Painted Lady
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Review
`There is something charmingly old-fashioned about this account of intrigue and romance in Restoration London...This is an undemanding and highly enjoyable account of the court beauty who was allegedly the model for Britannia on the coinage, and who eventually, one is glad to learn, got her man.'
--Literary Review, Joanna Hines
'Maeve Haran presents a vivid picture of life at the royal court - a mixture of courtesy and coarseness, laxity and loyalty - which makes an easy read.' --Leicester Mercury
'It's evocative, colourful and exciting, but while there are lots of heaving bodices, it's a tad restrained on the ripping front.' --Daily Mail, Wendy Holden
'Haran has created a pacy tale of court intrigue , daring and romance set against a time of war, plague and the Great Fire of London....Overall, an entertaining read that should amuse history buffs almost ( but not quite) as much as die-hard romantics.' --Sussex Life, Anne Hill
--Literary Review, Joanna Hines
'Maeve Haran presents a vivid picture of life at the royal court - a mixture of courtesy and coarseness, laxity and loyalty - which makes an easy read.' --Leicester Mercury
'It's evocative, colourful and exciting, but while there are lots of heaving bodices, it's a tad restrained on the ripping front.' --Daily Mail, Wendy Holden
'Haran has created a pacy tale of court intrigue , daring and romance set against a time of war, plague and the Great Fire of London....Overall, an entertaining read that should amuse history buffs almost ( but not quite) as much as die-hard romantics.' --Sussex Life, Anne Hill
Product Description
<html> <head> </head> <body> <p style="margin-top: 0"> This is my tale and I will leave you to tell whether it be high romance or tragedy. <p style="margin-top: 0"> <p style="margin-top: 0"> Sixteen-year-old Frances Stuart arrives at the Restoration court to find her innocence and beauty are highly-prized commodities, envied by the women and desired by the men. Before long, King Charles II falls passionately in love with her and will stop at nothing to make her his mistress. <p style="margin-top: 0"> <p style="margin-top: 0"> But Frances is no conventional court beauty. She is determined to make her own choices in life, and to be with the man she loves. Can she overcome the dangerous pitfalls of the King s obsession, the Queen s jealousy, and the traps set for her by the King s notorious mistresses, and make the life she wants for herself? <p style="margin-top: 0"> <p style="margin-top: 0"> Set against the drama of the Great Plague and the Fire of London, The Painted Lady brings to life the vibrant and decadent court of Charles II and in Frances Stuart discovers a passionate young woman prepared to fight for her own destiny. <p style="margin-top: 0"> <p style="margin-top: 0"> <p style="margin-top: 0"> Praise for Maeve Haran s The Lady and the Poet <p style="margin-top: 0"> <p style="margin-top: 0"> This is history as pure entertainment, an inventive and delicious feast of passion, wit and intrigue. The Times <p style="margin-top: 0"> <p style="margin-top: 0"> With its fascinating insight into Tudor life, this will absorb you to the end She <p style="margin-top: 0"> <p style="margin-top: 0"> The clothes, the jewels, the smell of the place are all evoked; and everyone from the Queen herself to the elusive, sexy figure of Donne come wonderfully to life A. N. Wilson, Readers Digest </body> </html>
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This well written historical novel tells the story of Frances Stuart, the beautiful ingénue who captured the heart of a king.When sixteen year old Frances arrives at the English court, her vulnerability and innocence acts as a magnet to a King who is well adept at getting what he wants from women, and yet he can't accept that this one women is beyond his reach. There was endless speculation at the time about "La Belle Stuart" and her relationship with the King, and the "have they, or haven't they" element to their romance added fuel to 17c gossip mongers.
Beautifully descriptive of the restoration period this book brings to life the glittering court of Charles II. The rivalry that existed between the king's mistresses is expertly captured, and yet it's refreshing to read a restoration romance that doesn't involve graphic descriptions of Charles II's sex life !
Beautifully descriptive of the restoration period this book brings to life the glittering court of Charles II. The rivalry that existed between the king's mistresses is expertly captured, and yet it's refreshing to read a restoration romance that doesn't involve graphic descriptions of Charles II's sex life !
