Charles II’s Portuguese Queen (Hardback)

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

An informative look at one of the most important figures in England’s Restoration court - but one who’s often sidelined or forgotten in favor of Charles II’s more flamboyant mistresses.

NetGalley, Caroline Palmer

An overdue spotlight on a queen who deserves more attention.

I really enjoyed this biography of Catherine of Braganza. She’s often reduced to a footnote in Charles II’s story, overshadowed by his mistresses and court drama—but this book pushes back on that and gives her center stage for once. Susan Abernethy makes a strong case that Catherine wasn’t just a passive figure at court but someone who actively worked to assert her influence, despite being in a pretty impossible situation.

The sections on her life in Portugal were especially compelling. Abernethy fills in a lot of context that’s usually missing from English-language biographies, and I appreciated how much depth that added to Catherine’s motivations and her loyalty to Portugal. Her role in strengthening political and commercial ties between England and Portugal, as well as her cultural patronage, really stood out here.

That said, the writing leans more scholarly at times, which might not be everyone’s thing, but it’s still accessible if you’re used to reading historical nonfiction. I wouldn’t call it a page-turner exactly, but it’s thoughtful, well-researched, and full of details I hadn’t come across before.

Catherine may be “forgotten” in the English historical imagination, but this book does a great job of restoring her significance—not just as a queen consort, but as a savvy political figure who left a lasting legacy. If you’re interested in royal history, Anglo-Portuguese relations, or lesser-told stories of powerful women, this is well worth your time.

NetGalley, Chelsea Dugan

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

What an amazing story. As always, the role of a Queen is largely ignored in a male dominated world. In the case of Catherine, she had nothing going for her, being female and foreign. Charles’ life is well documented, but little mention is made if Catherine. His mistresses and indulgences receive more attention. Susan Abernathy has done a remarkable job in putting all of this to rights with this account of a truly remarkable lady.

I knew little about her, but recall a reference to her in Pepys diary where he commented that her hair was strangely arranged and her clothing was unusual. And that she brought tea, which he believed woukd never catch on. It’s difficult to imagine how she must have felt, arriving in a strange and often hostile country. As with most royal alliances, this was a marriage designed around political and strategic beliefs, Catherine, to her credit, always remained Portuguese and considered the marriage a duty, but after the death of her husband, longed to return to her home country.

The author explains in easy to understand detail the role of Portugal on the world stage. I knew it was a prominent seagoing nation, but hadn’t appreciated the extent of the trade influences in the far east. This biography sets Catherine’s life so well in that wider context and it’s clear that she was a shrewd individual who used her influence whenever she could. Frankly, the book is a revelation. I love to see history revisited from a different perspective and this really ticks that box. It’s an enjoyable read and the bibliography is extensive. Primary and secondary sources are recorded along with extensive notes that add considerably to the narrative. I’ve really enjoyed this title and it deserves a wide audience.

NetGalley, Anita Wallas

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This book was great! I loved reading about Catherine and her untold story. The detail of this book was wonderfully done.

NetGalley, Catey Chew

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I thought I had left the Stuarts behind for a while after 2024, but when I saw this title about Charles II’s consort I couldn’t resist. I couldn’t tell you much about Catherine of Braganza specifically other than the fact that she and and Charles were unable to produce an heir and that she helped to popularize drinking tea. In the opening to her text, Abernethy reinforces the idea of Catherine as the “forgotten queen,” emphasizing that she largely been overlooked in history in favor of her husband, the Merry Monarch, and his long list of lovers. Charles II’s Portuguese Queen: The Legacy of Catherine of Braganza pulls forgotten consort out of the shadows and sheds light on her own life and contributions to history and culture.

There isn’t much known about Catherine of of Braganza’s early life, but the first few chapters of the book familiarize the reader with Portuguese history and the rise of the Braganza dynasty, which I found to be very helpful. My knowledge of Portuguese history is quite limited and it really helped me to understand what was at stake in the marriage alliance between England and Portugal and where exactly Catherine fell in all of that. Abernethy provides a succinct overview of the most pertinent details that was both accessible and entertaining to read and this is a quality that never diminished as I made my way through Catherine’s adult life.

I haven't often considered what life at court must have been like for Catherine, but Abernethy's book has certainly forced me to reconsider her. She was ill prepared for her new life in England and it's impossible not to feel sympathy for her. Confronted with circumstances that weren't quite what she imagined, Catherine faltered but managed to to course correct and adapt. Abernethy does a wonderful job of detailing all of the difficulties Catherine would have been forced to navigate and creates a captivating portrait of a very fascinating woman. I left Charles II’s Portuguese Queen: The Legacy of Catherine of Braganza with the sense that I had a better understanding of the consort and a greater appreciation for her role in history.

NetGalley, Nicholas Artrip