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Queens of Georgian Britain
An account of four royal women that's "as inherently fascinating as it is exceptionally informative . . . an extraordinary read from beginning to end" (Midwest Book Review).
Once upon a time there were four kings called George who, thanks to a quirk of fate, ruled Great Britain for over a century. Hailing from Germany, these occasionally mad, bad, and infamous sovereigns presided over a land in turmoil. Yet what of the remarkable women who were crowned alongside them?
From the forgotten princess locked in a tower to an illustrious regent, a devoted consort, and a notorious party girl, the queens of Georgian Britain lived lives of scandal, romance, and turbulent drama. Whether dipping into politics or carousing on the shores of Italy, Caroline of Ansbach, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, and Caroline of Brunswick refused to fade into the background.
Queens of Georgian Britain offers a chance to step back in time and meet the women who ruled alongside the Georgian monarchs, not forgetting Sophia Dorothea of Celle, the passionate princess who never made it as far as the throne. From lonely childhoods to glittering palaces, via family feuds, smallpox, strapping soldiers, and plenty of scheming, these are the queens who shaped an era.
"A lively deep dive into the lives of four women regularly overshadowed by their husbands . . . Curzon is a captivating writer and this book is an impressive addition to her existing Georgian books." --The Lazy Historian "Curzon has a breezy, colloquial style . . . an easy and informative read." --Historical Novels Review
Once upon a time there were four kings called George who, thanks to a quirk of fate, ruled Great Britain for over a century. Hailing from Germany, these occasionally mad, bad, and infamous sovereigns presided over a land in turmoil. Yet what of the remarkable women who were crowned alongside them?
From the forgotten princess locked in a tower to an illustrious regent, a devoted consort, and a notorious party girl, the queens of Georgian Britain lived lives of scandal, romance, and turbulent drama. Whether dipping into politics or carousing on the shores of Italy, Caroline of Ansbach, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, and Caroline of Brunswick refused to fade into the background.
Queens of Georgian Britain offers a chance to step back in time and meet the women who ruled alongside the Georgian monarchs, not forgetting Sophia Dorothea of Celle, the passionate princess who never made it as far as the throne. From lonely childhoods to glittering palaces, via family feuds, smallpox, strapping soldiers, and plenty of scheming, these are the queens who shaped an era.
"A lively deep dive into the lives of four women regularly overshadowed by their husbands . . . Curzon is a captivating writer and this book is an impressive addition to her existing Georgian books." --The Lazy Historian "Curzon has a breezy, colloquial style . . . an easy and informative read." --Historical Novels Review
240 pages, ebook
First published October 30, 2017
98 people are currently reading
299 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Curzon
57 books192 followersCatherine Curzon writes books about old Hollywood and even older royals. She writes WW2 sagas for Orion as Ellie Curzon.
Catherine’s work has been featured on the official website of BBC History Magazine, and in publications such as The Daily Telegraph, All About History, Who Do You Think You Are?, and Jane Austen’s Regency World. Further afield, she has appeared in the pages of publications including The Washington Post, Town & Country, Elle Australia, Der Bund, La Vanguardia and Metrópole.
She has spoken at venues including Kenwood House, Wellington College, the Royal Pavilion, the National Maritime Museum and Dr Johnson’s House. Her first play, Being Mr Wickham, premiered to sell-out audiences in 2019. It was streamed worldwide in 2021, followed by a nationwide tour of the UK.
Catherine holds a Master’s degree in Film and when not dodging the furies of the guillotine, can be found by following the distant sound of Dino. She lives in Yorkshire atop a ludicrously steep hill with a rakish gent, a relaxed cat, and an excitable dog.
Catherine’s work has been featured on the official website of BBC History Magazine, and in publications such as The Daily Telegraph, All About History, Who Do You Think You Are?, and Jane Austen’s Regency World. Further afield, she has appeared in the pages of publications including The Washington Post, Town & Country, Elle Australia, Der Bund, La Vanguardia and Metrópole.
She has spoken at venues including Kenwood House, Wellington College, the Royal Pavilion, the National Maritime Museum and Dr Johnson’s House. Her first play, Being Mr Wickham, premiered to sell-out audiences in 2019. It was streamed worldwide in 2021, followed by a nationwide tour of the UK.
