All The King's Women

by Derek Wilson

The image of Charles II as a randy monarch who dragged the crown through the moral mire and irredeemably weakened its position has persisted throughout the three centuries since John Evelyn gave his judgement. That judgement, Derek Wilson argues, is okay as far as it goes. The Restoration court did set an example of cynical libertinism that provoked opposition not only from outraged preachers, but also satirical journalists and angry mobs who pelted royal mistresses and burned down brothels.

But Charles' bedroom antics are symptoms and not causes of social decadence. Why did Pepys complain 'there is nothing almost but bawdry at court from top to bottom' or Bishop Burnet observe that throughout the three kingdoms people were 'throwing off the very professions of virtue and piety'? The answers must be sought in the traumatic upheaval of the Civil War and its aftermath in the life of Charles Stuart and his people.

In a society that was shaken loose by violent conflict the position of women changed radically. Many experienced a new freedom and an enhanced power to influence men and events. Charles grew up with and actually enjoyed the company of strong women. Ministers complained of his 'effeminate conversation'. As well as the notorious, grasping mistresses - the leach-like Lady Castlemaine, 'dearest Fubs' K-roualle, the outrageous Nell Gwynn - Charles was influenced by his domineering mother, Henrietta Maria, his 'pushy' nurse, Christabella Wyndham, his much-loved sisters, Mary and 'Minette', his only great love, Lucy Walter, his long-suffering wife, Catherine of Braganza and a cavalcade of devoted royalist ladies, actresses, whores, and ambitious gold-diggers who surrounded him throughout his exile and after his restoration.

It is this miscellany of relationships that Derek Wilson explores and helps us to understand in All the King's Women. These relationships helped to form Charles II's character, shape the course of political events and, ultimately, seal the fate of the dynasty.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, 21st Century

448 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Derek Wilson has been a writer of historical fiction and non-fiction for 50 years. His much acclaimed prize-winning works have largely centred on 16th and 17th century Europe. He has used various pen names for his fiction, his current Thomas Treviot Tudor crime series being written under the name D.K. Wilson. The first 2 books in this series - The First Horseman and The Traitor's Mark are based on real unsolved Tudor mysteries and have received enthusiastic plaudits. Readers have favourably compared this innovative series with the books of C.J. Sansom and S.J. Parris.
Recent non-fiction triumphs include The Plantagenets, Holbein: Portrait of an Unknown Man, and Charlemagne: a Biography.
Derek Wilson graduated from Cambridge and spent several years travelling and teaching in Africa before becoming a full-time writer and broadcaster in 1971. He has frequently written and appeared on radio and television and is popular as a public speaker having appeared at several literary festivals,British Museum, Hampton Court Palace, The British Library and other prestigious venues.

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an odd book. If it were a good hundred pages shorter, its more enjoyable aspects would shine through brightly. Other reviewers have pointed out Wilson's attitude and language regarding Charles' mistresses, noting that it often seems misogynistic. This is a false impression: Wilson's scorn does not end with the mistresses, but extends to the English court, parliament, Catholics, Puritans, Anglicans, plotters, diplomats, Portuguese royalty, French royalty, advisors, and peasants. The subject he nary has a single good word to say of? Charles himself. Wilson is not sexist - his disgust at the sexist values of 17th c. Britain are plentiful - but rather simply a man who is faintly disgusted with the court and man of which he writes. Barbara Villiers suffers the worst condemnation of Charles' women - dozens upon dozens of pages too lengthy to repeat here, save one reference to a 'Signor Dildoe' - but "pretty, witty Nell" and Hortense Mancini seem to be written of with some affection and respect. Wilson's ultimate talent is in lambasting the loose morals, deep laziness, and casual cruelty of Charles II: when Charles is restored to the throne and free to pursue his love affairs (or should that be "romantic" affairs - Wilson makes a good case for Charles failing to feel actual love for anyone) the book comes into its own: but for the first hundred or so pages wherein Charles is bored in exile (and with nary but one mistress!) the book feels as much of a drag as the exile must have been.

I knew little of Charles II's court before reading this, but thought myself somewhat educated on his mistresses as I could reel off their names (and nicknames - Louise de Kérouaille, Duchess of Portsmouth was owner, courtesy of Nell, to 'squintabella' and 'the weeping willow') before reading this. Still, I had little appreciation for the intricacies of Charles' relation to them. Mancini, who I always assumed was a long-lasting love affair and rival, is really a brief liaison that temporarily distracts from weepy Louise. Catherine, the king's largely-ignored queen, goes from suffering her husband's mistresses in what she thought of as religious martyrdom (she had once wanted to run away to the convent) to ending up sat three abreast with Gwynn and Louise as the chaste quarter of a menage-a-quatre of sorts. The lusty and useless Charles, formerly so uncaring of his mistresses many affairs - ask Barbara - ends up a tired old bore, chasing Louise's last one-night-stand away from court. Did he care a jot for governance? Perhaps, at times. Could he ever be arsed to say no to anyone? Not at all. Did he lead his family to ruin for it? What happened to his successor(s) would suggest yes. But that is a tale for another time!

