The Mistresses of George I and II

A Maypole and a Peevish Beast

Catherine Curzon

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Hardback

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English

Pen and Sword
28 September 2021

History; Social & cultural history

When George I arrived in England he found a kingdom in turmoil. Mistrustful of the new monarch from Hanover, his subjects met his coronation with riots. At George's side was his mistress, Melusine von der Schulenberg, whilst his ex-wife languished in prison. Known as the Maypole thanks to her eye-catching figure, Melusine was the king's confidante for decades. She was a mother to his children and a queen without a crown. George II never forgave his father for tearing him from his mother's arms and he was determined to marry for love, not duty. Though his wife, Caroline of Ansbach, proved to be a politically gifted queen, George II turned to another for affection. She was Henrietta Howard, the impoverished Countess of Suffolk, and she was desperate to escape her brutish husband. As the years passed, the royal affair became a powerplay between king and queen and the woman who was mistress to one and servant to another. Melusine and Henrietta's privileged position made them the envy of every courtier. It also made them a target of jealousy, plotting and ambition. In the tumultuous Georgian court, the bedroom and the throne room weren't so far apart. AUTHOR: Catherine Curzon is a royal historian who writes on all matters 18th century at www.madamegilflurt.com. Her work has been featured on HistoryExtra.com, the official website of BBC History Magazine, and in publications such as Explore History, All About History, History of Royals, and Jane Austen's Regency World. She has spoken at venues including Kenwood House, Wellington College, the Royal Pavilion, the Hurlingham Club, the National Maritime Museum and Dr Johnson's House. 32 b/w illustrations

By: Catherine Curzon
Imprint: Pen and Sword
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm,
ISBN: 9781526762726
ISBN 10: 1526762722
Pages: 216
Publication Date: 28 September 2021
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Unspecified

CATHERINE CURZON is a historian of Georgian royalty. Her work has been featured on HistoryExtra.com, the official website of BBC History Magazine, and in publications such as All About History, Who Do You Think You Are?, and Jane Austen's Regency World. She has spoken at venues including Kenwood House, Wellington College, the Royal Pavilion, the National Maritime Museum and Dr Johnson's House. Her play, Being Mr Wickham, premiered to sell-out audiences in 2019. Catherine holds a Master's degree in Film and when not dodging the furies of the guillotine, can be found cheering on the mighty Terriers. Her previous romps through the palaces of the 18th century are all available from Pen and Sword Books. She lives in Yorkshire atop a ludicrously steep hill.