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The Sceptre and the Rose: Charles II and Catherine of Braganza
A captivating historical novel based of the reign of King Charles II! Perfect for fans of Philippa Gregory, Alison Weir, Jean Plaidy and Elizabeth Chadwick.
Can a marriage forged for political gain stand the test of time?
England, 1662
With King Charles II restored to the throne, he is determined to secure his reign and stabilise the monarchy. With his sights set on a strategic alliance with Portugal, he finds his match in Catherine of Braganza, a devout Catholic Portuguese princess.
Charles is captivated at first sight by his bride. But the timid young queen, plucked from a sheltered existence, is ill prepared for what awaits her at the hedonistic court of the ‘Merry Monarch’.
A notorious womaniser, Charles has no interest in being faithful to Catherine, and their marriage is placed under increasing strain as she struggles to conceive an heir to the throne.
And as Titus Oates’s ‘Popish Plot’ gains momentum in England, her religion is blamed for more and more of the country’s ills, with conspiracy theorists whispering that even the plague and the Great Fire were part of a Catholic plot.
So when Charles announces his intent to convert to Catholicism, his queen is overjoyed. But the news is certain to cause an outcry among his people…
Is there more to Charles’s decision than the desire to strengthen his marriage bond? Does Catherine stand a chance of ever winning over the public?
And when Oates accuses her of plotting to poison the king, could her head be the next one on the block?
THE SCEPTRE AND THE ROSE is an authentic biographical royal novel set in the 17th century during the reign of King Charles II.
‘Doris Leslie tells her story from the point of view of Catherine, showing her as innocent and great-hearted, the warm centre of a novel which, because it deals with a violent and tumultuous period of our history, never lacks excitement or romance.’ – Good Housekeeping
‘A vivid, sensitively written tale’ – Sunday Express
Can a marriage forged for political gain stand the test of time?
England, 1662
With King Charles II restored to the throne, he is determined to secure his reign and stabilise the monarchy. With his sights set on a strategic alliance with Portugal, he finds his match in Catherine of Braganza, a devout Catholic Portuguese princess.
Charles is captivated at first sight by his bride. But the timid young queen, plucked from a sheltered existence, is ill prepared for what awaits her at the hedonistic court of the ‘Merry Monarch’.
A notorious womaniser, Charles has no interest in being faithful to Catherine, and their marriage is placed under increasing strain as she struggles to conceive an heir to the throne.
And as Titus Oates’s ‘Popish Plot’ gains momentum in England, her religion is blamed for more and more of the country’s ills, with conspiracy theorists whispering that even the plague and the Great Fire were part of a Catholic plot.
So when Charles announces his intent to convert to Catholicism, his queen is overjoyed. But the news is certain to cause an outcry among his people…
Is there more to Charles’s decision than the desire to strengthen his marriage bond? Does Catherine stand a chance of ever winning over the public?
And when Oates accuses her of plotting to poison the king, could her head be the next one on the block?
THE SCEPTRE AND THE ROSE is an authentic biographical royal novel set in the 17th century during the reign of King Charles II.
‘Doris Leslie tells her story from the point of view of Catherine, showing her as innocent and great-hearted, the warm centre of a novel which, because it deals with a violent and tumultuous period of our history, never lacks excitement or romance.’ – Good Housekeeping
‘A vivid, sensitively written tale’ – Sunday Express
344 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1967
45 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Doris Leslie
38 books2 followersDoris Leslie, the English novelist and historical biographer.
Her first novel, ''The Starling,'' published in 1927, was a success and she produced 13 more. But her reputation rests with her historical biographies, beginning with ''Royal William,'' a study of King William IV that appeared in 1940.
''Polonaise,'' a life of Chopin, was a best seller, as were ''This For Caroline,'' a biography of Lady Caroline Lamb, and ''The Scepter and the Rose,'' the story of Charles II and Catherine of Braganza.
She was married and widowed twice, and had no children. Her second husband was Sir Walter Hannay, who died in 1961.
