Duchess: A Novel of Sarah Churchill

by Susan Holloway Scott

In the perilous world of kings and queens, one woman matches ambition with loyalty and ruthless intrigue with all-consuming passion in this gripping historical fiction novel.
London, 1673. With her family ruined by war, penniless thirteen-year-old Sarah Jennings is overjoyed to be chosen as a maid of honor at the bawdy Restoration court of Charles II. She soon wins the trust of Lady Anne of York, a lonely princess who becomes one of her staunchest allies. And though Sarah’s beauty stirs the desires of jaded aristocrats, she wants a grander future for herself than that of a pampered mistress. Only one man possesses ambition and passions that match her John Churchill, a dashing young military hero. He would ask for her hand—and win her heart for a lifetime...

But Whitehall Palace is ripe with ever-shifting alliances and sexual scandal, and Sarah will need all her cleverness to succeed. Titles, power, and wealth are the prizes, while an idle whisper in the wrong ear can bring a cry of treason, and the executioner’s ax. Will Sarah’s loyalties—and her dreams—falter when a king is toppled from his throne and a new queen crowned? And will she dare risk everything when her one true love is tested by a passionate, dangerous obsession?   
 
Brimming with the intrigue and sensuality of one of history’s most decadent courts, Duchess brings to vivid life the story of an unforgettable woman who determines her own destiny—outspoken, outrageous, but most of all true to herself.

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

386 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Aka Miranda Jarrett
Aka Isabella Bradford

Susan Holloway Scott is the author of over fifty historical novels and historical romances. Writing under several pen names, she has received numerous awards and honors for her bestselling books. With more than three million copies of her books in print, she has been published in nineteen foreign countries around the world and translated into fourteen different languages.

Susan has also written as half of the Two Nerdy History Girls (twonerdyhistorygirls.com), a popular book & history blog with a worldwide following. Follow her on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/susan_hollo...) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/2nerdyhistgirls). She is a graduate of Brown University, and lives with her family outside of Philadelphia, PA.

Reviews

[Mandy Moody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Duchess is the story of Sarah Churchill. It's based on her actual memiors and is pretty accurate, but still fascinating, which is always nice!
Sarah is an admirable woman - very ambitious and strong willed. I loved her story.
This is the second of Scotts books I've read, and I'm currently reading a third. I am very impressed by her writing! Her attention to detail and her fact-based character development is really a treat to read! Anyone that's dabbled in historical fiction should check out her work!

[Lois · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light hearted and fun

[Emery Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much more of a political account than I expected.
It was interesting from a historical perspective but I could never warm to Sarah. I would, however, like to read more of John Churchill.

One other thing bothered me, given the extensive research that went into this novel, there was a major historical innacuracy in the author's note.

She writes that James Francis Edward Stuart had only one son, Charles Edward Stuart aka Bonnie Prince Charlie.

This is incorrect. He had a second surviving son by the same wife, Maria Clementina Sobieska, Henry Benedict Stuart, (11 March 1725 – 13 July 1807) who became a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church.

[Orsolya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Churchill was a celebrity in her own right. Strong, intense, ambitious, loving, intelligent... basically all of the positive feminist terms can describe her outright. Scott intricately weaves Churchill's own memoirs with a penache for historical fiction. What does this mean? That you will not be able to put the book down.

Instead of the usual focus on sex and lost popular in the royal courts and novel covering such; Scott instead focuses on the ambitions and struggles of Sarah Churchill. The reader not only cheers Churchill on but also feels her emotions. A strong and entertaining read and a wonderful look into Sarah Churchill's world.

[Elisabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay, interesting for the 'historical' aspect to see how the court ran and so forth. Didn't like the unnecessary sex scenes.

[Jocelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and detailed (though more details than I care for in some sections) historical fiction read of a facet in history I know little about.

