Courtiers cover art

Courtiers

The Secret History of the Georgian Court

 Preview

Get 30 days of Standard free

$8.99/mo after trial ends. Cancel anytime
Try for $0.00
More purchase options

Courtiers

By: Lucy Worsley
Narrated by: Lucy Worsley
Try for $0.00

Auto-renews at $8.99/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $28.87

Buy Now for $28.87

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
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
All stars
Most relevant
Really interesting stories about the candle, sadness, and intrigue of the Georgians.
Sometimes the narration can feel a little bit like it's for a children's book though.

Interesting history & insight into the Georgians

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
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

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.