Catherine holds a Master’s degree in Film and when not dodging the furies of the guillotine, can be found by following the distant sound of Dino. She lives in Yorkshire atop a ludicrously steep hill with a rakish gent, a relaxed cat, and an excitable dog.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
March 2, 2018
I very much enjoyed this but I am unsure if the format was for me. I think I would of preferred it to have covered less women and therefore been able to go into more detail. The light skimming occasionally made it a little confusing - not helped by the habit of eighteenth-century monarchs having irritatingly similar (or just downright identical) names. I did however appreciate how much this book was obviously researched, as shown through the inclusion of footnotes and an extensive biography. As someone studying the eighteenth century at masters level, this is always welcomed in case I wish to pursue anything further.
Overall, I do recommend this book if you are looking for an introduction to the Georgian monarchs. Although this is named Queens of Georgian Britian it does cover their counterparts enough to offer a slight overview of the Georgian kings. Saying that, Curzon does seem to have a volume entitled Kings of Georgian Britain if that is specifically what you are looking for.
Overall, I do recommend this book if you are looking for an introduction to the Georgian monarchs. Although this is named Queens of Georgian Britian it does cover their counterparts enough to offer a slight overview of the Georgian kings. Saying that, Curzon does seem to have a volume entitled Kings of Georgian Britain if that is specifically what you are looking for.
November 26, 2017
Thank you to the publishers for providing an ARC of this book through NetGalley.
This was a well written, informative and engaging mini biography of four ‘Queens’ of Georgian Britain. Prior to reading this, I didn’t know much about Georgian England, except that there were a lot of kings named George, but this showed an extremely fascination snapshot of the royal household across this period. I particularly liked how each Queen was contrasted with her predecessor, as well as the King Georges. I found this topic fascinating, and this book was such a joy to read. I loved it.
This was a well written, informative and engaging mini biography of four ‘Queens’ of Georgian Britain. Prior to reading this, I didn’t know much about Georgian England, except that there were a lot of kings named George, but this showed an extremely fascination snapshot of the royal household across this period. I particularly liked how each Queen was contrasted with her predecessor, as well as the King Georges. I found this topic fascinating, and this book was such a joy to read. I loved it.
September 14, 2021
3.5 stars rounded down
Some of the tone of this did not appeal to me.
This is very light and skims the involved players which us understandable for a volume like this.
The notes and resources included are extensive so this appears and feels well researched.
Would read another history text by this author
Some of the tone of this did not appeal to me.
This is very light and skims the involved players which us understandable for a volume like this.
The notes and resources included are extensive so this appears and feels well researched.
Would read another history text by this author
December 18, 2017
An amusing and entertaining read.Four queens are covered here so a lot of skimming of their lives is done. A pretty good read none-the -less.
October 9, 2017
This book brings together the four queen consorts of Georgian Britain. Well, one actually never was queen, but she fits in the with the rest quite nicely.
As too often is the case with biographies or historical non-fiction I was afraid that it would read like one of those history school books. Luckily that worry was quickly forgotten. I did not find it dry or stuffy. Instead, the stories of these queens are well told and I flew through the pages, feeling like I was getting to know them. The author does a great job bringing these women, their husbands, and their respective characters to life.
In this ARC copy there were no portraits or pictures until the very end and I do feel that would have enhanced the reading experience if they were interspersed throughout the text. I assume that will be the case in the printed book.
All in all, a very interesting read.
*read as an Arc e-book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher*
As too often is the case with biographies or historical non-fiction I was afraid that it would read like one of those history school books. Luckily that worry was quickly forgotten. I did not find it dry or stuffy. Instead, the stories of these queens are well told and I flew through the pages, feeling like I was getting to know them. The author does a great job bringing these women, their husbands, and their respective characters to life.
In this ARC copy there were no portraits or pictures until the very end and I do feel that would have enhanced the reading experience if they were interspersed throughout the text. I assume that will be the case in the printed book.
All in all, a very interesting read.
*read as an Arc e-book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher*
October 17, 2019
Great overview of the women of this illustrious family.
November 10, 2024
Not the best book written on these women, but a very good easy to read starting point if you're researching the period.
November 23, 2017
Book received from NetGalley.
*Review to Come*
*Review to Come*
September 17, 2018
A biographical collective on the popular history of four Georgian Queens, and a refreshing break from the more frequently covered Tudors & Plantagenets. This also works as a companion to Catherine Curzon's previous collective "Kings of Georgian Britain", together making an easily digested & entertaining introduction to these lesser known figures.