[Rio (Lynne) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read many books about women striving to be the King's favorite. This book is about becoming the Queen's favorite. Sarah was a commoner, but earns herself a spot in King James II's household. Sarah and a young Anne become close as thieves and Anne only trusts and loves Sarah. Anne is shy while Sarah is beautiful, outgoing and cunningly smart. The author takes us through a passionate affair, dethroning of a King and ultimately Anne becoming Queen herself. John Churchill marries Sarah for love (neither have much) but they climb the Royal ladder together and make a dynasty. This book is Sarah's side of the story. The author portrays Anne as weak and easy to manipulate. I'm not sure how true that was, but we have seen many people taken advantage of through love.

Sarah


Queen Anne


John

[Amanda J · Rating 4 out of 5]

From Publishers Weekly:
"Sarah Jennings's ascent from poverty as a 13-year-old to the highest echelons of late 17th- and early 18th-century English society has all the trappings of supermarket tabloids: intrigue, treachery, deceit and sexual scandals. In this first-person telling, Scott takes a near-scholarly approach but maintains the thrills as Sarah and her equally ambitious husband, John Churchill, risk charges of treason (and thus, their necks) to ensure the crown for Anne Stuart. Sarah and John become the ultimate power couple: she gets her way, her riches and her title nearly without sacrificing her own principles, while John, despite his personal ambition, seeks the best for his family and country, becoming England's greatest military hero. If each is a bit too good to be true, that is a hazard of the first person and is easy to overlook with two such interesting and able characters. That Sarah is an ancestor of both Winston Churchill and Lady Diana Spencer gives this novel appeal to several generations of historical fiction readers."

[Jacqueline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and most interesting! Sarah Churchill makes a very lively heroine and character. A smart, strong woman who could play "games" with the best of the aristocracy.This book whetted my appetite for more of Sarah.

[Kit · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very mixed feelings towards this book. At points felt I was slogging through it, and other times I really enjoyed it.

[Desirae · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a rich and resplendent novel this is — a tapestry woven with the silks of history, courtly intrigue, and the beating heart of a love that endured the shifting winds of politics and power. Duchess transported me to the gilded halls and shadowed corridors of early 18th-century England, a world I had known little of, and now will not soon forget.

The story unfolds not through the eyes of a distant observer, but through the voice of Sarah Churchill — a woman whose brilliance, ambition, and loyalty carved a path through a world ruled almost entirely by men. She is no ordinary figure in history; she is thunder in silk, fire in the quiet chambers of queens.

Alongside her, we walk the rise and fall and rise again of her beloved John Churchill — general, statesman, and her lifelong partner in both love and rebellion. Their story pulses with emotion: not merely romantic, but revolutionary. Their legacy echoes through time, reaching all the way to Winston Churchill and Princess Diana.

What captivated me most was the way the novel illuminated the political tide that swept the Stuarts from the throne — a question that had lingered in the back of my mind after reading so many Jacobite-centered tales, like Outlander. Here, finally, was the other side of the coin: the Protestant court’s reckoning with a Catholic king, told through the words of a woman who helped shape the outcome.

Sarah’s journey from poor gentry to confidante of Princess Anne — and eventually Queen — is a marvel. At just thirteen, she entered court as a maid of honor, only to become Anne’s closest friend, ally, and, in time, adversary. Anne is portrayed first as a precocious, curious child — so different from the listless figure she would later become. The arc of their relationship is both fascinating and tragic.

And oh, the heartbreak! Sixteen pregnancies, none leading to a living heir. Anne’s quiet suffering is threaded through the pages, making her descent into paranoia and pettiness all the more painful. Her treatment of Sarah — cold, unjust, and cruel — left me stunned. That a queen could so callously discard her truest friend over whispered slights and bruised pride seemed so human… and yet so unforgivable.

Though the narrative is occasionally dense with politics and courtly maneuvering, I found it an honest reflection of the era. I usually favor third-person narration, but here, Sarah’s voice — bold, clever, defiant — demanded to be heard. She carries the story with wit and grace.

The details, too, are sumptuous: embroidered gowns, candlelit chambers, and the rustle of secrets behind closed doors. The court comes alive — not just in grandeur, but in the quiet power struggles and whispered betrayals that defined the age.

