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Courtiers

The Secret History of the Georgian Court

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Courtiers

By: Lucy Worsley
Narrated by: Lucy Worsley
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About this listen

In the eighteenth century, the palace's most elegant assembly room was in fact a bloody battlefield. This was a world of skulduggery, politicking, wigs and beauty-spots, where fans whistled open like flick-knives.

Ambitious and talented people flocked to court of George II and Queen Caroline in search of power and prestige, but Kensington Palace was also a gilded cage. Successful courtiers needed level heads and cold hearts; their secrets were never safe. Among them, a Vice Chamberlain with many vices, a Maid of Honour with a secret marriage, a pushy painter, an alcoholic equerry, a Wild Boy, a penniless poet, a dwarf comedian, two mysterious turbaned Turks and any number of discarded royal mistresses.

An eye-opening portrait of a group of royal servants, Courtiers also throws new light on the dramatic life of George II and Queen Caroline at Kensington Palace.

©2025 Lucy Worsley (P)2025 Faber & Faber 18th Century Europe Great Britain Modern Royalty Funny Heartfelt
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Lucy's latest book is a fact-filled fascinating look at the courts of the first three Georges. It is a very accessible history which holds interest from start to finish. It is more personalities and pecadillos than policy, which results in an intimate look at the courtiers, their intrigues, the strictures of etiquette, and the general atmosphere surrounding royalty. Lucy's idiosyncratic personality shines through, she's the perfect narrator for her book. The best way to learn history and perhaps she will do for the Georgians what latter day historians have done for the Tudors.

A delightful history lesson

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