[Anna Spark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read a history of the Civil Wars, it's impossible not to go on to read about my favourite British monarch, the much maligned Charles 2.

I loved this book - detailed, sympathetic but not remotely hagiographic, infirmed, flippant. Captures the glories of Restoration London and the nightmare of Court politics.

[Dfordoom · Rating 2 out of 5]

A biography of King Charles II of England that focuses on his relationships with women. Wilson argues that it wasn’t the king’s sexual appetites that scandalised contemporaries so much as his genuine liking for, and respect for, women. Unfortunately Wilson doesn’t seem quite sure about his own attitudes towards the women in the king’s life. Although he has a certain amount of admiration for some of them he is also inclined to be a little too judgmental, and to accept contemporary characterisations of these women as immoral whores. He really seems quite torn between respect and contempt for them. He also seems a little too eager to portray Charles II’s court as corrupt and decadent and wicked. Although he criticises those who paint the king as a weak ineffectual monarch because of his over-fondness for female company he often ends up doing exactly the same thing himself. He also doesn’t really succeed in bringing these fascinating women to life. Interesting subject matter, but not terribly well executed, and overall I was a little disappointed.

[Jenn Phizacklea · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this book. It was clear to me that the author didn’t care for the subject - Charles II - and he therefore set out to write about the worst possible interpretation of Charles and his behaviour that he could. And he wasn’t any kinder to the women of the title, either.
In everything I’ve read about Charles up until this book, he has come across as a likeable, kind man - this book made him sound like a spineless weakling.
It made me wonder why, if the author really disapproved of him so much, why he took the effort to write a book about him at all? What is the point of writing about your moral contempt for a historical person, without even trying to engage with the moral tone of the times?
There are much better biographies ofCharles out there - I’d recommend almost any other before this one.

[Prince Rupert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I enjoyed this book for its showing of the love life of a king, albeit very promiscuous. the book itself is actually incredibly unreadable as it constantly will expect the reader to already have a good knowledge of the period and people related to Charles ll. Often, you can be left confused as to what the writer is actually talking about or what relation people have to Charles.
Definitely still worth reading for the things you will learn about Charles ll and his personal life, but definitely a headscratcher in other aspects.

[Alexandra Aubrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

actually started this book probably over a decade ago and finally finished it… felt like a broad introduction to many interesting people and did make me interested in plowing ;) the bibliography for more focused works. I found the comma usage or neglect for… is it, the Oxford comma? (I’m not sure) … jarring which made me have to read a fair few sentences a fair few times. I loved all the information on the plays and playwrights and feel like I will owe a lot to this book one day.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

a great read for people who want to know more about the love lives of aristocracy

[Juanita · Rating 1 out of 5]

Review: All The King 19s Women by Derek Wilson.

This was an uneventful boring book. The content was slow pace reading and any information written was forgotten after every fifty pages. I was so glad but frustrated when I got to the last page. I don 19t even think the book deserves a review but I felt the readers need a warning because I didn 19t find one review about the book. I did find two people who never finished the book and gave no comment.

There was some information on King Charles Stuart I, but most of the book was about Prince Charles II who later became King. Charles II was influenced by his domineering mother, Henrietta Maria. The book had its normal spiel of Prince Charles II as an adolescent and his bad behaviors growing up and then becoming King experiencing a new freedom and power to influence men and events throughout his exile and after his restoration.

Then the author moves on to King Charles II 19s fascination with the theaters, warrior battles, and his adult obsession as a womanizer. King Charles II actually got married, however that never stopped his philandering with many devoted royalist ladies, actresses, prostitutes, and ambitious gold-diggers who surrounded him at all times. He did have one special mistress, Lucy Walter that was afar but always somewhere close by throughout the book.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting and balanced description of the final era of the Stuart monarchy. Gave a good overview of the Glorious Revolution and William's motivation for the invasion in 1688. Made me realise I need to find out more about the history of continental Europe.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

...And I thought Henry VIII had all the fun!

[Jemidar · Rating 3 out of 5]

While not bad, this bio of Charles II definitely doesn't live up to the promise of the title.

[Elysium · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF page 144

The book focused too much on just Charles's life and not in the women and I started to nod off. I don't know why but something in Charles always has that effect.

[CF · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this a LONG time ago and it put me on the path to be interested in Monarchy and it's history and links. For that I praise it.