Product Description

Tells the story of Catherine of Braganza, Charles II's Portuguese Queen set against the background of injustice and tragedy.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #166172 in Books
• Published on: 2008-04-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

About the Author
Hilda Lewis was one of the best-known and best-loved of all historical novelists. She was born in London and lived for much of her life in Nottingham. She wrote over 20 novels, most published in hardback by Hutchinson and paperbacked by Arrow. Hilda Lewis died in 1974.

Customer Reviews

Heart rending romp
This book tells the story of the marriage of Catherine to Charles. Politics, sex, lies, religion and misunderstanding meant that their marriage was never going to be what she hoped. A wonderful story making you feel for Catherine but understand Charles. Really good read if you're into Restoration history, and even if you're not.

An good insight into an arranged royal marriage
I found this book a slow starter which improved when Catherine eventually arrives in England.

Hilda Lewis has really researched her characters well, but I did feel that Catherine was portrayed in a rather self-pitying light and she came over as a bit of a whinger. Fiercely religious, I don't believe she was like that. She was a good woman and possessed wit. After the initial shock of discovering Charles's infidelity, I don't think she would have bore grudges against Charles's mistresses quite as intensely as Hilda Lewis portrays. Afterall a married man taking mistress was commonplace in the Stuart times.

I feel that Charles's mother's character (Henrietta, wife of Charles I) should have been brought more into the story as when Catherine refuses to accept Charles's mistress he feels as if his new bride is going to be a controlling, domineering woman just like his mother. It is this that makes him hostile towards her.

Hilda Lewis writes that Catherine never feels that her husband never really loved her. I think, although always unfaithful to her, he loved her in his own way. Charles II was a very affectionate, loving man, father, son and brother. His vast sexual appetite meant that no one woman would ever satisfy him. His capability to form a rather unusual family that included both mistresses, illegitimate children and his wife around him mirrors the life of his grandfather Henry IV of France.

Charles II always appreciated the loyalty of those he loved, and Catherine in particular he sought to risk Civil War in order to protect her. I have read that it wasn't until the end of their marriage that Catherine felt able to display open affection towards her husband, a man who suffered much and was hungry for affection.