The Kings Bed, Don Jordan
The Kings Bed, Don Jordan
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The King's Bed
Sex and Power in the Court of Charles II

Author: Don Jordan, Michael Walsh

Narrator: Steve West

Unabridged: 12 hr 28 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 03/16/2016

Synopsis

From two veteran historians comes an intelligent and spirited history of Charles II’s dissolute life and surprising legacy.To refer to the private life of Charles II is to abuse the adjective. His personal life was anything but private. His amorous liaisons were largely conducted in royal palaces surrounded by friends, courtiers, and literally hundreds of servants and soldiers. Gossip radiated throughout the kingdom.Charles spent most of his wealth and his intellect on gaining and keeping the company of women, from the lowest of society such as the actress Nell Gwyn to the aristocratic Louise de Kérouaille. Some of Charles’ women played their part in the affairs of state, coloring the way the nation was run.The authors take us inside Charles’ palace, where we will meet court favorites, amusing confidants, advisors jockeying for political power, mistresses past and present, as well as key figures in Charles’ inner circle, including his “pimpmasters” and his personal pox doctor.The astonishing personal life of Charles II reveals much about the man he was and why he lived and ruled as he did. The King’s Bed tells the compelling story of a king ruled by his passion.

About Don Jordan

Don Jordan is an award-winning television director and writer who has worked on dozens of documentaries and dramas. He lives in London.

About Michael Walsh

Michael Walsh is a journalist, author, and screenwriter. The former classical music critic and foreign correspondent for Time magazine, he is now a regular contributor of political and cultural commentary to PJ Media and American Greatness, as well as a Sunday op-ed columnist for the New York Post. His awards include the ASCAP-Deems Taylor Award for distinguished music criticism in 1979, and the American Book Awards prize for fiction for his gangster novel, And All the Saints, in 2004.

About Steve West

Steve West, the winner of many Audiofile Earphones Awards for narration, is an actor of international standing known for his appearances on London’s West End Stage. He has also appeared in film and in US and UK television shows.

Reviews

There are currently no user reviews for this audiobook.

Quotes

“These romps through Charles’ bed chamber are wonderfully lively.” Sunday Times (London)

“While showing that ‘never again would an English royal court reverberate with such fun and vigor, so much youthful swagger and sexuality,’ the book makes clear that Charles’ sex addiction had its darker side.” Mail on Sunday (London)

“An entertaining history of the antics of the libidinous King Charles II and his licentious court. Tells you everything you need to know about seventeenth-century sex.” Tatler (UK)

“While amply fulfilling the salacious promise of its title, this very listenable history of the Merry Monarch and his crew turns out also to be well researched and well written. Narrator Steve West delivers all this in the most proper English and with subdued relish…Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.” AudioFile

“A balanced narrative. Jordan and Walsh excel in describing the king’s unusual willingness to claim and promote many of his illegitimate children. Authentic insight on how salacious sex and the pursuit of pleasure ruled a troubled king.” Publishers Weekly

“Well researched. Those interested in royal history and scandals will delight in the stories and characters contained within these pages.” Library Journal

“The authors make excellent use of a great wealth of resources…The authors’ easy, readable style makes this a solid biography of Charles II, full of sturdy history and enough salacious information to keep it interesting.” Kirkus Reviews

Awards

  • AudioFile Earphones Award
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