Life in the Georgian Court (Hardback)
Imprint: Pen & Sword History
Pages: 186
Illustrations: 32
ISBN: 9781473845510
Published: 30th June 2016
Publicity
• Featured on BBC History Extra: 7 weird and wonderful Georgian beauty treatments
• Listed as ‘July 2016 book of the month’ by Majesty Magazine
• Article in the Huddersfield Examiner
• Check out Catherine Curzon's interview with the Wars of Coalition.
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As the glittering Hanoverian court gives birth to the British Georgian era, a golden age of royalty dawns in Europe. Houses rise and fall, births, marriages and scandals change the course of history and in France, Revolution stalks the land.
Peep behind the shutters of the opulent court of the doomed Bourbons, the absolutist powerhouse of Romanov Russia and the epoch-defining family whose kings gave their name to the era, the House of Hanover.
Behind the pomp and ceremony were men and women born into worlds of immense privilege, yet beneath the powdered wigs and robes of state were real people living lives of romance, tragedy, intrigue and eccentricity.
Take a journey into the private lives of very public figures and learn of arranged marriages that turned to love or hate and scandals that rocked polite society. Here the former wife of a king spends three decades in lonely captivity, Prinny makes scandalous eyes at the toast of the London stage and Marie Antoinette begins her last, terrible journey through Paris as her son sits alone in a forgotten prison cell.
Life in the Georgian Court is a privileged peek into the glamorous, tragic and iconic courts of the Georgian world, where even a king could take nothing for granted.
As seen in
Jane Austen's Regency World, July/August 2018
Overall, this historical non-fiction is very readable, well-written and I certainly came away with a stronger knowledge of the Georgian period which is such a fascinating period of European history. I would highly recommend this book anyone who wants to learn more about the royal courts of 18th century Europe, the Georgians or anyone who is interested in this fascinating period of history.
Where There's Ink, There's Paper - Lauren Gent
Read the full review here.
As featured on...
Lil's Vintage Blog, YT
Author article as featured in, exploring what could have happened if the royal family had succeeded in their attempt to flee Paris and what if Louis XVI had survived the Revolution?
All About History
As featured in
All About History No. 048
As featured on Amazon.
Amazon reviewer
Childhood, marriage/affairs, scandal, and death - all the juicy bits of the lives of royals and their courtiers delivered in the style of an expose history TV series that has a host/presenter with a deliciously suspenseful tone of voice. Curzon does a great job overall of sweeping the dust off of these stories and enhancing them with intrigue and a generous dash of wit (particularly in regard to romantic trysts and famous last words).
GoodReads, K Fisher
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Meryton Press
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GoFugYourself Blog
In little over 200 pages, Catherine Curzon takes you on a quick whistle-stop tour through life in the Georgian era, across the royal residences of London to the Palace of Versailles. From the birth of George I and the drama in his ensuing bloodlines to the relatively calmer court times of William IV, the Georgians were no stranger to controversy...
History of Royals, September 2016
... Time and time again, Curzon makes every prince and princess fascinating, no matter their story. Not only that, she makes them all just as important as each other and it's hard to imagine any other author doing these royals a similar amount of justice.
Life in the Georgian Court is a great beginner's guide to the inner lives of one of the tumultuous courts in history.
I started off being continually frustrated by the stopping and starting, but the more I read on the more I saw how the book comes together as a whole and realised what a terrific achievement it is, indeed worthy of more than the 4* I was initially going to award it. A delightful book, beautifully presented, and one I shall return to again and again.
Goodreads reviewer
The book itself is divided into several ‘acts’, childhood, marriage, scandal and death and takes us through interesting stories from the Georgian era, like the death of Marie-Antoinette’s daughter, Princess Sophie Hélène Béatrice and the catastrophic marriage between the future George I of Great Britain and Sophia Dorothea of Celle. I had read most of the stories before so perhaps it’s more fun as an introductory read into the era. The style of writing is very fun though, and the author manages to throw in a few jokes. It makes for an easy and enjoyable read.
History of Royal Women - Moniek Bloks
Read the full review here.
You can tell, almost from the first page, that Catherine has researched this book with fervent skill and accomplishment. I loved, especially, how you can literally go almost into every court of every kingdom and find something scandalous about one of them, a famous feud maybe, an affair to remember, or a shocking murder. Anything a prospective reader wants you will get with this book. I cannot wait for her next novel, a more in depth look at 'Kings of Georgian Britain' and her first novel 'The Crown Spire' due to be published soon. I count Catherine as an integral part of the history lovers community, a true Madame of the salon, and a good friend.
D.D. Wynn: The Choice of Duty
Read the full review here.
Life in the Georgian Court is a breezy romp through the royal courts of Europe during the eighteenth century. Catherine Curzon has arranged her material into four themes or ‘Acts’: childhood, marriage, scandal, and death. Each Act contains a series of illuminating vignettes – scenes from the lives of princes and princesses, Kings and Queens – some happy, some tragic, and many scandalous in the extreme. The book is written in an engaging, chatty style, and is beautifully illustrated with contemporary engravings and cartoons (several of which were new to me).
