Amazon.com
When the future British monarch George IV (1762-1830) was a lad of 15, his head instructor predicted the Prince of Wales "will either be the most polished gentleman or the most accomplished blackguard in Europe, possibly an admixture of both." It was, as historian Saul David notes, "a particularly prescient remark." He is most popularly remembered for setting the pace for drunkenness and lechery among England's upper crust, not to mention his attempts to exploit the "madness" of his father,
George III, for political gain (which would incidentally help him raise the money necessary to pay off his massive debts). But, David says, he was also a generous patron of the arts--responsible for, among other things, the establishment of the National Portrait Gallery--and played a critical role in the multinational campaign against Napoleon, thereby securing Britain's position of supremacy.
Prince of Pleasure is a lively biography, rich in anecdote, which provides a nuanced view of the monarch and statesman that hides nothing, but considers the flaws within the context of a nation where parliament and royalty maintained a delicate balance while revolutionary fervor swept many other countries. Drawing deeply upon contemporary sources, David is able to offer substantial detail on matters such as the prince's "secret" wedding to the Catholic widow Mrs. Fitzherbert, or his later, legally sanctioned matrimony to Princess Caroline of Brunswick, who so physically repulsed him that, after three instances of congress in the first two days of their marriage, he never went near her again. There is also much fine detail on the personal rifts between the prince and his father, and the ways in which that discord shaped Whig-Tory rivalries in the House of Commons. People fascinated by the stories surrounding the late 20th century's Prince of Wales will find his Hanoverian antecedent as compelling--probably more. --Ron Hogan
Book Description
The Prince of Pleasure is the immaculately researched and engaging story of George IV (1762-1830), a rakish and contradictory figure who became one of the most controversial and outrageous monarchs in British history. Critically acclaimed biographer Saul David has captured the passions and foibles of this monarch--infamous for being overweight, overdressed, and oversexed--who epitomized England's regency period. George IV was marked throughout his life by financial ruin and domestic entanglements. Though known primarily for his scandalous lifestyle, he was also a man of high intelligence with a great appreciation for art and literature. In addition to encouraging the works of both Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott, as well as purchasing the Elgin Marbles, he promoted England's Regency style of architecture. In fast-moving and incisive prose, Saul David paints a brilliantly detailed portrait of the Regency period.
--Ce texte fait référence à l'édition
Broché
.