This is more than a historical novel; it is a love story, a political drama, and a portrait of a woman far ahead of her time. I’m in awe of Sarah Churchill — rivaled, perhaps, only by Queen Elizabeth I in her fierce devotion to a world that tried to silence her.

I will absolutely seek out more of this author’s work. There is magic here — and truth.

[Donna Farrug · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent story about Sarah Churchill's life as a commoner and how she and her husband John made it to Duke and Duchess. It was set in the late 1600's and had court intrigues during various monarchs of England. Sarah lived into her 80's and ended up being one of the wealthiest women in Europe through her shear intellect and wit.

[Elis Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK, I'm a geek for history. But many times, reading factual historical books is, well….


Boring.

Not so here. This is a historical novel—meaning it's kind of a hybrid between the dry historical texts you'll find in university libraries and the wholly fictional (with varying amounts of "factoids" salted in for veritas) historical romance novel. While I give some HR authors (Monica McCarty, Jane Feather, Denise Domning, etc.) a great deal of credit for their historical research, historical novels (at least if done well) go a step further. I stumbled across a few books by Susan Holloway Scott, who writes HR under the pen name Isabella Bradford. I'm not familiar with her fiction, but these books grabbed my interest.

This one, chronologically the first of the bunch (I won't call them a series though they are connected) details the life of an actual person, Sarah Jennings-Churchill, who eventually became the Duchess of Marlborough.



Coming from an impoverished family, Sarah found fortune in the service of the young Catholic Duchess of York. There, she met the Duchess's shy and ungainly (and Protestant) stepdaughter, Anne, and their friendship would span the next few decades.

Sarah was fascinated by another impoverished commoner, John Churchill



John's father Winston (a recurring family name—Sarah's became one also) urged him to marry an heiress. John had in mind that he'd make Sarah his mistress and have that heiress wife on the side. Sarah had other ideas—she realized that the best possible future for her and her children would be a legitimate marriage, and that her only dowry was her beauty and her virtue. So she refused to be seduced outside of marriage. (This is my personal morality speaking but I loved seeing this heroine respect herself and her future children enough to hold out for marriage.) John eventually wed her against his family's wishes.

Over the coming decades, John led York's army and Sarah stood as Anne's dear friend, confidante, and some (including this author) say lover, through the reigns of three kings and two queens, including Anne herself.

By command of King Charles II, Anne and her sister Mary were raised Anglican, despite the Catholic leanings of their father. The Churchills got a taste of how life would be for Protestants in England under James. When in fact James ascended the throne, Sarah and John were instrumental in spiriting Anne out of her father's clutches, and bringing Mary Stuart and William of Orange to power.

Sadly, kings are not known for long memories when it comes to their supporters. William III was not a particular fan of the Churchills, despite John's demonstrated rapport with the English troops and his gift for martial strategy. And Mary II demanded that Anne dismiss Sarah from her household—when Anne refused, Sarah, Jon and everyone else they trusted paid. Sarah and her husband saw their fortunes rise and fall and rise and fall again at the whims of their kings and queens.

When Anne became queen, John was created Duke of Marlborough and the Churchills seemed assured of a brilliant future.

Unfortunately the friendship was strained by Sarah's intense opinions, but it continued until, one unfortunate day, Sarah publicly told the queen to



Let's just say it wasn't the smartest thing she'd ever said.

The story at this point is so colored by Sarah's POV that it's hard not to despise Anne for her desertion. However, the author does a great job of showing Sarah's less wonderful qualities. We get a sense why Anne might have withdrawn her favor. The part that still seems vindictive is Anne's cutting John off as well, after he'd risked life and limb again and again as head of the crown's armies, and after he'd proven himself a sound counselor as well. Anne comes off as a faithless bitch, but again this might be colored by the perspective, which is entirely Sarah's.

