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Courtiers

The Secret History of the Georgian Court

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Courtiers

By: Lucy Worsley
Narrated by: Lucy Worsley
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In the eighteenth century, the palace's most elegant assembly room was in fact a bloody battlefield. This was a world of skulduggery, politicking, wigs and beauty-spots, where fans whistled open like flick-knives.

Ambitious and talented people flocked to court of George II and Queen Caroline in search of power and prestige, but Kensington Palace was also a gilded cage. Successful courtiers needed level heads and cold hearts; their secrets were never safe. Among them, a Vice Chamberlain with many vices, a Maid of Honour with a secret marriage, a pushy painter, an alcoholic equerry, a Wild Boy, a penniless poet, a dwarf comedian, two mysterious turbaned Turks and any number of discarded royal mistresses.

An eye-opening portrait of a group of royal servants, Courtiers also throws new light on the dramatic life of George II and Queen Caroline at Kensington Palace.

©2025 Lucy Worsley (P)2025 Faber & Faber 18th Century Europe Great Britain Modern Royalty Funny Heartfelt
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All stars
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Lucy's evident love of her subject and the wide range of her sources and general scholarship made for a most interesting and entertaining listen

The scholarship

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Well researched and perfectly performed. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The description of the people was amusing but never cruel, always empathetic.

Fascinating insights into the behind the scenes folk of Georgian life

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Lucy writes and reads her book so well that you can create pictures in your mind of what life looked like back then.

Brilliant

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Lucy’s enthusiasm and sheer passion for history made this a wonderful listen. As my favourite period in history this brought the Georgian court and all its quirks and scandals to life.

Lucy Worsley at her best

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Interesting insight in to court life really enjoyed it. So much new information; told in a different way.

Amazing

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