Here Lies Our Sovereign Lord

Charles II #3

by Jean Plaidy, Victoria Holt, Philippa Carr (Contributor)

Charles II, determined his people shall know peace and religious freedom, intrigues with Louis XIV for the money that will keep him independent of Parliament and dispel the shadows cast over the throne by his son Monmouth and his own brother, the Duke of York.
When politics tire the Merry Monarch, there are always women ready to please him, and the King's passionate nature finds full rein in pretty, witty Nell Gwyn; the babyish good looks of Louise de Keroualle; and the languid beauty of violet-eyed Hortense Mancini...

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, 17th Century, British Literature, Royalty, Romance

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1957

About the author

Eleanor Alice Burford, Mrs. George Percival Hibbert was a British author of about 200 historical novels, most of them under the pen name Jean Plaidy which had sold 14 million copies by the time of her death. She chose to use various names because of the differences in subject matter between her books; the best-known, apart from Plaidy, are Victoria Holt (56 million) and Philippa Carr (3 million). Lesser known were the novels Hibbert published under her maiden name Eleanor Burford, or the pseudonyms of Elbur Ford, Kathleen Kellow and Ellalice Tate. Many of her readers under one penname never suspected her other identities.
-Wikipedia

Reviews

[Phil Syphe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I like the author’s characterisation of actress Nell Gwyn, along with Nell’s rise from obscurity to the stage, and from the stage to Charles II’s bedchamber, the rest of “Here Lies Our Sovereign Lord” ranges between moderately interesting to utterly tedious.

It's too dry with long descriptions that sound like they're taken from a history book. It's also slow-paced and lacks drama, owing to too much “telling” instead of “showing”. The following quote is blatant telling:

“young Bowman, who nervously stood before the King.”

It wouldn’t have been hard to “show” Bowman’s nervousness.

Reporting on scenes is another reason for this novel’s dryness. Having been told a character has died, the event is then told in backstory. This results in passive prose. It includes ‘had’ (past perfect) many times, such as “The doctors had come,” which again is reporting on a scene rather than taking the reader inside the action as it unfolds.

Repetition is another downside. For example, the reader doesn’t need to be told over and over that Nell wants titles for her sons. I like the relationship between Charles and Nell, but rather than be repeatedly “told” that Charles likes Nell because of her wit, why not “show” this in a few dramatized scenes?

It’s dry information that we get, rather than a lively story. The author uses a lot of reported speech, which she would’ve been better off changing to dialogue to bring the characters to life, rather than explain what they say.

Ms Plaidy was also an author who couldn't or wouldn't effectively chapterize her novels. As a result of overlong chapters, it’s hard to tell when time has passed to a significant extent. In this book’s opening chapter, we’re told at one point that Nell is ten. Numerous paragraphs go by, and I’m suddenly confused to learn that Nell is now thirteen. So, she’s aged three years yet nothing in the narrative indicates that this much time has passed.

I've rated this three stars mainly for the sections featuring Nell, which are much livelier than those with her rival Louise, and much better than the dry and dull scenes that focus on King Charles and members of his family.

Something about Jean Plaidy’s books keep me coming back for more. Perhaps it’s her obvious love for English and French history, which I share, that draws me back. I wish she’d focused less on turning out as greater quantity of novels as possible and concentrated more on quality writing. A novel like this one should be revised 15 to 20 times, yet this at best feels like a fifth draft.

[Doodles McC · Rating 4 out of 5]

I this historical novel as a young teen. Eleanor Alice Hibbert (née Burford; 1906 – 1993) was an prolific English writer as -Jean Plaidy for fictionalized history of European royalty and the three volumes of her history of the Spanish Inquisition, Victoria Holt for gothic romances, and Philippa Carr for a multi-generational family saga.

Plot - King Charles II. is the man who is quick to notice a beautiful woman and just as quick to make her his mistress, .Quite refreshingly it's one of his mistresses, Nell Gwynne, rather than Charles II who is the star of the show in this novel. Jean Plaidy traces Nell's life from her early childhood scraping in the gutter for a living while being beaten and neglected by her alcoholic mother, through to selling oranges and acting in the theatre, ultimately becoming Charles II's mistress.