This is a well-researched historical novel about a fascinating time in history. It's also a keen insight into the self-centered ingratitude of kings and queens, not just in this era but throughout history. The story doesn't follow the usual plot arc you see in fiction, but there's a bit of adventure and the real-life crises of loyalty, faith, and friendship keep things interesting even while the reader gets an honest lesson about the era. I'll give it 4 stars.

[Renae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sarah Churchill, the first Duchess of Marlborough, is a fascinating and important (though oft-forgotten) figure from England’s Stuart era. Duchess portrays Sarah’s rise from a low-born commoner to the most trusted adviser of a queen, after whose death she became the richest woman in England, due to her political and financial cunning. Together with her beloved husband, John Churchill, Sarah founded a long-standing legacy that has included Sir Winston Churchill and Diana Spencer, Princess of Wales.

Duchess being my second novel by Susan Holloway Scott, I had very reasonable expectations going in. The author writes quite well, and though there’s nothing remarkable in the stories she tells, her biographical novels are still pretty solid reads. Not having heard anything of Sarah Churchill before, all of this book’s content was new to me, which kept my interest high.

Sarah Churchill herself is quite the interesting figure—an entirely self-made woman who was apt to quarrel with anyone she got a chance to, who rose high only to fall, then rise again. Duchess especially highlights Sarah’s close friendship with Anne, the younger of James II’s daughters from his first marriage and future queen of England. Sarah’s devotion to Anne was commendable, and their decades-long friendship was one that was often turbulent, but usually genuine. From a historical perspective, I really enjoyed Scott’s focus on Anne, as historians generally remember her elder sister and brother-in-law, William and Mary of Orange, in a much more favorable light. Duchess, for its part, takes a fairly critical tone in dealing with the Oranges (particularly William, who is portrayed here as an overly ambitious misogynist).

Coming away from Duchess, I certainly feel that I’ve gotten a fairly good idea of Sarah Churchill and who she was. Scott doesn’t attempt to view her character through rose-tinted glasses, and instead shows that while Sarah did many great things over the course of her life, she certainly made a lot of mistakes along the way. This seemingly authentic portrayal of so interesting a figure really made this book seem worthwhile, and I certainly enjoyed the new historical knowledge I gained while reading the book. It’s nice to experience new characters and stories, rather than trodding the same ground time after time.

[Katherine Gypson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was quite excited to read my first Susan Holloway Scott book since I've heard so many good things out there on other historical fiction blogs. Unfortunately, my expectations did not quite meet the reality of the book. As imagined by Scott, Sarah Jennings Churchill is an engaging and vibrant woman. We first see her in the midst of one of the greatest crises of her life before backtracking to her origins and her start as a maid at King Charles II's court.

Despite her constant desire for power and her almost relentless pursuit of titles and influence, Scott manages to make Sarah a likeable character. The choice to tell her story in the first-person goes a long way towards implicating the reader in Sarah's worldview, carrying us along in the adventure of court machinations and king-making. Scott takes what could have become dull explanations of dynastic battles and diplomatic negotiations and turns them into moments that feel as fresh as today's news.

Unfortunately, the key relationship of the book - the grand romance between Sarah and John Churchill - feels obligatory and by-the-numbers. John never feels like a real person and so all of their interactions - meant to display a meeting of soul mates - feels wooden and repetitive. I'm always concerned when a character repeatedly tells the reader that another characters is "the love of her life" rather than allowing each scene to grow organically and show us!

I think a great deal of the character underdevelopment is due to Scott's decision to write short chapters, focusing on individual moments in Sarah Churchill's life, that then skips ahead to another moment, often two to three years later. Half the chapter is spent updating the reader on what has happened in between and this gives the entire book an unsettled, unreal quality that even the best characterization and research could never overcome.

My disappointment with Duchess will not stop me from trying other novels by Scott - I can tell that she is a scrupulous researcher and a writer who cares deeply for her characters and the era. I have a deep-rooted dislike of reading about Restoration England and it's a tribute to Ms. Scott's skill that I managed to look past these drawbacks and remained engaged in Sarah Churchill's story.