This one covers Sophia Dorothea of Celle, Caroline of Ansbach, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, & Caroline of Brunswick, all of whom have been unfairly forced to take a backseat to their predessors. Most of these women were brilliant & fascniating in their own right, but suffered silently for decades under the repressive regimes of in-laws, social mores, and selfish husbands. Lucky for us, it would appear that the powers that be have taken notice: with a planned tv series based on Queen Charlotte (albeit on the basis of that unproven but alleged Moorish anscestry), and Laura Purcell's excellent Georgian Queens book series, Curzon's collectives will make good reference books to keep on the shelf.
This one covers Sophia Dorothea of Celle, Caroline of Ansbach, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, & Caroline of Brunswick, all of whom have been unfairly forced to take a backseat to their predessors. Most of these women were brilliant & fascniating in their own right, but suffered silently for decades under the repressive regimes of in-laws, social mores, and selfish husbands. Lucky for us, it would appear that the powers that be have taken notice: with a planned tv series based on Queen Charlotte (albeit on the basis of that unproven but alleged Moorish anscestry), and Laura Purcell's excellent Georgian Queens book series, Curzon's collectives will make good reference books to keep on the shelf.
August 5, 2018
In Queens of Georgian Britain, Catherine Curzon’s third book for Pen and Sword, she offers readers biographies of the female consorts of the Hanover kings – Caroline of Ansbach (George II), Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (George III) and Caroline of Brunswick (George IV), but she kicks off with their predecessor, the unfortunate Sophia Dorothea of Celle, who never made it to the throne.
As with many high-born brides, Sophia Dorothea of Celle was essentially sold off to the highest bidder and was not very happy about it. When she was told, aged 16, that that she was to marry her first cousin, George Louis, the future George I, she shouted, “I will not marry the pig snout!” (he was not a looker), and so deep was her antipathy that she fainted when she met him. The marriage was miserable and violent almost from the beginning, although Sophia Dorothea did her duty and produced two children, the future George II and the mother of Frederick the Great. Poor Sophia Dorothea’s fate was worthy of Game of Thrones plot: her lover, Count Philip Christoph von Königsmarck, was ambushed and brutally murdered, possibly on the orders of the scheming Clara Elisabeth von Meysenburg and with the connivance of George Louis; she was divorced on the grounds of her desertion of her husband (while he had many mistresses of course) and deprived of her children (she never saw them again); thereafter she was confined to an estate at Ahlden in Celle, forbidden to go further than the gates.
Caroline of Absbach, married to George II, was a very different kettle of fish. After a difficult and unsettled childhood during which she was orphaned and lived in relative poverty, she found respite in the care of Frederick, the Elector of Brandenburg (later King of Prussia), and his wife Sophia Charlotte. But when it came to marriage it was the usual story: she was reduced to a dynastic bargaining chip. A proposed match with the Catholic Archduke Charles of Austria failed (Caroline was a staunch Protestant) and she married George Augustus, the son of George Louis. The way they met, if true, was straight out of a romcom: on the hunt for a bride, he presented himself to her in disguise, admittedly as a nobleman but a rather ordinary one. Astonishingly, the couple fell for each other, although their true natures were revealed only after marriage: George Augustus was hot-tempered and thin-skinned and Caroline an arch schemer. Still, she was also clever, witty, blessed with a great intellect and pragmatic enough to accept that her husband would take mistresses. She sensibly helped choose them and befriended them in order to make sure they did not become a threat. United by in their rejection of their eldest son Frederick, the couple remained loyal to each other until her death. George never remarried.
Frederick did not accede to the throne, having predeceased his father. The next king was his son, the shy, quiet George III, aged 22, who was now in the market for a wife. Shy, unworldly Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who was deemed intelligent and ‘well made’ if a little on the ugly side, was selected and aged 17, married George by proxy, setting off for England soon afterwards. Given the family’s history, she must have been relieved to find in George a kindly and placid, if somewhat obstinate, partner. They were as close to a perfect match as is possible to imagine and they produced 15 adored children, all but two surviving to adulthood. Seismic political events such as the French and American revolutions left their mark, but it was the antics of their eldest son, George, Prince of Wales, and the mental illness of the King that added steel to Charlotte’s core.
