All For Love: The Scandalous Life and Times of Royal Mistress Mary Robinson

by Amanda Elyot

A fictional portrait of eighteenth-century British actress Mary Robinson follows her life from the harsh poverty of debtors' prison, to the glamour, success, and scandal of the London stage, to her shocking public affair with the Prince of Wales, to her subsequent career as a poet, novelist, and ardent supporter of women's rights. By the author of Too Great a Lady. Original.

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

448 pages, Paperback

First published February 5, 2008

About the author

Also, Leslie Carroll

I was born and raised in New York City, attended the Fieldston School in Riverdale, and received my Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University. I began writing novels in 1998 while I was working three survival jobs simultaneously and struggling to have a career as a working actress. Over the years I slogged away in dreary day jobs in such diverse fields as politics, advertising, public relations, law, and journalism. Finally, in 2003 I was able to become a fulltime author, and I’m still acting professionally as long as the script, the role, and the talent of the people involved are feeding my soul.

My first novel was published in March, 2002. To date I have had seven works of contemporary women’s fiction published under my own name. I have also published four works of historical fiction under the pen name Amanda Elyot.

In June, 2008, I’ll make my nonfiction debut with a book about the sex lives of the English sovereigns, titled ROYAL AFFAIRS: A Lusty Romp Through the Extramarital Adventures that Rocked the British Monarchy.

As Leslie Sara Carroll, I have played virgins, vixens, and villainesses on the in New York stage and in regional theatre and have appeared in commercials, on voiceovers and talking books, and daytime dramas. My classical repertoire includes the leading ladies of Shakespeare, Molière, Coward, Wilde, and a staggering number of Shavian heroines. Not merely confining my performances to the canons of dead playwrights, I am extremely proud to have had the opportunity to read and perform new plays by Meir Z. Ribalow, Arthur Giron, Cassandra Medley, James McLure, Jack Heifner, Pulitzer Prize winner N. Scott Momaday, and National Book Award winner Denis Johnson, among others, as part of two play-development units: New River Dramatists in Healing Springs, NC, and the Playwrights Workshop, at The Players, a renowned theatre and literary social club on New York's Gramercy Park. I am a third-generation member of The Players.

Under the auspices of Survivor Productions, a not-for-profit professional theatre company that I founded in 1989, I produced several seasons of "neglected" plays of the 19th century. I am also the author of three stage adaptations of 19th century/early 20th century English novels: Ivanhoe, The Prisoner of Zenda, and The Scarlet Pimpernel. The first two plays received successful professional productions in New York City; Zenda was a finalist at the Actors Theatre of Louisville's Humana Festival. Additionally, I dramatized The Diaries of Adam and Eve, based upon the humorous writing of Mark Twain, which received its premiere at The Players club (of which Twain was a founding member).

Among many other published journalistic pieces, I have written articles on intellectual property rights as they affect directors and dramaturgs, "How to Start a Non-Profit Theatre Company," and "How to Build and Maintain an Audience," for Back Stage, New York's leading trade paper for the Theatre professional, where, as Associate Editor, I wrote and edited theatre industry news and features. I am a member of the Authors Guild and the national chapter of Romance Writers of America.

After spending decades surrounded by hundreds of books, needlework, family mementos, and a plethora of romantic pre-Raphaelite prints in a rambling pre-war apartment I once shared with her grandmother, I moved uptown and now live with my husband on Manhattan's Upper West Side. With Scott by my side, a washer/dryer, dishwasher, and a walk-in closet—I’m in heaven!

Reviews

[Tina · Rating 1 out of 5]

Interesting. I was annoyed by how Mrs. Robinson was exploited and dropped by all her lovers over and over again. She'd support them financially, pay for their gambling debts, give them a place to live, etc, forgive their multitudes of infidelities, because of her inability to do without them and the way they would make her feel.

[Wiebke Kuhn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I could not get into this one -- yes, the late 18th century is an interesting time period for some folks, and lots of stuff happened, but this retelling was just a little too superficial for me, not entirely consistent in its use vocabulary, and the main character did not appear to have a lot going for her.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt this book did a good job portraying the lackadaisical Georgian aristocratic view towards money and debts and the theatrical culture. Mary Robinson as a sympathetic character, however, left much to be desired. She was forever making the stupidest decisions regarding her own life and relationships. Her daughter Maria seemed to have all the sense in the family. While the Prince of Wales' obsession with his Perdita played a role in the beginning of the story, most of the plot was taken by Mary's literary career and her tumultuous relationship with Banastre Tarleton.

