meggiemine's review against another edition
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Miscarriage, Sexism, Sexual content, Murder, Infidelity, Religious bigotry, Infertility, Death, Pregnancy, and Chronic illness
cinnaminskies's review against another edition
challenging
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.0
prof_pelon's review
informative
sad
slow-paced
4.5
A fascinating and well written history of Charles II and the women in his life. Good scholarship and entertaining.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abortion, Infidelity, Infertility, Religious bigotry, Death, Domestic abuse, Murder, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
nataliejean21's review against another edition
2.0
1.5 stars. It was SUCH a struggle to finish this audiobook. The narrator was fine, but the book itself just wasn't for me.
emesskay's review against another edition
4.0
Prior to reading this book I didn't know that much about King Charles II - I knew he had been invited back to become king of Britain after Cromwell died. I knew that he liked to party and he had a lot of mistresses. This book has been a fascinating insight into the party/mistress side of his life, in particular, how much sway his mistresses had over the affairs of state. His mistresses were able to ensure that their favorites were appointed to important governmental posts, that their out-of-wedlock children by Charles II were granted titles and income, as well as push the agenda of a foreign monarch.
From this book I definitely got the impression that Charles II was someone who enjoyed the trappings of kingship (nice clothes, estates, mistresses galore, loads of money) without actually enjoying the boring work part of being king.
But what is interesting is that the court of Charles II was so licentious, that it helped push forward a kind of sexual revolution, which extended beyond the court.
Highly recommend this book for folks interested in history, or just the behind the scenes dynamic of royalty.
From this book I definitely got the impression that Charles II was someone who enjoyed the trappings of kingship (nice clothes, estates, mistresses galore, loads of money) without actually enjoying the boring work part of being king.
But what is interesting is that the court of Charles II was so licentious, that it helped push forward a kind of sexual revolution, which extended beyond the court.
Highly recommend this book for folks interested in history, or just the behind the scenes dynamic of royalty.
alexisdpatt's review
4.0
“The King’s Bed: Sex and Power in the Court of Charles II” by Don Jordan and Michael Walsh ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Absolute gold.
Absolute gold.
edmwdm's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.0
Would have liked more illustrations.
srm's review against another edition
4.0
A fun book about a truly crazy bit of history. I now need a bunch of biographies and TV shows featuring people like Hortense Mancini and the Duke of Buckingham, and frankly, Charles himself, especially the nutty early years, escaping England and living in exile.
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