[Sally · Rating 2 out of 5]

Usually, this is a book I would have liked a lot, but somehow, it just didn't grab me as much as I thought it would.

This novel tells the story of Sarah Churchill and her machinations to secure a position for herself and her family in 17th century English court. At first her actions were easily understood in the context of wanting something better for her children, but in the end her manoeuvering simply seemed to be cunning and distasteful. (Sarah Churchill was an ancestor of Sir Winston Churchill.)

Despite being well-written, with a lot of period history and politics, I didn't like the character of Sarah Churchill in the end, which is what prevents me from giving this book a higher rating.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sarah Churchill was a fascinating woman and this book captures her spirit. What I loved about this book was the romance between Sarah and John Churchill and the glipse into English history during the reign of Charles II, William and Mary and Queen Anne. Sarah Churchill rose from poverty to power through a friendship with Queen Anne when they were both young girls. Also I discovered the fact through her daughter Anne's marriage into the Spencer family that Diana, princess of Wales, was a descendent of Sarah's. They both captured the hearts of the English people and were both golden-haired beautiful women and played to the press with intelligence and style.

[Sherry H · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hm.

I had never read anything about William and Mary, or Anne, or about the Glorious Revolution. So those parts were informative.

In fact, I got super interested in "the rest of the story" about a third of the way through, so I Wiki'd them and learned a bit and Wiki has nothing nice to say about Sarah Churchill, the main character of this story. And I can sort of see it.

But, you know, if you're in it for the history (made interesting with made-up dialog), then you keep going.

Not a lot to celebrate here. Meh.

[Argum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Usually Sarah Churchill is cast in the role of manipulative power hungry friend to poor Queen Anne. This however gives us a different interpretation of the friendship. Here the two women are both good and bad, both taking advantage of the other. Sarah is given the benefit of the doubt in some cases and written with a more modern accounting of personality of forceful woman. This was enjoyable reading of the history of these two women.

[Pamels · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a lesbian romance novel packaged as historical fiction. It could have been so much better.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely book

Thoroughly enjoyed this historical novel. The author kept my interest all the way through and has encouraged me to read more about the Churchills.

[ErinAlise · Rating 5 out of 5]

{Duchess A Novel of Sarah Churchill by Susan Holloway Scott
I’ve read mentions of the infamous Sarah Churchill in the past but didn’t become intrigued until last year when I watched The Favourite. I wondered who could this person be that was never royalty but somehow managed to be one of the most powerful people in Queen Anne’s life. Thankfully the Sarah Churchill in this book is much more interesting than the movie and there’s more to her than just the clawing for attention, scary Duchess. She was smart, honorable, outspoken, a little unhinged at times...but also loyal to the very bitter end. Sarah’s story is not the normal rag to riches story although she was quite poor when her father passed away leaving her penniless, she also never thought of herself as unfortunate by any means. She knew she was very lucky to be chosen as a Maid of Honor for the Duchess of York at the young of just 13 and it was at this time that she met Anne of York who would one day become Queen of England. Her long standing friendship with Anne gave me kind of “single white female vibes” as Anne was completely obsessed and basically would do anything for Sarah. That obsessive, all consuming and sometimes scary relationship was very hard for Sarah but thankfully she had her husband to fall back on. Her love story and marriage with John Churchill was the stuff of fairy tales and his love for her was as fierce as was faithful. Which is unusual for that time. I enjoyed this book along with the history that filled in the gaps and was very surprised at the end to find out that the beautiful Princess Diana was actually a descendant of Sarah Churchill, which I thought was so cool! This is why I love history!

