The Darling Strumpet: A Novel of Nell Gwynn, Who Captured the Heart of England and King Charles

By Gillian Bagwell

Book Overview

From London's slums to its bawdy playhouses, The Darling Strumpet charts the meteoric rise of the dazzling Nell Gwynn, who captivates the heart of King Charles II--and becomes one of the century's most famous courtesans... Witty and beautiful, Nell Gwynn is born into poverty, and trades her mother's treacherous grasp for the grim life of a prostitute at a precious young age. But before long she finds herself drawn to the theater, where she earns a place in the King's Company. As one of the first actresses in the newly opened playhouses, her talents and charms win the crowds' affection--and the heart of her leading man. But when she catches the eye of the king himself, her life is transformed in ways she could never have imagined. Surrendering her body and heart to Charles, Nell will be forced to maneuver the ruthless and shifting allegiances of the royal court--and discover a world of decadence and passion she never imagined was possible...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0425263428
• ISBN13: 9780425263426
• Release Date: June 2013
• Publisher: Berkley Books
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 2.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.8" x 6.3"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

well. that was unexpected.

Well, I can say that I was not prepared for the beginning of the story to be the way that it was. Even though that it was the way of the world back then, I was not prepared for the author to begin the story of Nell Gwyn as a child “lady of the night”. It was a tad uncomfortable to read through that portion of the story, but not too bad for you to stop the story completely. It goes through her life pretty quickly at times, then slow at others. She starts out as a young girl who sells oysters, to a “girl of the night”, a orange seller, actress and then her rise to mistress of King Charles II. The book shows her as a favorite of the people, and an easy to love woman with little demands for her royal lover. The people and courtiers loved her for her honesty, kindness and her wit. My only dismay is where is Charles II, there is very little of him in this book, well not enough for my expectations for being his mistress. But then again he juggled quite a few at a time. I will read again, but maybe not for a bit. I want to scrub away some of the scenes.