The novel's political backdrop is the rivalry and enmity between Charles's brother, the heir presumptive and Catholic, James Stuart and his iillegitimate eldest Protestant son, Jemmy Duke of Monmouth who tries to strongarm his father into legitimising him and acknowledging him as his heir, backed by the Whig party among the King's advisers.

[Christine Cazeneuve · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great finale to a great series. This trilogy was so well written. As I stated before I was a bit apprehensive about reading a historical fiction series written in 1956 but these books stand the test of time. I breezed through all 3 of them as they held my attention I couldn't put them down. I can't wait to start her series on Catherine de Medici. A must read for any fans of the British Monarchy. Charles the Second was quite a man and King!

[Christine Cazeneuve · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second read through and loved it just as much. It is the 6th book in the Stuart Saga which I am now reading. Enjoying the series very much.

[N F · Rating 2 out of 5]

slow. worst book in the volume.

[Ivette Alardin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jean Plaidy es garantía, su historia novelada es increíble siempre, aprendes si darte cuenta.

[Julie Yates · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beginning of this book was great - the description of Nell Gywn's childhood and how she makes her decisions were engaging and colorful! (for awhile there I was thinking this could be 4 stars) However, I've discovered what the problem is: Plaidy wants to teach history at the expense of the characters & flow of these novels, and that means leaving the fascinating characters behind and shoving some history in there, even though it doesn't fit. Novel ends with King's death.

SO, I wanted more about the lives of the mistresses and less about King Charles letting everyone do whatever they want because he was traumatized by the execution of his father. That said, I knew absolutely nothing about King Charles II before and now I am scouring book stores for information on Nell Gywn, so Plaidy did succeed there!

But I cannot reccomend this book to anyone really. very very dry.

[Donnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its been ages since I'd read a Plaidy. In the 1980's I plowed through her novels of British Queens and Kings, learning a lot and feeling as if I had actually known the personages. Recently found this book on my shelf still unread.

Of special note: it seems the Whig and Tory parties were created during the reign of Charles II. The Tories siding with the King and the belief in the "Divine Right of Kings" which supports allowing kings to rule without a Parliament. The Whigs wanted a parliament for the people to share in ruling.

The Tory party was originally the "Court Party" and the Whigs were originally the "Country Party." The Tories named the Whigs--taking a term that was used for "Scottish robbers who raided the border and stole their neighbors goods under a cloak of hypocrisy." The Whigs returned the favor by naming the Tories by "using a term used in Ireland for those who were superstitious, bloodthirsty, ignorant and not to be trusted" (p. 215.)

Amazing woman, Jean Plaidy. Wrote tons of books under this name and then tons under each of two other names (i.e. Victoria Holt and Phillipa Carr.)

[Mandy Moody · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of King Charles II at the end of his reign, told mostly through his interactions with mistresses Nell Gwyn and Louise de Keroualle.
One of Plaidy's better novels, in my opinion.
Nell Gwyn is portrayed quite favorable, in sharp contrast to the way JP wrote many of the other women in Charles life. She's very personable and it's very easy to care about her. When her son died I very nearly cried, and again when Charles died. Nell Gwyn has always been one of my favorite of his mistresses, and this reaffirmed that feeling.
Louise de Keroualle was portrayed very differently in this book than I've ever seen her before. She is quite cold and calculating, and much smarter than she appears to be. I actually really liked her as a devious, conniving character.

[Melissa Higby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Plaidy wrote her stories in exactly the format I wanted to read. She told the very true stories of English royals in the point of view of their peers. There was plenty of indiscreet goings on but her style of writing simply hinted at this. She was a true lady and wrote from her heart. I have ready almost everything she wrote, under this name as she wrote in different genres in different names.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series on Charles II. Description seems to highlight these novels as romance, but I would not agree. While the relationships between Charles II and his many mistresses are highlighted, Plaidy does not dwell. Great historical content and written in great style.

[Sara W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third book in Plaidy's Charles II trilogy. This one focused on Charles' mistresses Nell Gwynne and Louise de Keroualle. Of all of Charles' mistresses, I think I liked Nell the best.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the history, but it got a little slow at points.

[Clea Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stagey and dated - lots of repetition and oddly formal writing - and yet I could not put it down.

[Karen Galber · Rating 4 out of 5]

The final book in the Charles II trilogy told mainly through his mistresses Louise de Kerrouaille and Nell Gwynne.

[Lynn Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last one in the Charles II trilogy.