[Laurie Lendon · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF. Rare for me. Interesting story, she pops back after ridiculous adversity time and time again, so it is compelling that she does, and I almost finished just to see what else happened. But. Meh. Insipid. No connection to the heroine was really established. Well researched and nuggets of fact and history laced in, but a bit heavy handed in that way.

[Taylor Crenshaw · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought I would really enjoy this as it seems to be right up my historical fiction romance alley, but I'm not sure that Mary Robinson warranted an entire novel. Actually, I'm positive she didn't. This book took me over three weeks to read and I was on a plane twice during that time.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting subject but I can't believe that anyone who managed what this woman did was this week of a person.

[Candice · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

[Pamela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not really like this book-poorly written and hard to follow but I did read it to the end!

[Mandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an alright book, probably wouldn't read it again. The characters relationships with those around her felt rushed. Sheridan and Garrick were supposedly to have a huge impact on her life but yet we see very little of them.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd never heard of this woman before reading the book. Of course, history is rarely kind to women and usually it's only the men who are boasted about. But I was intrigued when I began reading and became even more caught up as I continued reading. Mary Robinson was a woman of common origins who had a lifelong passion for the theater. However, in the 1700's, women who "trod the boards" were considered no better than whores and other fallen women. Trapped in a loveless marriage, and with a young daughter to raise with no help from her wastrel husband, Mary worked hard at her passion until a chance encounter with the heir to the English throne touched her heart. After months of indecision, she left the theater and became the mistress of Prince George. A whirlwind romance followed but with a high price to pay to her standing in society.

A woman alone, fighting to put food on the table and clothes on her child's back. Sound familiar? Mary pulled out all the stops and did what she needed to do to survive. And even though she could never go back to the theater, she found a new talent in writing poems, novels, and even a play.

A spirited tale of how one of the "weaker" sex had to fight the double standard to carve out her place in society and history!

[BCDee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read reviews on amazon.com for this book, and gave it a pass based on that. I came across it in the library and picked it up anyway. Given the reviews, I was biased and expected it to be trite and a modernized soap-operatic version of events with stinky writing. I was clearly wrong, and happily surprised that it was extremely well written - lots of words and sentence construction that stretched my mind (even as a voracious reader). Kudos to this author for her keen historical research. The 'voice' in the book was distinctly that of a woman in the time period, along with gendered roles, inconsistent psychology and masochistic tendencies. A great glimpse into the world at this time.

I thoroughly enjoyed this and recommend it.

[Virginia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Historical fiction (I'd never heard of Mary Robinson) written in her style of writing. Found it a bit hard to believe some of it i.e. her fear of debtor's prison and then the next day buying several pantheons. Almost again in prison and then going off to France to live. Did people just live off others at the time?
Real story was her relationships with men and poor choices (I felt)she made re them.

[Wen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about ...well I guess the 'original Mrs Robinson'. She was Quite a character. Married to a dead beat man and trying to do the best for her kids and still have a life. An actress and mistress made her scandalous. Her antics at times seems very out there but despite being a historical fiction there are lots of known facts about her in the book. Was very entertaining.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having never read about Mary Robinson before I was enthralled with her story. It was tragic yet inspiring. I did find, though, that some of the joy of the story was lost in the purple prose it was written with. I have several of Leslie Carroll's (Amanda Elyot is a pen-name) works on my to-read list, so I'm quite excited to read the others.

Informative and fun to read!

[Susan E · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure what I expected... I was intrigued by the royal mistress storyline, but the rest of the story was rather ponderous. Mary was not the most admirable character.

[Donna Jo Atwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

The life of a royal mistress is rarely unmitigated joy, especially if a girl is a commoner and the royal is one of George III's sons.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished the book, but can't say I loved it. I'm all for using big words, but Elyot went a little overboard. The story was interesting, although drawn out at times.

[Shelee Bush · Rating 4 out of 5]

A captivating look at a woman in the late 1700s, ironically more about her life as a writer, rather than her life as a royal mistress. very sad book as well.

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

As from a historical aspect I learned much of the times. It angered me as to how women were used and discarded by men.

[Lucy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would like this better if it were fiction and not based in reality.

[Dlittle · Rating 3 out of 5]

scandalous royal mistress's horrible life with men (Mary Robinson)