[Chloé · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was a well-researched account of Sarah's life from her own perspective. It describes her arrival at court, the Catholic/Protestant tensions in the monarchy, and the changes of power from James to William & Mary to Anne. It describes her marriage for love with John and her friendship with Anne from their youth through their falling-out in later life. I think it describes each historical figure in a plausible way, although Sarah's descriptions of Anne are tinged with her own emotions and perspective. It does pursue the idea that Sarah and Anne had an amorous relationship together beyond just a friendship, which is something historians have debated (I have no opinion on the matter because I don't know much about the time period - this book was pretty much my introduction to these people). Queen Anne's personality and effectiveness as a ruler has different interpretations, and again, since this book is from Sarah's perspective (drawing largely from Sarah's own memoirs written after the falling-out with Anne) it might not be fair to Anne. But that's expected since it focuses on Sarah in Sarah's voice. I felt like I gained an appreciation for both women, in both their strengths and their faults. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about the Churchills and the monarchy at that time.

[Topher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story Sarah Churchill, the Duchess of Marlborough. We see the rise of Sarah from playmate of the royals to being the Queen's favourite. It is an interesting rise to power. She started relatively poor and made her way to prominence and power. I liked this story because it showed the characters in all their flaws. There is good and bad within Sarah, but the same can be said for Queen Anne and the other royals displayed. It is also interesting that two of her descendants rose to prominence as well. They were Winston Churchill and Lady Di. Queen Anne was also a fascinating character. Her life seemed very unhappy but there was something smart and warm about her. All in all a. good historical read. I give this a 4.2/5.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Curious about Sarah Churchill and her relationship with Queen Anne after seeing the movie The Favorite, I naturally turned to historical fiction. And what a life Sarah had! Born in 1660, she ends up in the licentious court of King Charles II at the young age of 13. She becomes friend and companion to Princess Anne, the daughter of King Charles' brother James. Court intrigue and romance and sex abound, and by the age of 15 Sarah has met the love of her life, John Churchill. Lots of historical detail lends authenticity to the story, but the relationship between Sarah and John is the most memorable feature of this novel.

[Diana Ashworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fictionalised biography of Sarah Churchill -- accessible and seemingly fairly accurate, if somewhat titillating, introduction to the history of the period, 1673-- 1714, majoring on the relationship of the Duchess of Marlborough and Queen Anne. Made me eager to learn more of this fascinating, though not always very likable character, who rose from relatively lowly beginning to be one of the most powerful characters in the politics of the day -- a triumph of intelligence, determination, hard work and a good marriage! A much better use of my time than watching the recent film: The Favorite, with Olivia Coleman as Queen Anne!

[Margo Lombardi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The tale of a self-made woman, Sarah Churchill, within the royal court of Restoration England. Befriending the young, friendless princess Anne, Sarah Jennings devotes her life to serving as a companion for the young heir, which leads to the slow, but steady rise of her status and influence in Britain's high-society. Sarah is a stubborn, tenacious woman who demands respect and is remembered for her loyal love to her husband, the war hero, John Churchill. Sarah was a real historic figure with Winston Churchill and Diana Princess of Wales as her descendants.

[Sara Dahmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clearly I’m going to be partial to any book who has a main character with my name! But this book is a fictionalized version of the life of the Duchess of Marlborough, otherwise known as Sarah Churchill. Yes, that Churchill. (Also an ancestor of Diana, Princess of Wales!). She was a long-time advisor and best friend to Queen Anne for decades, and her marriage to John Churchill was long and legendary. Starting from Sarah’s earliest beginnings and working through her life until her death, this isn’t really non-fiction, but knowing most of the book is rooted in fact is extra thrilling.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this book on Audible and I loved it! I thought the narrator was great, with clear and concise speech. She added the right level of drama to her voice, and could change characters quickly. I loved the story as well. Sarah Churchill proved to be a force to be reckoned with at courts of Charles II, James II, Mary II, and Anne Stuart. she was a courageous woman born in the lower gentry, but worked her way into the upper act of British society through her hard work, diligence, and her own political saavy.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read a book about Sarah Churchill written by an historian and now I've read this dramatized version. I think the author turned Sarah into a romance heroine rather than a real historical person. Sarah was complicated and forceful, brash, confident and goal oriented. That doesn't come across as well in this book which simplified her way too much. If I hadn't read the other book, I'd have found this more fun.