In sharp contrast, was the eccentric Caroline of Brunswick, who married her first cousin the Prince of Wales. She was famously dishevelled, somewhat smelly and given to vulgarities. Even as a young teenager, she loved to shock – she once so successfully convinced her alarmed attendants that she was in labour that a midwife was sent for – but she was also kind, compassionate and generous. The marriage in 1795 with George, whom she had never met, was a disaster from the start. He was reluctant, having already been illegally married to the Catholic Maria Fitzherbert, but he was also desperate for cash to settle his crippling debts, and marrying was the only option. They managed to stay in the same household for no more than a few weeks, during which Princess Charlotte was conceived. Later, Caroline, who was granted only restricted access to her daughter, wandered Europe, attracting rumour and gossip wherever she went, and in 1820, three years after Princess Charlotte’s tragic death in childbirth, found herself the target of George’s vindictive ‘Delicate Investigation’, a little disguised and ultimately failed attempt to bring about a form of divorce. In 1821 George famously refused her entry to his coronation at Westminster Abbey but such was George’s unpopularity with the masses that in Caroline they identified a symbol of their own rebellious inclinations.
As with her previous works, Life in the Georgian Court and Kings of Georgian Britain and in her blog A Covent Garden Gilflurt’s Guide to Life, Catherine Curzon uses her lively and chatty style to relate the lives of these four contrasting women. Curzon paints vivid pictures of the world they inhabited and keeps the narrative trotting along by breaking the chapters up into short sections while retaining a wealth of detail. This is an entertaining, readable and enjoyable book, suitable for both history lovers and the general reader.
As with many high-born brides, Sophia Dorothea of Celle was essentially sold off to the highest bidder and was not very happy about it. When she was told, aged 16, that that she was to marry her first cousin, George Louis, the future George I, she shouted, “I will not marry the pig snout!” (he was not a looker), and so deep was her antipathy that she fainted when she met him. The marriage was miserable and violent almost from the beginning, although Sophia Dorothea did her duty and produced two children, the future George II and the mother of Frederick the Great. Poor Sophia Dorothea’s fate was worthy of Game of Thrones plot: her lover, Count Philip Christoph von Königsmarck, was ambushed and brutally murdered, possibly on the orders of the scheming Clara Elisabeth von Meysenburg and with the connivance of George Louis; she was divorced on the grounds of her desertion of her husband (while he had many mistresses of course) and deprived of her children (she never saw them again); thereafter she was confined to an estate at Ahlden in Celle, forbidden to go further than the gates.
Caroline of Absbach, married to George II, was a very different kettle of fish. After a difficult and unsettled childhood during which she was orphaned and lived in relative poverty, she found respite in the care of Frederick, the Elector of Brandenburg (later King of Prussia), and his wife Sophia Charlotte. But when it came to marriage it was the usual story: she was reduced to a dynastic bargaining chip. A proposed match with the Catholic Archduke Charles of Austria failed (Caroline was a staunch Protestant) and she married George Augustus, the son of George Louis. The way they met, if true, was straight out of a romcom: on the hunt for a bride, he presented himself to her in disguise, admittedly as a nobleman but a rather ordinary one. Astonishingly, the couple fell for each other, although their true natures were revealed only after marriage: George Augustus was hot-tempered and thin-skinned and Caroline an arch schemer. Still, she was also clever, witty, blessed with a great intellect and pragmatic enough to accept that her husband would take mistresses. She sensibly helped choose them and befriended them in order to make sure they did not become a threat. United by in their rejection of their eldest son Frederick, the couple remained loyal to each other until her death. George never remarried.
Frederick did not accede to the throne, having predeceased his father. The next king was his son, the shy, quiet George III, aged 22, who was now in the market for a wife. Shy, unworldly Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who was deemed intelligent and ‘well made’ if a little on the ugly side, was selected and aged 17, married George by proxy, setting off for England soon afterwards. Given the family’s history, she must have been relieved to find in George a kindly and placid, if somewhat obstinate, partner. They were as close to a perfect match as is possible to imagine and they produced 15 adored children, all but two surviving to adulthood. Seismic political events such as the French and American revolutions left their mark, but it was the antics of their eldest son, George, Prince of Wales, and the mental illness of the King that added steel to Charlotte’s core.