Sue Wilkes, Author
Even readers familiar with the period will find much to enjoy: the introduction of smallpox variolation (vaccination); tales of Prinny’s scurrilous succession of mistresses; and the bloody horrors of the French Revolution. Tyrant husbands and fathers, wicked princes, imprisoned princesses, and wronged queens, all take a bow in this wide-ranging survey of one of the most fascinating epochs in world history.
It’s worthwhile reading this book straight through to start with, and then keeping to dip into when available reading-time is short. It’s a natural for Kindle-reading as it makes a splendid bedside book or one to slip into the briefcase or car glove-compartment as a resource to fall back on during waits or delays. Followers of the writer’s ever-entertaining blog will not be disappointed.
Amazon reviewer - Antoine Vanner
I read this book in pre-publication copy and was asked for an honest review. This is it. I have no hesitation is awarding “Life in the Georgian Court” five well-deserved stars.
Despite the title, this is a lively jaunt through ALL the royal courts of Europe, not just that of Great Britain, and is all the better for it - because she points up the intricate genealogical ties that bind the families together.
Amazon reviewer
And what dysfunctional families they are! Here in all their craziness and cruelty are the big royal names of the eighteenth and early nineteenth century. They were traumatised by childhood neglect, riven by hatred, forced into marriage, separated from their true loves, abused, indulged, ignored and lauded. Sometimes murdered. These are fascinating human stories, some of them not known to me. I learned a lot, and I was completely hooked.
Political events are described succinctly so that the essential humanity of the characters shines through. Curzon has wisely divided the book into sections - Birth, Marriage, Scandal and Death - so that we can follow some of the personalities through from their beginnings to their deaths. The style friendly and accessible without ever being simplistic.
Catherine Curzon, who writes online as ‘Madame Gilflurt’, is one of the biggest names in Georgian era
blogging. She is also an accomplished writer of fiction.
Highly recommended.
... Curzon's enthusiasm for her subject carries the reader through, and there are some interesting stories here - from smallpox to guillotining!
Your Family History, August 2016
Read for: Tales of how royal life in the Georgian era could be both complex and difficult
Guest blog as featured in Writing, Wit & Wonderings
Philippa Jane Keyworth
An absolutely fascinating book and a must-have for anyone interested in the life and times of the Four Georges! Many thanks for visiting, Catherine, and for sharing your love of the Georgians with us!
Joana starnes
As featured in.
The History Vault
As featured on.
Historical Novel Society
'Life in the Georgian Court is a privileged peek into the glamorous, tragic and iconic courts of the Georgian world, where even a king could take nothing for granted.'
The Pink Sofa - Carol Hedges
Read the full review here!
As featured on Mrs Daffodil Digresses
Mrs Daffodil Digresses - Catherine Curzon
'I started off being frustrated by the stopping and starting, but the more I read on the more I saw how the book comes together as a whole and realised what a terrific achievement it is, indeed worthy of more than the 4* I was initially going to award it. A delightful book, beautifully presented, and one I shall return to again and again.'
Terry Tyler Book Reviews Blog
Read the rest of this fantastic review here
It’s worthwhile reading this book straight through to start with, and then keeping to dip into when available reading-time is short.
Amazon, Antoine Vanner
Featured on Just Jane 1813
Just Jane
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Oo's in the Loo
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Folklore Thursday
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Sheffield Gothic Reading Group
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Featured on Sue Wilkes Blogspot
Sue Wilkes, Author
Life in the Georgian Court was named Book of the Month for July 2016
Majesty Magazine
Catherine’s witty and lively style means that the book is pleasant and absorbing to read through but also tempting for the reader to dip into it anywhere. Those seeking something juicy will naturally choose to head straight for ‘Scandals’!
Prinny's Taylor
Thirty-two illustrations, a timeline of major events of the Georgian period, a bibliography, notes and an index all indicate the amount of scholarly work and attention to detail that Catherine has put into this book and I have no hesitation in thoroughly recommending it.
About Catherine Curzon
CATHERINE CURZON is a historian of old Hollywood and even older royalty.
Catherine has appeared on Radio 4’s PM programme and Dan Snow’s Story of England, as well as radio stations across Europe and the UK. Her work has been featured online by BBC News, BBC History Extra and the Daily Express, and in publications including All About History and Who Do You Think You Are?. Further afield, Catherine’s expertise has been featured by Smithsonian Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Vanity Fair, The Washington Post, Town & Country, Elle Australia, Der Bund, La Vanguardia and Metrópoles, among others.
She has spoken at venues including Kenwood House, Wellington College, the Royal Pavilion, the National Maritime Museum and Dr Johnson’s House. As one half of Ellie Curzon (with Helen Barrell), her World War Two sagas for Bookouture and Orion have achieved bestseller status in the UK and the US.
Catherine holds a Master’s degree in Film and when not cheering for the Terriers, can be found by following the distant strains of Dean Martin. She lives in Yorkshire atop a ludicrously steep hill with a rakish gent and a very woolly dog.