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A true story of a strong willed woman who lived at court and was pursued by King Charles 2nd, but resisted his advances. The historical events of the plague and the great fire of London, and court life were very informative. Unfortunately the love story was bland, and a bit boring, no exciting episodes.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
1 review
The Lady Who Didn't Become Charles II's Mistress
10 Mar 2012
Format:Paperback
Frances Stuart spent most of her young life in exile at the court of the dowager Queen Henrietta Maria. When Charles II is restored to his throne, Frances is sent home to England to become Lady in Waiting to the new Queen, Catherine of Braganza. At sixteen, Frances innocence and beauty are highly-prized amongst the decadent Restoration Court, but when King Charles falls passionately in love with her, she discovers to refuse a king leaves her open to suspicion as well as ridicule for false modesty and those by others and a target for nefarious seduction plans by those with ambition to win favour with the king.
Frances is also inconveniently in love with Charles, Duke of Richmond, and when he wife dies in childbirth, harbours the tiny hope that he might turn to her to be his next duchess. However Frances is penniless and with the eye of the king on her, no man dare pay court to Mistress Stuart, and The Duke of Richmond looks elsewhere for his next wife.
Set against the drama of the Great Plague and the Fire of London, The Painted Lady is a wonderfully colourful portrait of 17th century court life with some well known names given new life by Ms Haran. I especially loved the passion of Barbara Castlemaine as the King's long-term mistress. When Frances holds out against her Royal lover, Barbara accuses her with scathing cruelty of causing him untold misery.
Frances' relationship with Catherine of Braganza is especially moving, in that the queen is aware of her husband's passion for Frances, and although she never speaks of it openly, and is hurt by her husband's devotion, Catherine is unfailingly kind to her rival and mindful of Frances' restraint. Bound by their mutual resentment of Barbara Castlemaine, the scenes between the two women are very touching.
The historical research is exemplary and I learned some interesting facts about an era I thought I was familiar with. The character of Frances is beautifully portrayed with her own determination to hold out for a home and husband of her own and not become the king's mistress when everyone around her intimates she should succumb. Frances' strength and character shines through and with few on her side, she struggles to keep the virtue that has become a subject for ridicule.
Some of the scenarios where Castlemaine and the King contrive to seduce Frances are well known, and I suspect Ms Haran has fabricated others, but the story is no less compelling for that. If you love the 17th century with all its corruption, filth, betrayal and luxury, you will enjoy this book.
Frances is also inconveniently in love with Charles, Duke of Richmond, and when he wife dies in childbirth, harbours the tiny hope that he might turn to her to be his next duchess. However Frances is penniless and with the eye of the king on her, no man dare pay court to Mistress Stuart, and The Duke of Richmond looks elsewhere for his next wife.
Set against the drama of the Great Plague and the Fire of London, The Painted Lady is a wonderfully colourful portrait of 17th century court life with some well known names given new life by Ms Haran. I especially loved the passion of Barbara Castlemaine as the King's long-term mistress. When Frances holds out against her Royal lover, Barbara accuses her with scathing cruelty of causing him untold misery.
Frances' relationship with Catherine of Braganza is especially moving, in that the queen is aware of her husband's passion for Frances, and although she never speaks of it openly, and is hurt by her husband's devotion, Catherine is unfailingly kind to her rival and mindful of Frances' restraint. Bound by their mutual resentment of Barbara Castlemaine, the scenes between the two women are very touching.
The historical research is exemplary and I learned some interesting facts about an era I thought I was familiar with. The character of Frances is beautifully portrayed with her own determination to hold out for a home and husband of her own and not become the king's mistress when everyone around her intimates she should succumb. Frances' strength and character shines through and with few on her side, she struggles to keep the virtue that has become a subject for ridicule.
Some of the scenarios where Castlemaine and the King contrive to seduce Frances are well known, and I suspect Ms Haran has fabricated others, but the story is no less compelling for that. If you love the 17th century with all its corruption, filth, betrayal and luxury, you will enjoy this book.
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