In sharp contrast, was the eccentric Caroline of Brunswick, who married her first cousin the Prince of Wales. She was famously dishevelled, somewhat smelly and given to vulgarities. Even as a young teenager, she loved to shock – she once so successfully convinced her alarmed attendants that she was in labour that a midwife was sent for – but she was also kind, compassionate and generous. The marriage in 1795 with George, whom she had never met, was a disaster from the start. He was reluctant, having already been illegally married to the Catholic Maria Fitzherbert, but he was also desperate for cash to settle his crippling debts, and marrying was the only option. They managed to stay in the same household for no more than a few weeks, during which Princess Charlotte was conceived. Later, Caroline, who was granted only restricted access to her daughter, wandered Europe, attracting rumour and gossip wherever she went, and in 1820, three years after Princess Charlotte’s tragic death in childbirth, found herself the target of George’s vindictive ‘Delicate Investigation’, a little disguised and ultimately failed attempt to bring about a form of divorce. In 1821 George famously refused her entry to his coronation at Westminster Abbey but such was George’s unpopularity with the masses that in Caroline they identified a symbol of their own rebellious inclinations.
As with her previous works, Life in the Georgian Court and Kings of Georgian Britain and in her blog A Covent Garden Gilflurt’s Guide to Life, Catherine Curzon uses her lively and chatty style to relate the lives of these four contrasting women. Curzon paints vivid pictures of the world they inhabited and keeps the narrative trotting along by breaking the chapters up into short sections while retaining a wealth of detail. This is an entertaining, readable and enjoyable book, suitable for both history lovers and the general reader.
October 30, 2022
Thank you to Pen & Sword for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review.
Queens of Georgian Britain by Catherine Curzon introduces the reader to the consorts of the four King Georges: Sophia Dorothea of Celle, Caroline of Ansbach, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and Caroline of Brunswick. This book would make a fantastic introduction to the Georgian royal family, or if you are already familiar, but want to refresh your knowledge, then Queens of Georgian Britain is the ideal book for you!
All four women are fascinating, their lives were filled with drama and tragedy. Their children were either used as weapons against them or became thorns in their sides. The four Georges all had their faults and being married to them must have been very difficult. It looked like Charlotte of Meckelenberg-Strelitz might have a happy ending with fifteen children and a loving husband, but alas, her marriage descended into misery when her husband, George III was taken over by mental illness.
I loved the inclusion of Sophia Dorothea of Celle, wife of George I and mother of George II. Although she never became queen due to her affair with Phillip Von Konigsmarck, which led to George divorcing her and imprisoning Sophia for the rest of her life. It felt right to have her included in the book, there’s a lot of family trauma that is passed down through the generations of Georges, and her mention in the book helps to explain some of these. (I believe the author has written a separate book about Sophia Dorothea of Celle, which is going straight on my Wishlist!)
Even though they are all amazing to read about, my favourite of the Georgian Queens is Charlotte, I know that Curzon has recently written a biography about her ‘The Real Queen Charlotte: Inside the Real Bridgerton Court’ also published by Pen & Sword. So, look out for that if you want to read more about Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, I am extremely excited to read it!
Curzon’s books are always a joy to read, she has written extensively about the 18th century - check out Pen and Sword’s website - her writing is witty and light-hearted, while getting straight to the point. Curzon did a great job of fitting 4 women’s lives into one book. I highly recommend Queens of Georgian Britain; I learnt a lot from this book and thoroughly enjoyed reading it!
Queens of Georgian Britain by Catherine Curzon introduces the reader to the consorts of the four King Georges: Sophia Dorothea of Celle, Caroline of Ansbach, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and Caroline of Brunswick. This book would make a fantastic introduction to the Georgian royal family, or if you are already familiar, but want to refresh your knowledge, then Queens of Georgian Britain is the ideal book for you!
All four women are fascinating, their lives were filled with drama and tragedy. Their children were either used as weapons against them or became thorns in their sides. The four Georges all had their faults and being married to them must have been very difficult. It looked like Charlotte of Meckelenberg-Strelitz might have a happy ending with fifteen children and a loving husband, but alas, her marriage descended into misery when her husband, George III was taken over by mental illness.
I loved the inclusion of Sophia Dorothea of Celle, wife of George I and mother of George II. Although she never became queen due to her affair with Phillip Von Konigsmarck, which led to George divorcing her and imprisoning Sophia for the rest of her life. It felt right to have her included in the book, there’s a lot of family trauma that is passed down through the generations of Georges, and her mention in the book helps to explain some of these. (I believe the author has written a separate book about Sophia Dorothea of Celle, which is going straight on my Wishlist!)
Even though they are all amazing to read about, my favourite of the Georgian Queens is Charlotte, I know that Curzon has recently written a biography about her ‘The Real Queen Charlotte: Inside the Real Bridgerton Court’ also published by Pen & Sword. So, look out for that if you want to read more about Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, I am extremely excited to read it!
