dyck to a savage, knife-wielding master-cook, Cavalier is a brilliant illumination of the stately home and all its many colourful inhabitants.
Cavalier: A Tale of Chivalry, Passion and Great Houses
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Review
Cavalier is one 'of my favourite September reads.' -- Sue Baker, Personal Choice, Publishing News
`Enthralling ... Worsley's powerful imagination focuses with great effect on the settings that she evokes with bright and telling detail'. -- Miranda Seymour, Sunday Times
`Every detail of Cavendish's universe comes to life ... fascinating'.
-- Publishers Weekly
`Marvellous ... a tour de force of the historic imagination, aligned to impeccable scholarship'. -- Sir Roy Strong
`Worsley's strength is her sense of period, and her ability to bring people to life.' -- Charles Spencer, Independent on Sunday --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
`Enthralling ... Worsley's powerful imagination focuses with great effect on the settings that she evokes with bright and telling detail'. -- Miranda Seymour, Sunday Times
`Every detail of Cavendish's universe comes to life ... fascinating'.
-- Publishers Weekly
`Marvellous ... a tour de force of the historic imagination, aligned to impeccable scholarship'. -- Sir Roy Strong
`Worsley's strength is her sense of period, and her ability to bring people to life.' -- Charles Spencer, Independent on Sunday --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Book Description
Lucy Worsley, the chief curator of the Historic Royal Palaces, tells a story packed with conspiracy, sexual intrigue and gossip.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
38 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Having just visited Bolsover Castle,(A wonderfully evocative place with a superb guide book written by Lucy Worsley.) I was very keen to read Ms Worsley's book. Having been captivated by the castle, I wanted to know much more about the man, William Cavendish, grandson of Bess of Hardwick, who created, and lived at this astonishingly beautiful and romantic place.
Ms Worsley has written a brilliant biography of not just the man, but of the houses he inhabited with his household, and of his trials and tribulations. Ms Worsley manages to bring William Cavendish vividly to life with frequent quotations from his letters and poetry.(Is there a book of his poetry?)As if this was not enough Ms Worsley also manages to inform and educate about the period, which is at times amusing and at ohers sad. I smiled, I laughed, I even shed a tear. One review I read said "The intriguing personality of the man.......glimmers, flickers-but never quite glows into life." For me William Cavendish did not glimmer, flicker,or glow he positively burned brightly. For anyone interested in the Cavendish dynasty or history. I commend Ms Worsley's book whole heartedly. I would be astonished if you were disappointed.
Ms Worsley has written a brilliant biography of not just the man, but of the houses he inhabited with his household, and of his trials and tribulations. Ms Worsley manages to bring William Cavendish vividly to life with frequent quotations from his letters and poetry.(Is there a book of his poetry?)As if this was not enough Ms Worsley also manages to inform and educate about the period, which is at times amusing and at ohers sad. I smiled, I laughed, I even shed a tear. One review I read said "The intriguing personality of the man.......glimmers, flickers-but never quite glows into life." For me William Cavendish did not glimmer, flicker,or glow he positively burned brightly. For anyone interested in the Cavendish dynasty or history. I commend Ms Worsley's book whole heartedly. I would be astonished if you were disappointed.
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By philip myer
Format:Hardcover
I thought that this book was absolutely fantastic. It must be very hard to bring architecture to life in words but Ms Worsley does this brilliantly.
The approach of taking a few days in Cavendish's life and structuring the book around this is so much better than a boring and traditional chronology of events.
Ms Worsley seems to be one of a new generation of historians who understands peoples real lives- I look foward to reading her next book!
The approach of taking a few days in Cavendish's life and structuring the book around this is so much better than a boring and traditional chronology of events.
Ms Worsley seems to be one of a new generation of historians who understands peoples real lives- I look foward to reading her next book!
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By Radio addict
Format:Paperback
Even if you're not a historian you'll enjoy this book. And if you are a historian, you'll appreciate the detailed research that underpins it. The story, the lively writing style and the crazy cast of real characters just won't let you go. Bolsover Castle is certainly the place to visit after reading the book - think of it as the original party palace! I've just bought the paperback after reading the hardback in the library. More please Lucy Worsley!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Paola
Format:Paperback
Cavalier by Dr Lucy Worsley was a very entertaining read.William Cavendish was really brought to life.Many interesting aspects of living upstairs and downstairs in his beautiful houses and at the Court of Charles I were touched.He was a man of many facets;his poetry, horsemanship ,love for architecture and women and military career were described in a lively and witty manner.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Virge JAMES
Format:Hardcover
The title is inviting but I did not expect the page turner the book proved to be.
Lucy Worsley takes us into the world of the First Duke of Newcastle with such energy and gusto and descriptive detail that the whole era comes to life.
