(Faber, $36.99)
Getting stuck into this gripping tale, I soon remembered just how much I like a good historical novel – especially one so carefully researched and so vividly drawn as this.
Author Helen Pike is an oxford University graduate and history teacher. She’s taken, as her starting point, the strange tale of Princess Caroline of Brunswick – another ill-fated Princess of Wales, who was married to the highly unpleasant George IV. Their arranged marriage was a disaster from the outset and when faced with her husband’s infidelity, the German princess retreated back to Europe.
When it came time for George to be crowned King, Caroline’s supporters rallied to have her brought back to Britain as Queen, and it’s here that the novel begins.
In a squalid part of Cheapside in London’s East End, Nell Wingfield works as a printer of political pamphlets. It’s an unusual occupation for a woman, but she is skilled and dedicated.
She’s been away working in the much more upmarket St James area in a position she’d rather not talk about, but we can say that it certainly wasn’t related to printing.
Finding herself rather closely caught up in the political upheaval around George and his wife, Nell has to keep her wits about her and her subsequent adventures are interesting to say the least.
I love the colourful descriptions of London at the time. Having lived there for many years, I can picture the scenes clearly. Some reviewers have suggestedthat there’s too much historical detail, but I found it adds to the atmosphere of turmoil and confusion that existed in Britain at the time.
All in all it’s a rollicking good read (and rather racy too!).
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