Curzon’s books are always a joy to read, she has written extensively about the 18th century - check out Pen and Sword’s website - her writing is witty and light-hearted, while getting straight to the point. Curzon did a great job of fitting 4 women’s lives into one book. I highly recommend Queens of Georgian Britain; I learnt a lot from this book and thoroughly enjoyed reading it!
November 2, 2017
Queens of Georgian Britain by Catherine Curzon is a book that history enthusiasts will love. Those who do not wholeheartedly embrace history should also enjoy this book, in part because of the writing style and the format of the book itself.
I’m a Medievalist at heart, but Georgian Britain is an era I enjoy studying, and it’s difficult to find books on this subject at bookstores in the US! As a result, I was thrilled when presented with the opportunity to read Queens of Georgian Britain.
I have never read any of her previous works and found Ms. Curzon’s writing engrossing even though it is more informal than most non-fiction books I’ve read. This is no boring history textbook! Instead, it’s an easy to read book that focuses on the four wives of King Georges II, III, and IV of Great Britain.
However, I do suggest that if you are not familiar with the historical figures present in the book, you have Wikipedia page available because the book covers over a century of history and some of the names are similar. It can be difficult to follow who belongs to which country and which child belongs to which set of parents, as the sections aren’t completely in chronological order.
The political machinations that take place in each queen’s life—some as a direct result of interference from more powerful family—is a fascinating insight into the schemes that shaped Great Britain and some of Europe over this time period. It’s amazing what people with power will do to keep it! Though I can’t empathize with a lot of it—as I am neither royalty or nobility and will definitely not have an arranged marriage—I can understand the feelings of hope, disappointment, and anger these women feel as their lives move in directions they didn’t always anticipate.
I give this book 4/5 stars and recommend it to those interested in learning more about Sophia Dorothea of Celle, Caroline of Ansbach, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Caroline of Brunswick, their Georges, and Georgian Britain.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from Pen and Sword Publishing through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.**
I’m a Medievalist at heart, but Georgian Britain is an era I enjoy studying, and it’s difficult to find books on this subject at bookstores in the US! As a result, I was thrilled when presented with the opportunity to read Queens of Georgian Britain.
I have never read any of her previous works and found Ms. Curzon’s writing engrossing even though it is more informal than most non-fiction books I’ve read. This is no boring history textbook! Instead, it’s an easy to read book that focuses on the four wives of King Georges II, III, and IV of Great Britain.
However, I do suggest that if you are not familiar with the historical figures present in the book, you have Wikipedia page available because the book covers over a century of history and some of the names are similar. It can be difficult to follow who belongs to which country and which child belongs to which set of parents, as the sections aren’t completely in chronological order.
The political machinations that take place in each queen’s life—some as a direct result of interference from more powerful family—is a fascinating insight into the schemes that shaped Great Britain and some of Europe over this time period. It’s amazing what people with power will do to keep it! Though I can’t empathize with a lot of it—as I am neither royalty or nobility and will definitely not have an arranged marriage—I can understand the feelings of hope, disappointment, and anger these women feel as their lives move in directions they didn’t always anticipate.
I give this book 4/5 stars and recommend it to those interested in learning more about Sophia Dorothea of Celle, Caroline of Ansbach, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Caroline of Brunswick, their Georges, and Georgian Britain.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from Pen and Sword Publishing through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.**
July 12, 2018
We have heard about the mad king George III and his son George IV. However, we tend to forget the queens who reigned alongside them. Thus, Mrs. Curzon gives us a biography of the four queens during the Hanoverian reign, starting with Sophia Dorothea of Celle, the wife of George I and the princess who never made it to the throne. Mrs. Curzon shows that each of these queens faced many challenges and were strong women in their own right.
While reading these short biographies, I was fascinated and sympathetic to these women. Most of them went through many hardships, and I was astounded how they dealt with them. For instance, Sophia Dorothea of Celle spent most of her life under house arrest. Caroline of Ansbach had to endure her husband George II’s mistresses. Charlotte had to endure George III’s madness. She was so afraid of being alone with him that she always insisted her daughters accompany her. Caroline of Brunswick had to endure George IV putting her on public trial for adultery so that he could divorce her. Therefore, my heart broke for these women as I learned of their unhappy stories. Even though these women were dazzled by the glittering prospect of becoming queen, their lives were not as shimmering as they hoped. They realized the crown was merely an illusion. In fact, Caroline of Brunswick deeply regretted marrying George IV.
