George IV: Inspiration of the Regency

by Steven Parissien

A father of modern celebrity, King George IVof England is contextualized against the cultural backdrop of his The Regency.
 Already a byword for taste and extravagance when he became Prince Regent in 1811, George IV remains as vivid and notorious a figure today as he was in his own time. He provided the monarchs who followed him with a lesson in how and how not to conduct oneself. In many ways a strikingly modern sovereign, he attempted to manipulate his public image to divert attention from the less savory aspects of his private life. His ultimate mistake was to actually believe in the image he had manufactured rather than in the depressing reality. Steven Parissien brings us George IV against the cultural backdrop of his age, showing how his legacy still affects our contemporary view of the monarchy.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Regency

480 pages, Hardcover

First published April 15, 2002

About the author

Dr Steven Parissien is an internationally-renowned author who has written extensively on architectural and cultural history. He is the director of Compton Verney museum and gallery in Warwickshire.

Reviews

[Sarah W.]

This history is not for those unfamiliar with George IV - instead of a chronological approach to this monarch's life, this book views him thematically - offering chapters on his patronage of arts, personal affairs, political approaches, etc. I found this way of viewing George IV's life jarring, because it separates out events from the larger context. While this can work for things like art patronage, it can make for confusing reading when one reads of interrelated events in separate chapters and little connection between the two. Otherwise, this is an informative book and I would recommend it to those seeking more information and understanding of this British monarch.

[J.]

It's difficult to enjoy a biography written by an author who disdains his subject.