Having read the book I just had to go to Bolsover castle, a place I had visited several times but apparently with my eyes closed.
Lucy's great gift is to enter the lives not only of the "great and the good" but the ordinary people who surrounded them and worked for them.
The book is full of wonderful anecdotes. It is clearly well researched as it is based on a PhD,it is authoritative and so well referenced that one can easily follow up any further interest, but above all it is FUN.
Lucy Worsley takes us into the world of the First Duke of Newcastle with such energy and gusto and descriptive detail that the whole era comes to life.
Having read the book I just had to go to Bolsover castle, a place I had visited several times but apparently with my eyes closed.
Lucy's great gift is to enter the lives not only of the "great and the good" but the ordinary people who surrounded them and worked for them.
The book is full of wonderful anecdotes. It is clearly well researched as it is based on a PhD,it is authoritative and so well referenced that one can easily follow up any further interest, but above all it is FUN.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Miss Mapp
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Lucy Worsley has again written a book that could have been oh-so-dry but was actually fascinating. Her story, mainly about William Cavendish, describes the family buildings at Bolsover Castle and Welbeck Abbey in a way that is informative and engaging. A famous horse trainer, he becomes the Cavalier of the title. It covers the period of Charles I through the Civil War and on to the Restoration, including William's exile from Britain.
I really did want to know what these people ate at banquets, the protocol of a Royal visit, how the servants were treated, etc., and was not disappointed. William, with his strengths and many failings, was an interesting subject.
I really enjoyed Worsley's book 'Courtiers', and this was just as engrossing.
I really did want to know what these people ate at banquets, the protocol of a Royal visit, how the servants were treated, etc., and was not disappointed. William, with his strengths and many failings, was an interesting subject.
I really enjoyed Worsley's book 'Courtiers', and this was just as engrossing.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Strawb
Format:Hardcover
I Loved this book. I found every page a fascinating joy to read.
From the language used to smells induced, this is as close as you'll get to using a TARDIS for that hands on feel to history.
Told with such enthusiasm, wicked wit, detail and knowledge.
Lucys love of her subject is infectious, taking you with her into the into the minds and hearts of a 17th Century Cavalier and ALL who surround him. While also giving you a Full running commentary on the great homes that grew around the central charachter.
The detail which Lucy has gone into for this 'novel' is pristine. Hardly a hat pin is overlooked, nor a roof tile forgot. She puts you in the room and let's you know why you're there, how you got there and makes you totaly welcome.
Utterly recommended.
My thanks to previous reviews that inspired my purchase!
They were Right!
Buy, Read, Love it!
From the language used to smells induced, this is as close as you'll get to using a TARDIS for that hands on feel to history.
Told with such enthusiasm, wicked wit, detail and knowledge.
Lucys love of her subject is infectious, taking you with her into the into the minds and hearts of a 17th Century Cavalier and ALL who surround him. While also giving you a Full running commentary on the great homes that grew around the central charachter.
The detail which Lucy has gone into for this 'novel' is pristine. Hardly a hat pin is overlooked, nor a roof tile forgot. She puts you in the room and let's you know why you're there, how you got there and makes you totaly welcome.
Utterly recommended.
My thanks to previous reviews that inspired my purchase!
They were Right!
Buy, Read, Love it!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By ERV Scott
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
It's good, but the first person narrative is quite condescending. The constant changing between this style and the normal descriptive prose makes the book (to my mind) difficult to read as there is no flow from chapter to chapter. However Lucy Worsley is without doubt a very good storyteller when she gets it right. The second half of the book is less about building houses and more about the lifestyle of the cavalier throughout the civil war and beyond. The readability definitely improves, and I have learned an awful lot about English history that I didn't know before. Her other books are corkers and I would thoroughly recommend you read those too!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Full of interesting facts
Those who have seen Dr Lucy Worsley's many television programmes will know how brilliant she is at dropping little bits of information into her explanations and she does the same... Read more
Published 12 days ago by Anthony Whitaker
3.0 out of 5 stars
snapshots
'Cavalier' follows the life of William Cavendish by a series of 'snapshots' of his life at different moments, e.g. Read more
Published 1 month ago by M. Baerends
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent read from an accomplished and engaging historian!
As always, the author puts forward a mass of information on the man and the times. I would recommend this book thoroughly.
Published 1 month ago by L. K. D. SULLIVAN
1.0 out of 5 stars
TAKING A LONGER VIEW
Although no-one expects 20:20 hindsight from anyone,and judging an author by unforeseen developments would be harsh,Lucy`s work is often so exceptional that unusual levels of... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Del Francis
5.0 out of 5 stars
I'm a laughing Cavalier!
When i bought Cavalier i didn't expect the book to arrive as quick as it did. It was in good order and i am finding it a brilliant read...Thanks!
Published on 19 Nov 2010 by Phillip
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