Overall, this was a very sympathetic look at each Hanoverian queen. The biographies are short, but very detailed. The writing was very witty, engaging, and insightful. I did not know anything about the Georgian queens. However, it deepened my interest, and I’m curious to learn more about them. This book is recommended to novices like me who do not know much about the era. Thus, if you have never heard of the queens, I suggest you have a cup of tea and get lost in reading about these extraordinary women. I bet that you will also be astounded by their stories as I was. Queens of Georgian Britain proves that these queens should never be forgotten.
(Note: I read an ARC copy of this book in courtesy of Netgalley.)
While reading these short biographies, I was fascinated and sympathetic to these women. Most of them went through many hardships, and I was astounded how they dealt with them. For instance, Sophia Dorothea of Celle spent most of her life under house arrest. Caroline of Ansbach had to endure her husband George II’s mistresses. Charlotte had to endure George III’s madness. She was so afraid of being alone with him that she always insisted her daughters accompany her. Caroline of Brunswick had to endure George IV putting her on public trial for adultery so that he could divorce her. Therefore, my heart broke for these women as I learned of their unhappy stories. Even though these women were dazzled by the glittering prospect of becoming queen, their lives were not as shimmering as they hoped. They realized the crown was merely an illusion. In fact, Caroline of Brunswick deeply regretted marrying George IV.
Overall, this was a very sympathetic look at each Hanoverian queen. The biographies are short, but very detailed. The writing was very witty, engaging, and insightful. I did not know anything about the Georgian queens. However, it deepened my interest, and I’m curious to learn more about them. This book is recommended to novices like me who do not know much about the era. Thus, if you have never heard of the queens, I suggest you have a cup of tea and get lost in reading about these extraordinary women. I bet that you will also be astounded by their stories as I was. Queens of Georgian Britain proves that these queens should never be forgotten.
(Note: I read an ARC copy of this book in courtesy of Netgalley.)
September 5, 2018
Back in January I reviewed “Kings of Georgian Britain” by this author and now it’s time to talk about the Queens. This book is organized chronologically with four section, each describing the life and relationships of the queens. Act I starts with Sophia Dorothea, then we Queen Caroline, Queen Charlotte and another Queen Caroline to end the Georgian era. Each of these women have unique stories that the author narrates expertly. The reader has a chance to become familiar with their personalities, their strengths and their weaknesses. Some of them were loved, while others were despised and rejected. Sophia’s story is one of disappointment and heartache, while the other 3 enjoyed great popularity, at least with the people if not their husbands. One thing is very clear and that is that you can’t pigeonhole these women, they are complex and intriguing.
Having now read a second book by this author, she has become a favorite. The writing style is clear and engaging. There is no heaviness and she uses lots of subsections which I like because sometimes you only have 5 or 10 minutes to read. It seems clear to me that she really enjoys her subject and has done copious amounts of research. After reading this book, I would say that these women have become real people in my mind, not just pictures in a history text. I highly recommend both this book and the companion book about the kings if you want to get a better understanding of the period of the Georgians. Well done!
Having now read a second book by this author, she has become a favorite. The writing style is clear and engaging. There is no heaviness and she uses lots of subsections which I like because sometimes you only have 5 or 10 minutes to read. It seems clear to me that she really enjoys her subject and has done copious amounts of research. After reading this book, I would say that these women have become real people in my mind, not just pictures in a history text. I highly recommend both this book and the companion book about the kings if you want to get a better understanding of the period of the Georgians. Well done!
December 8, 2017
This book was sent to me by Pen and Sword Books in exchange for an honest review.
Queens of Georgian Britain by Catherine Curzon ticks several significant boxes for me: Georgian/English history, queens and a book containing several biographies of fascinating women.
I was also drawn to this book because I live in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, named for Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the wife of George III. (She’s the lady on the cover.)
Although the biographies of Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and Caroline of Brunswick were the most exciting of the four, the whole book is a lively deep dive into the lives of four women regularly overshadowed by their husbands.
Curzon is a captivating writing and this book is an impressive addition to her existing Georgian books.
Books that contain biographies of several people in one book are one of my favorite things to read because you get a titillating taste of the exciting life they lived, but only the best written of these books makes you want to pick up another book and read further into their lives. This book easily accomplishes that.
Queens of Georgian Britain by Catherine Curzon ticks several significant boxes for me: Georgian/English history, queens and a book containing several biographies of fascinating women.