Her first novel, ''The Starling,'' published in 1927, was a success and she produced 13 more. But her reputation rests with her historical biographies, beginning with ''Royal William,'' a study of King William IV that appeared in 1940.
''Polonaise,'' a life of Chopin, was a best seller, as were ''This For Caroline,'' a biography of Lady Caroline Lamb, and ''The Scepter and the Rose,'' the story of Charles II and Catherine of Braganza.
She was married and widowed twice, and had no children. Her second husband was Sir Walter Hannay, who died in 1961.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 10, 2023
Lots of Drama and Tension
Catherine's heartaches and Charles's infidelities, the great plague and the great fire, the wars with the Dutch and the virulent anti-Catholicism — they are all here in a well-told story.
Catherine's heartaches and Charles's infidelities, the great plague and the great fire, the wars with the Dutch and the virulent anti-Catholicism — they are all here in a well-told story.
June 2, 2020
This 1967 historical novel about Charles II and his Portuguese wife Catherine of Braganza is pretty awful. I've read plenty of mid-20th century historical novels/romances of this ilk and - even by the standards of the genre at the time - this one fares poorly.
The author can't seem to decide whether this is a novel or a biography (she wrote both, it appears). The style, focus and plotting are all over the place. It is all very confusing.
And any author who uses the phrase "with pachydermatous effrontery" with a straight face warrants a hefty dose of ridicule.
That said, the book had two points in its favour. Firstly, I did actually find the portrayal of Catherine reasonably convincing - and touching. Secondly, it's made me want to seek out a decent novel on Catherine – this much overlooked and illtreated queen consort - and a good history of Charles II's reign and the Popish Plot, in particular.
The author can't seem to decide whether this is a novel or a biography (she wrote both, it appears). The style, focus and plotting are all over the place. It is all very confusing.
And any author who uses the phrase "with pachydermatous effrontery" with a straight face warrants a hefty dose of ridicule.
That said, the book had two points in its favour. Firstly, I did actually find the portrayal of Catherine reasonably convincing - and touching. Secondly, it's made me want to seek out a decent novel on Catherine – this much overlooked and illtreated queen consort - and a good history of Charles II's reign and the Popish Plot, in particular.
Read
January 7, 2010I'm still reading but this is a pretty good historical novel about Catherine of Braganza and Charles II of England. Well written but dated (60's) abd does not make Charles II come off as a very sympathetic character. Still a good way to pass a cold afternoon.
April 4, 2013
I have abandoned this book, it tells the story in a weird way, viz bit characters who gossip about Charles and his Portuguese wife. Sorry, there are too many really good books out there to waste time one this one any more.
November 1, 2023
Pleasant Enough
A good and quick way to learn about Catherine Dr Braganza. P
I was a little bothered by constant references to his adultery. Marital fidelity is not a quality one associates with English kings. Jealousy turned to acceptance is a role one tends to associate with most English queens. The only part that was enlightening, for me, was the deep religious division so long after Henry VIII created his own church. Generally I recommend this book.
A good and quick way to learn about Catherine Dr Braganza. P
I was a little bothered by constant references to his adultery. Marital fidelity is not a quality one associates with English kings. Jealousy turned to acceptance is a role one tends to associate with most English queens. The only part that was enlightening, for me, was the deep religious division so long after Henry VIII created his own church. Generally I recommend this book.
January 17, 2024
Touching Story of Love and Betrayal
Ch Braganza. A Catholic Queen in a predominately Protestant country. An intriguing and touching story of love, betrayal, court intrigue, and adultery. Highly recommend.
Ch Braganza. A Catholic Queen in a predominately Protestant country. An intriguing and touching story of love, betrayal, court intrigue, and adultery. Highly recommend.
October 7, 2023
The author takes a complex subject in an equally complicated time and tries to re-present it in a quasi-fictional mode, for the most part with moderate success. The historical detail is quite good, although “detail” is certainly the operational word. You learn a lot about the period and the people, but it never gets exciting or engrossing. It’s good history – not a great “novel.” If you are interested in the period, why not. I suspect you will learn more than you started out with. But it’s not exciting, and I kept having the feeling it could have been.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews