The Secret Wife of King George IV

by Diane Haeger

Although it was illegal, secret, and against the express commands of his famously mad father, King George IV of England married twice--once for duty and once for love. While Caroline of Brunswick eventually became his lawful queen, it was the beautiful Maria Fitzherbert, recognized as his wife by the Catholic Church but not by the laws of England, who claimed his heart. In the hands of author Diane Haeger, their relationship becomes a mesmerizing love story, filled with intrigue and passion. The characters and drawing rooms of 18th Century England come alive to create a portrait of the age that is colorful and resonant with historical detail.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Romance, Fiction, Royalty, British Literature, 18th Century

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Diane Haeger is the bestselling author of fifteen published novels, including Courtesan, The Ruby Ring and My Dearest Cecilia. Her work, to date, has been translated into 18 different languages and has been featured in the LA Times and Harper's Bazaar Magazine. She loves telling real stories from history. She lives in California with her husband and family.

Reviews

[lacy white · Rating 2 out of 5]

First Thoughts
This was...not a good book. It really wasn’t. And that is so disappointing to me because I liked this book a lot when I was younger. I thought it was a beautiful tale of two lovers torn apart by circumstances outside their control. But young Lacy can make mistakes. And boy, this was a mistake.

The Characters
Oh boy. The characters. We follow George, future king and Maria, a Catholic widow. I disliked both of them a lot. Maria was strong willed and a feminist but she could be so incredibly rude. It just drove me nuts. I appreciated that she wanted to take control of her own future and marry someone because she wanted to and loved them not because it would further her family status. She stood her ground with that and I respected the hell out of that. Don’t get me wrong. I love strong females but you don't have to be so rude to everyone. Maria snapped at a lot of people who were just trying to help her and I was surprised she actually had friends.

George was also irritating and probably will go down as one of the worst males I’ve ever read about (and I strongly disliked the Darkling). He wouldn’t take no for an answer and essentially harassed Maria until she said yes. Maria moved across the country to escape him and yet, he found her and harassed the hell out of her. That certainly is not okay. FYI: it’s not actually a yes if you repeatedly ask until she says yes. There was a lot more about both of them that I disliked but I can't be bothered to write it all down.

The Plot
The entire plot was one giant “tragic” love story between Maria and George. But let me tell you, friends, this was not tragic. This relationship was toxic! George was always lying to Maria and he would justify those lies by saying it was all for his love for Maria. They were constantly on and off. And the ending just didn’t justify the struggle of this book. I just couldn’t support such a toxic relationship. Not one bit.

Trigger Warnings
AS usual with historical fiction books there is: slut shaming, fat shaming, child abuse and cheating. There is somewhat graphic scene of a child abuse incident that takes a few pages.

Final Thoughts
I wouldn’t recommend this book to anybody. The relationship between Maria and George was far too toxic. Maria and George were unlikable in every way possible. The plot was slow. Everything was just not good. Skip this book at all cost.

[LibraryCin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

King George IV (King of England between 1820 an 1830) before becoming king, did not get along with this father at all. Not only that, he fell in love with a Catholic (Maria) and there was no way his father would agree for them to marry. Maria insisted on being married before agreeing to becoming further involved in the relationship, so they married in a Catholic ceremony (that was illegal/not recognized in England). George had hoped his father would not live much longer (but he did), so he would be able to change that law and have Maria recognized as his legal wife.

This is not a time period I have read much (or anything?) about. It was really interesting to learn of this secret relationship/marriage. There was more romance to the story than I’d expected; I added this to my tbr a long time ago, so it’s possible I realized that at the time. But it was still interesting. There were times that the story moved a bit slowly, though. I also can’t say I really liked either main character, but I was still interested to read that this had happened at all.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

[Molly Murphy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book I would rate at about a 2.5 or three. The story itself was interesting but the writing was slow and hard to get into, and besides George and Maria, none of the characters really "came alive" for me. So apparently King George IV (Queen Victoria's uncle) secretly married Maria FitzHerbert, though it wasn't so secret and she was really slandered for it. It was really interesting, seeing King George III who was the enemy of our countrymen some 250 years ago, and it was shameful how the man treated his oldest son, who was very reckless and whom I grew to love. Sadly, because his father didn't die like he thought he would, George kept having to do things that compromised Maria's trust just to marry her. I understand how they looked wrong, but I wish Maria had been more understanding, because he sacrificed so much for her, because she was the love of his life. At least they reunited, but I was kind of hoping for more resolution between them earlier on, more of a "happy-ever-after" type ending. But I guess Diane Haeger is more of a realist than I am. Oh well.
Also, Maria is already thirty when the book starts but the cover shows a young girl. I don't know why, but cover inaccuracies really bother me.

[Sina & Ilona Glimmerfee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Die Geschichte einer großen Liebe - Verboten, gefährlich und voller Leidenschaft. Maria Fitzgerald und der Prinzregent von England, der später unter dem Namen George IV. in die Geschichte eingeht.
Ich habe das Buch an zwei Tagen gelesen und und es hat mir sehr gut gefallen.

[Ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked all the other Diane Haeger books I read but I could barely finish this one. The writing was too flowery, too much like a romance novel.

[Natasa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Diane Haeger is a talented author, with an ability to create characters that are believable and larger than life. I especially liked her take on Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire. Most historians paint her as this wonderfully independent woman, but Haeger brings out a different side of Georgiana that made for a great read. Anyone who likes historical fiction or historical romance will enjoy this novel.

[Bobbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was not familiar with the reign of King George IV, heir to King George III who reigned during the American Revolution, until stumbling upon this book. For me, it was enlightening to find a book which I found just as interesting as any of those written about the Tudor dynasty while offering an opportunity to learn more about a monarch about which I had previously known very little. This book delivers an intriguing glimpse into the personal life of King George IV and his scandalous secret marriage to Maria Fitzherbert, which was considered invalid under the laws of England, since she was a Roman Catholic and members of the royal family were allowed only to marry within the Protestant faith at the time. It is also intensely personal journey of a woman adjusting to a life of wife/mother in a very politically complicated time. This book is a fascinating, well written, and enjoyable account of one of the most intriguing love stories of all time and Haeger does a magnificent job of making the characters who make the facts of the story come to life. Highly recommended!

[ErinAlise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A frenzied love story, full of ups and downs, heartbreak and deception but ultimately behind it all lies true love.
Recently widowed Maria Fitzherbert is visiting London with her uncle and aunt where she soon catches the eye of George Augustus who is none other than the heir to Englands throne. George is use to getting what he wants but in Maria he has definitely met his match and when the mention of her becoming his mistress is made she quickly objects as her catholic beliefs prohibit such behavior. A desperate man in love, George will stop at nothing to prove to Maria just how much he truly loves her. What soon unfolds is a tale of how their love defied the odds, how they entered into a marriage which was defined as illegal and how they survived. Although history tells of King George Augustus as being married to Caroline of Brunswick, this book records of who his true wife was and would always be, despite it all.
Well written and compelling story that is somewhat more romance than my usual style but nevertheless a very enjoyable read!

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I love "regency-era" stories, I knew very little about the Prince Regent himself, and what his story was. What I had picked up was mostly negative, so I wanted to read this story about his secret wife Mrs. Fitzherbert. What I found was a nicely written story, definitely with a romanticized George. I thought it interesting while reading it, that there were some interesting parallels between George and Maria and Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, and if only the British Monarchy was more absolute in the time of the Regency could their story have been different. This book also made me wonder about Caroline of Brunswick and if she was really as vulgar as this book portrayed her as, which is something I'll have to look up.

One thing I didn't enjoy was the cause of their major separation. I didn't find it plausible that it caused a rift for that long.

[Nicole1999 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a great fictionalized account of the relationship between George IV and his first and secret wife, Maria Fitzherbert. It really made me want to read some history books about their relationship just to see how much of it was true!

Although there were a couple historical inaccuracies, I'm willing to overlook it because I adored the characters so much!

[Laura C. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh! I’m sure this is a fascinating part of history but was written like a harlequin romance. Too much fiction in this historical fiction.

“Nothing can ever part us that we do not allow. This is what we must believe.”

[Kate Reardon · Rating 5 out of 5]

i don’t understand the low rating on this book! i can say confidently this is my favorite book i’ve read so far. i loved that some pieces were true and nonfiction but the story read like a fun bridgerton era romance. loved this book

[Jes Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this historical novel of King George IV and his wife but not queen, Maria. A great weaving of historical truths with a story that kept me turning pages.

[Stephanie Pollard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful book! I had never heard of the story between England's George IV and Maria Fitzherbert. Definitely a tale of true romance... with scandal, heartbreak, betrayal, forgiveness, and the power of true love against the test of time.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sympathetic portrayal of King George IV and his relationship with Maria Fitzherbert, who was his first wife but was never recognized as such by English law.

I just finished this novel yesterday. I read it over the course of two days, while my back was out, I pretty much read straight through without coming up for air. I found it to be a very moving story and while not the most fabulously written historical novel I've ever read I did think that Diane Haeger did a wonderful job of creating life like characters based on these historical figures. The love story between Maria and the Prince Regent (he later becomes King George) was very moving.

As a rule I do not care for 'Romance' novels and while I think this should be categorized as 'Historical Romance' I still enjoyed it very much. Yes, there were some sexually intimate moments between the characters. I don't typically care for such exchanges, but I thought Haeger portrayed them tastefully. Readers with more puritanical sensibilities than I could be offended by such exchanges.

While the political history of the period is only a muted backdrop to the love story the relationship between the Prince Regent and King George III plays a larger role. I found myself feeling sorry for those born to royalty who are forced to resist what they would want for themsleves in order to satisfy their country.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a bitter-sweet love story.

[MBenzz · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading quite possibly every book ever written about Henry VIII and his wives, and Charles II and his wife and mistresses, I decided it was time to move on to a different branch of the Royal family. This was my first introduction to George IV and Maria Fitzherbert. Because of this, I can't comment on the accuracy of this story, but given that it's Historical Fiction I'm sure there's a lot of 'fluff' thrown in to make the story more enjoyable.

'Fluff' aside, I really enjoyed this book. This is my third or fourth Diane Haeger book, and she has yet to disappoint me. She made Maria and George come alive this book, and I really had a clear understanding of just how deeply they cared for one another. It was frustrating at times that Maria didn't seem to understand that George did the things he did to protect her. I know he promised never to deny their marriage outright, but the King (his father, George III) gave him no options. He HAD to give a definitive yes or no answer as to whether or not he and Maria were married. Yes meant almost certain arrest for Maria since it was illegal for them to marry (due to her being a Catholic), and no meant breaking his promise to Maria. It got a little irritating at times that she constantly played the 'wounded dove'. You'd think she would be a little more understanding considering all that George had done and risked for her.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good choice for someone who loves plush historical settings but wants minimal romance to go along with the drama. The novel is about King George IV, his one true love Maria Anne Fitzherbert, and the intolerance of inter-religious marriages within British Georgian society. As Maria is a Catholic and the King is an Anglican, British royalty forbid George IV to marry anyone who is not of his own religious denomination and preferably someone who will make a smart political match. While his parents arrange a marriage with his cousin Caroline of Brunswick, George falls hopelessly in love with Maria and secretly marries her. However, gossip spreads fast among fashionable British society and soon all of London knows that he has an illegal and, in the eyes of British law, an illegitimate wife. As George and Maria attempt to build a life together in Bath away from the prying eyes of London, disaster strikes and their marriage- as well as their love- are damaged forever.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

A poignant and spellbinding story of two people from different social classes who fall in love and marry secretly (and illegally) in the time of (mad!) King George III of England. His son, George Augustus, is a Protestant (Church of England) and heir to the throne. Maria Fitzherbert is twice widowed and a Catholic. By law they cannot marry so their marriage must be kept a secret to protect themselves (and others) from prosecution.

Well done plot...showing the joys and pitfalls of such a relationship. Though the plot is fiction, this book takes us behind-the-scenes of the true life relationship between this Crown Prince and his much-loved wife who were abused by society and the media of the day.

I could feel their pain...their anguish. When I read the last page, I wanted more. That's what makes a good book!

[Gail]

I love historical fiction, especially about English history. This is a fun book, easy to read, about the life of King George and his "wife" Maria. The characterization is good, not great. The historical descriptions of the time are accurate and magical. Some of the behaviors of George are a bit too simply explained. His choosing what was best for the country over what was best for him is a bit far-fetched. It makes me want to read a biography of George to see what historians have to say about his love life.

[Helen Azar · Rating 3 out of 5]

An overly romanticized portrayal of the relationship between the catholic Maria Fitzherbert and King George VI(whom he illegally married while he was still the Prince of Wales). The author clearly has a lot of sympathy for George (who wasn't all that sympathetic) and gives him way too much credit for having a noble character - while history clearly shows us he was not so noble after all. If you want a more realistic fictionalized depiction of Mrs Fitzherbert and her relationship with the sixth George, I would recommend "The Sweet Lass from Richmond Hill" by Jean Plaidy.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was better than I expected. The Character of Maria was sort of flexible. At times she was portrayed as a morally sound good girl and at other times she was just stubborn. I didn't feel her character held throughout the book. I found myself not liking her and finding her kind of snotty (like her "friends" in the book). George IV was kind of an idiot...there were so many things he could have done differently. He just couldn't get it right. That being said I found the story really interesting.

[Sierra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book a while back, so I'm a little foggy on the details, but I really enjoyed the story. I think the eternal struggle between Catholics and Protestants over control of England is really exemplified in this story of a prince (and later king) who has to choose between love and policy (Don't they all?). I appreciated that Maria Fitzherbert wasn't willing to sacrifice her dignity or her religious beliefs for political power-- I think it made her a much more dynamic protagonist.

[Alethea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this novel quite a lot; however, I felt it was more of a historical romance than a piece of true historical fiction. It was very interesting to learn a little about George IV and his Catholic wife, Maria Fitzherbert. George IV was buried with a locket with a picture of her around his neck, calling her his only true wife, despite the fact that he was married to another woman who reigned as his queen. Interesting, but a bit too romancey for me.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the character of the secret wife, who was married to George by a Catholic priest, and then had to watch as he publicly courted and married his Protestant wife. Although I usually enjoy alternate portrayals of royals (e.g. Richard III), somehow this portrayal of George as misunderstood did not ring true.

[RumBelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love historical novels about England, and this is a time period about which I know little. This was such a wonderful novel. The descriptions, the history but most of all the romance. This love story is what love stories are supposed to be. It was so heartwarming, and sad. It made me cry. But, I'm a hopeless romantic I admit it.

[Nadia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I confess to having a weird thing for English royalty. The book was average but the story has stuck with me weeks after finishing. I think this is a hard story to tell because the primary sources are rumors and speculation at the time. Why were they estranged for 12 years? Like, what really happened? Very interesting people, these people.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great read. I wasn't aware of King George the fourth secret wife. Really enjoyed meeting all the real people who are in this story. Looking up their portraits online helps to bring the story alive. The starcrossed lovers story is so sad and at times hard to believe that it is true. Oh for an open conversation about true feelings. One will really enjoy this book.

[Lisa James · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great book! This was a story I had not known prior to reading the book, so I was intrigued by this little known piece of history. It was romantic, sad, humorous at times, & I loved Maria's spirit throughout all the years she lived in secret.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I became too attached to the characters! To think this is historical fiction makes it even more intense to me. The book was a roller coaster ride with more reality that I sometimes wished to read, but I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent engrossed in the journey.