I was also drawn to this book because I live in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, named for Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the wife of George III. (She’s the lady on the cover.)
Although the biographies of Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and Caroline of Brunswick were the most exciting of the four, the whole book is a lively deep dive into the lives of four women regularly overshadowed by their husbands.
Curzon is a captivating writing and this book is an impressive addition to her existing Georgian books.
Books that contain biographies of several people in one book are one of my favorite things to read because you get a titillating taste of the exciting life they lived, but only the best written of these books makes you want to pick up another book and read further into their lives. This book easily accomplishes that.
October 6, 2017
The Georgian era of Britain lasted for several generations, and for each King George there was a queen, either wanted or unwanted, by his side.
What I especially loved about this nonfiction work was the lighthearted tone in which it was written. An abundance of information is given about each queen (or in one case, one who might have been queen) but it isn't done in a dry, overwhelming way.
Each queen is given her own section. We learn of her childhood, the politics of her day, whether she had an impact on her world or not, and how she bowed out to the queen to come before her.
This is a fantastic resource that I would read again and again, and still learn something new!
I received a gift copy through NetGalley for reviewing purposes.
What I especially loved about this nonfiction work was the lighthearted tone in which it was written. An abundance of information is given about each queen (or in one case, one who might have been queen) but it isn't done in a dry, overwhelming way.
Each queen is given her own section. We learn of her childhood, the politics of her day, whether she had an impact on her world or not, and how she bowed out to the queen to come before her.
This is a fantastic resource that I would read again and again, and still learn something new!
I received a gift copy through NetGalley for reviewing purposes.
December 14, 2017
This chatty biography of the wives of the Georgian kings of Britain will appeal to the reader interested in an intimate glimpse into these women’s personal lives. A sort of “Vasari’s lives” of the queens, each chapter is relatively short (which frankly helps to keep track of which George, Sophia or Caroline is contemporary!) From the bed chamber to the council chamber, from Hanover to Italy and back to England, Curzon gives as a close-in view of the queens, their families and the courtiers who surrounded them.
July 24, 2022
A good book to provide an overview of the four Georgian Queens. It was written in a very readable form. I learned more about how the Hanover family began with Sophie. I did feel like I would have liked more details, sometimes it seemed like events were more glossed over than I would have liked. I was also disappointed that Queen Adelaide was not included in this group of women. While I understand William the lV was not named George I think of her as a Georgian or maybe more correctly a Hanoverian Queen.
November 6, 2017
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I thoroughly enjoyed this historical nonfiction look at Georgian Britain. In my experience, I have not found a lot of literature about this field, and the consorts of the Georges. Not dry at all, and I will probably return to this book again in the future.
I thoroughly enjoyed this historical nonfiction look at Georgian Britain. In my experience, I have not found a lot of literature about this field, and the consorts of the Georges. Not dry at all, and I will probably return to this book again in the future.
June 5, 2018
The author has a lovely, easy, writing style. In terms of learning anything new, I would describe it as being aimed at people with little or no knowledge of the period. If you know a reasonable amount about the monarchy of Georgian Britain then don't expect too much from it, a lot of it is a re-telling of known stories.
October 28, 2023
If you are interested in the British monarchy but know relatively little history, this book will give you the basics about the Georgian era queens. For more knowledgeable readers, there are plenty of other works covering the same topic so you probably won't learn anything new. Also, this book has been rather sloppily edited so be prepared for quite a few indefinite pronouns.
August 18, 2019
This book is an informative and engaging romp through the lives of the wives of the four King Georges of the UK.
I didn't know much about these women aside from Queen Charlotte, so it was a great read.
The author painted quite the picture of the Georgian period and I enjoyed learning about it.
I didn't know much about these women aside from Queen Charlotte, so it was a great read.
The author painted quite the picture of the Georgian period and I enjoyed learning about it.
July 24, 2020
It's an excellent reading. Well documented, the writing is very comprehensive and it also presents a good view of the royal characters reasonably so. I for one who knew little of these British Queens of the period, think a good deal of knowledge had been acquired after the reading.
May 31, 2018
3.5 stars.
June 19, 2019
Enjoyable read. I just wanted more information in a couple spots, like with the royal couple Frederick and Augusta. And more on the children who were not the heirs.
Want to read
April 1, 2020$1.99
January 3, 2022
Loved yet another book on the Royal Georgians by Catherine Curzon: well told, well researched - a great addition to my e-library!
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