"The Mistresses of George I and II" by Catherine Curzon offers a captivating exploration into the lives of the mistresses who held significant sway over the reigns of two Hanoverian kings. Curzon skillfully navigates through the intricate webs of politics, passion, and power that characterized the Georgian court, bringing to life the stories of these remarkable women.

With meticulous research and engaging prose, Curzon sheds light on the often overlooked figures who played pivotal roles in shaping the destinies of their royal lovers and, by extension, the course of British history. From the scandalous affairs of Henrietta Howard to the tragic fate of Caroline of Ansbach, each mistress is presented as a complex and multifaceted individual, far beyond mere consorts or paramours.

What sets this book apart is Curzon's ability to humanize these historical figures, delving into their desires, ambitions, and struggles in a way that resonates with contemporary readers. Through her vivid storytelling, she transports us back to the glamour and intrigue of the Georgian era, where love and power collided in the most unexpected ways.

Overall, "The Mistresses of George I and II" is a riveting read that offers both a compelling glimpse into the lives of these extraordinary women and a deeper understanding of the dynamics of royal courtship and governance in 18th-century Britain. It is a must-read for anyone fascinated by history, romance, or the intersection of the two.

Thank you to NetGalley, Catherine Curzon, and Pen & Sword for sending me the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. I really enjoyed reading it the book was interesting and the characters made me want to know more about them. I highly recommend.

This novel tells the story of the mistresses of George I and II. This was a comprehensive biography. However, it did not add to any new details from I learned from other biographies. Still, I recommend this for fans of royal mistresses.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. Fasinating read! Highly recommend for history buffs!

I thought this book was well-researched the author managed to treat the subjects in a way that was both respectful yet detailed and intriguing, also managing to maintain her focus on the women rather than the George’s. Although I admit I was confused at times with the plethora of names and people while reading about the George’s and his mistresses. A fascinating read

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

the King George's had very interesting mistresses, I thought this was a really well done biography and was well written. I enjoyed going all long this journey.

This book focuses on two women, Melusine von der Schulenberg, and Henrietta Howard. Both were mistresses but their circumstances quite different. George I locked up his wife back in Hanover, and Melusine was very much the main woman in his life for more than 30 years. In George II’s court his wife ruled, and Henrietta was the approved mistress for 20yrs or so. It’s very interesting reading about this period in history, firstly as the Hanovers prepare for their future on the English throne, then the various court intrigues and politics once they’ve been crowned.

One mistress, Melusine von der Schulenberg, replaces the wife that George I left behind in prison, wielding enormous political influence over George's lifetime. George II's mistress, Henrietta Howard, didn't have that relationship with George II. George II's queen didn't view Henrietta as a threat to her power and convinced Henrietta to stay in her role long after she wanted to end her relationship with George II. The queen didn't want George II to find a mistress fight her for power and influence. I didn't realize how much of a soap opera the Georgian era was. The two women's story was told in an engaging manner. I'm looking forward to read other nonfiction books that Curzon has written in the Georgian era.

I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher and/or author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this well-researched and accessible book. I dote on royal mistresses, but recognise that they can be a touchy topic to modern sensibilities. Curzon managed to treat the subjects in a way that was both dishy and respectful. She also managed to maintain her focus on the women while providing enough overview to place them in history without overexplaining so much that she lost them in history.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC copy for my review.

I picked this up because I love familiarizing myself with corners of history I don't know much about. Royal mistresses definitely fit the bill. I wanted to learn about the role as a political, practical move rather than through the lens of slut-shaming. This history covers the lives of two Hanoverian mistresses: Melusine von der Schulenberg and Henrietta Howard. The book was split evenly between the two, but I think I would have preferred a book entirely about Henrietta. There seemed to be a lot more source material about her life, including the opportunity to hear her own voice through her letters to friends. By the end, I felt I could see her clearly, whereas Melusine is still a bit of a mystery. Also, I think von der Schulenberg had more detractors, so the sources available on her weren't always forgiving.

What I appreciated most was an opportunity to see the difficult positions women were put in at this time. Even as aristocrats, these ladies experienced poverty, abuse, disease, and sexist limitations on the roles they could play and the options they had available. The author argues that both largely sought the role of royal mistress for the financial security. It's not a story of power-hungry social climbing but self-preservation. Also, both women had such "successful" and long tenures as mistresses by playing it safe and keeping their heads down when necessary. The royal power of the kings was on frightening display here, as well. The way their whims could dictate the rise and fall of those in court, not to mention make political decisions that can destroy an entire economy, was frankly appalling.

This was an informative read for me, and I am pleased to know more about these two intrepid women. I will warn potential readers that while there is a bit of wry humor thrown in, it's largely a dry accounting with no narrative aspect or attention to context, so it'e not particularly immersive. Also, prepare for a confusing bevy of people named either George or Sophia.

