The tumult and opulence of England's Regency era burst from the pages in this work of literary nonfiction by acclaimed author Carolly Erickson. When dementia forces King George III to vacate his throne, the kingdom slips into a decade marked with excess, scandal, and riots. King George has suffered bouts of mental instability before, but in 1810 he shows no signs of recovering. Public and government business halts as word of his condition leaks out. Hoping to control the crisis, Parliament appoints the king's unpopular son Prince George IV as Regent or caretaker. But for the next nine years, this substitute ruler shocks the nation with his drunkenness, his mistresses, and his wanton spending. From seething mobs in the streets to Lucullan feasts in drawing rooms, historian Carolly Erickson vividly captures the nation in a troubled transition. With narrator Simon Prebble's dramatic performance, the splendor and intrigue of Regency England are as enthralling as the most entertaining novel.
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"This was a fascinating account of the history of Great Britain from 1810 to 1820. Perhaps a bit on the dry and scholarly side, but I found it to be a super satisfying read."
— Heather (4 out of 5 stars)
" Not the best written history I've ever read but still full of interesting information and details about this period - a period that does not get a lot of coverage. "
— Cynthia, 8/19/2013" Engaging account of Regency England. "
— Amy, 2/20/2013" Fabulous insights about the regency. No dry prose here, and one really gets a sense of how the Prince Regent's tastes and actions affected the era. "
— Vic, 1/15/2012" At times a tough read, this book is a must-read for a general overview of Regency England. "
— Annie, 11/19/2010" I've been reading a lot of Georgian and Regency history, and this one's the most readable yet. "
— Stephanie, 2/15/2010" Want to learn more about Regency England, this book a great place to start. "
— Mageela, 1/27/2010" Fabulous insights about the regency. No dry prose here, and one really gets a sense of how the Prince Regent's tastes and actions affected the era. "
— Vic, 6/4/2009Carolly Erickson is the bestselling author of many distinguished works of nonfiction and a series of historical entertainments, blending fact and invention. Her historical biographies include The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette, The First Elizabeth, Her Little Majesty, and Alexandra. She lives in Hawaii.
Simon Prebble, a British-born performer, is a stage and television actor and veteran narrator of some three hundred audiobooks. As one of AudioFile’s Golden Voices, he has received thirty-seven Earphones Awards and won the prestigious Audie in 2010. He lives in New York.