Thanks to Pen & Sword and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, out on 7/30.

I’ve read a lot of books about the Georges. This was a well-researched, very accessible study of the mistresses.

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

Well researched, full of detail - I loved this
Fascinating book about a period of history I've always enjoyed

A great read

I have always been intrigued by the lives of royals, especially the British. I knew about one of George I’s mistresses, but I was unaware Of George II’s. Curzon introduces both women as more than arm ornaments for kings. Both women’s histories and families are explored. I did get a little lost with the plethora of names and people while reading about George It’s mistress. I found the story of Henrietta, mistress to George II quite interesting. I think this book contributed to the full canon of books about the early Hanover monarchs of England and the women who loved them.

Felt the timeline would be confusing to some people unfamiliar with the Georgians as it seems to flit all over the place.
A family tree at the front of the book would have been helpful.
Aside from that, it was a very entertaining book with some very interesting facts about some of the mistresses who are brushed over when talking about the Georgians.

I've been reading about the British royals, in chronological order and his book came to my attention at the perfect time. There really aren't a lot of books about "The George's of England" available. Although I'm not normally a huge fan of biographies that aren't written in novel form, this one flowed nicely and kept my interest, throughout. It was interesting to read, not only about the Mistresses, but about the Kings, their wives and their children. The author obviously did a lot of research about all the different families involved. It was a great way for me to learn about these Kings and so many of those that surrounded them.

I was so excited to read this book, but I had a very difficult time keeping up with the character lists. The list became confusing at times and I wasn’t sure to whom they were speaking. The stories were fascinating and more entertaining than a soap opera.

A rich tapestry of information and such level of detail that I really got an excellent feeling for the subjects of the book and their characters. Their stories were really insightful and a fascinating glimpse of the times within the upper echelons of society which was very eye opening and informative.
It is true sometimes that fact can be stranger than fiction and some of the actions and events within families and relationships would definitely give modern soaps a run for their money.
I found the style of writing very accessible and easy to read, without any previous background knowledge of the subject matter and the facts presently very well and in a way that was very engaging. Definitely recommend.

I received The Mistresses of George I and II as part of a NetGalley giveaway.

Melusine von der Schulenberg and Henrietta Howard were mistresses of Kings George I and II respectively. Both were left alone at a young age and rose to positions of massive prominence on a world stage, yet their stories were quite different. Melusine and George I were lifelong companions and she wielded enormous political influence, despite her lover's dour temperament. Meanwhile, Henrietta was forced into a loveless marriage which she could only escape by a place at the English court, a circumstance that led to a tenuous arrangement with George II and his wife Charlotte. Her place was never quite assured, and she never attained the prestige of either the lawful queen or her predecessor Melusine. It wasn't until she escaped life at court that she was able to find some measure of peace. This exploration of two women whose lives were simultaneously so similar and so different is a study of comparisons and contrasts in Georgian royal relationships.

I had no background in either of these women and I found their stories quite engaging. For those who aren't familiar with the Hanoverian dynasty, the repetition of names might be a bit daunting at the beginning, but once you get into the thick of the story it's easy enough to figure out who is who.. I'll say that I'm not quite sure why Curzon chose these two particular mistresses (George II in particular had several), as their stories seem to have as many differences as parallels, but I'm glad she did, as I've been introduced to two more fascinating historical women.

An engaging and gossipy look at the lives of Melusine von der Schulenberg, Duchess of Kendal and Henrietta Howard, Countess of Suffolk and their often difficult relationships with their royal lovers, George I and his son George II. Not always the brightest lights in the harbor, the first Hanoverian monarchs are also infamously known for their rather despicable attitudes towards women in their private spheres. Catherine Curzon has given us a colorful portrait of 2 royal paramours hankering after security and stability during their lives, the very steep price they had to pay in order to attain it and the amount of boorishness and oafishness they had to put up with from those two teutonic nitwits. A sad but captivating look at royal British history between 1714 and 1759 and a definitive confirmation that unfortunately Germany didn't gift Great Britain with its "best and brightest" after a century of difficult Stuart rule.....

Many thanks to Netgalley and Pen & Sword for this delightful ARC

Whatever problems the present Royal family may face seem minor in indeed compared to the numerous scandals, rivalries and power struggles endured by the first Hanoverian kings three hundred years' ago. Starting the story in late 17th century Germany and following on through the grumpy George I's arrival on these shores in 1714 through to his son's reign in the middle years of the century, Catherine Curzon's tale of the lifes and loves of the two unlovable monarchs and their respective mistresses is undeniably gossipy but aĺso well researched and very readable.