Barbara Palmer, 1st Duchess of Cleveland, Countess of Castlemaine (née Villiers, November 1640–9 October 1709),was the only child of the 2nd Viscount Grandison, a half-nephew of the 1st Duke of Buckingham, and of his wife Mary Bayning, co-heiress of the 1st Viscount Bayning.On 29 September 1643,her father died in the First English Civil War from a wound.He had spent his considerable fortune on the war; his widow and daughter were left in straitened circumstances. Shortly after his death,Barbara's mother remarried to Charles Villiers, 2nd Earl of Anglesey,her late husband's cousin.Tall,voluptuous,a brunette with slanting,heavy-lidded violet eyes,alabaster skin,and a sensuous,sulky mouth,Barbara Villiers was considered to be one of the most beautiful of the Royalist women,but her lack of fortune left her with reduced marriage prospects.Her first serious romance was with the 2nd Earl of Chesterfield, but he was after a rich wife.On 14 April 1659 she married Roger Palmer,a Roman Catholic,against his family's wishes.In 1660, Barbara became the King's mistress.The King created her husband Baron Limerick and Earl of Castlemaine in 1661.These titles were given with the stipulation that they would only be passed down through Roger's heirs by Barbara, and thus served as a way for the king to indirectly secure an inheritance for his illegitimate children.The two officially separated in 1662.At her height,she has been referred to as "The Uncrowned Queen" and she was known to assert her influence with the King over the actual Queen,Catherine of Braganza.Of her 6 children,5 were acknowledged by Charles as his.In June 1670,Charles created her Baroness Nonsuch (as she owned Nonsuch Palace).She was made Countess of Castlemaine and Duchess of Cleveland in her own right.Barbara was extravagant, promiscuous,and fiery.Her influence over the King waxed and waned throughout her tenure as royal mistress.She sought security through power and wealth.In 1705,Barbara remarried to Major-General Robert Fielding,but he was an abusive fortune-hunter and a bigamist.Barbara loved to be in love.She was audacious and offensive. She didn't care too much about what others thought of her.

Ravenous by Andrea Zuvich, this is a scandalous gossipy story of Barbara Villier, Charles the second’s most beloved mistress. Force to marry Young by her inatentive mother, she still married with a Secret lover in the shadows at a time where there were staunch morals. Barbra Villier Felt no qualms about being herself, herself being loud, sexual, independent and enticing to most men. Prince Charles would not be her last lover but the one she would go onto have five children with despite already being married. She lived an interesting life and seems to be the type of person that would be what they call a social media darling today. She was many different things to many different men but never could she be accused of faithfulness and a being a good mother the end of her life was just sad is the life she live. This was a very interesting book anyone who loves gossipy backstabbing and questionable people I just love history who would love this book. Books like this are the reason I am obsessed with the Stewart’s the tutors and the Victorians. #NetGalley, #PinAndSwordPress, #AndreaZuvich,#Ravish, #CharlesThe2, #Royalty,

History is one of my greatest interests, and interesting women in history is a specific interest of mine. This book about Barbara Villiers was very interesting and I really enjoyed reading about her. The late 1600s is such a fascinating time in European history.

The book is full of contemporary accounts of both Barbara and the happenings around her which really gives something extra to the book. Having the actual accounts to reference gives this feel like you’re there witnessing the events.

Barbara Villiers lived an extraordinary life, and this books highlights her life and her drive to make a name for herself in the world.

Ravenous: A Life of Barbara Villiers, Charles II's Most Infamous Mistress by Andrea Zuvich is a highly compelling, utterly fascinating read about a woman who defied every social convention in the immensely tumultuous Stuart Era to get everything she desired, using the desires of men as her primary weapon of choice

Barbara Villiers was most famous for being the lover of Charles II, however, her road to Royal courtesan is extensive, dark and deeply scandalous. Despite being married to Roger Palmer, Barbara Villiers used her looks and magnetism to commit countless acts of adultery, to become a muse, a lover and ultimately the mistress of a King.

Vindictive, spiteful, a gambler, both a victim and purveyor of violence and destruction, gluttonous for every piece of power, pleasure and riches she could get her hands on, Villiers defied convention and lived her life her way, even as soceity bore the brunt of the most tumultuous times in British history

Absolutely fascinating and very well written

Thank you to NetGalley, Pen & Sword | Pen & Sword History and Andrea Zuvich for this highly compelling ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

A great overview of Villiers life. She was a very interesting person, and the author does a wonderful job of teaching us about her.

This was a fascinating and titillating historical read about the "ravenous", "scandalous", unapologetically sexual, and undoubtedly successful Barbara Villars. Author, Andrea Zuvich has infused these passions and characteristics of Barbara into the historical events of the day, bringing it all to life for the reader.

Barbara was quite the lady for her time! While many called her anything but a lady, she most certainly lived life on her terms and created a world for herself (and her children) in which she held so much power and influence, even at such an incredibly young age. She had King Charles II wrapped around her finger in all manners of court business, finance, politics, and even his marriage and other mistresses.

Almost all court and country drama surrounded Barbara. Newspapers, poets, and authors couldn't write enough about her, men wanted to be with her, and women wanted to look and dress like her. Not to say she didn't have her enemies, she had many. But it seems as though Barbara has the last laugh on them all, as her bloodline carries on even today through Prince William, Prince of Wales as one of her and King Charles II's descendants.

Thank you to #netgalley, #andreazuvich, #harpercollinspublishers, and #pen&swordbooks for an ARC.

Oh man, Barbara.

She was fascinating, notorious, beautiful and definitely lived an exciting life. I enjoyed reading and learning more about her life and how she lived it, her loves, and her impact and influence during that time period.

A well written non fiction read that I am so glad I had the opportunity to pick up (and not put down!).

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for my honest review.

There’s something about those Villiers…

I requested and received an eARC of Ravenous: A Life of Barbara Villiers, Charles II's Most Infamous Mistress by Andrea Zuvich via NetGalley. When I think of the Merry Monarch the first thing that comes to mind (aside from the particularly delicious Rufus Sewell in Charles II: The Power and the Passion) is sex! Mistresses! Uncontrollable lust! Zuvich’s book focuses on Barbara Palmer (née Barbara Villiers), 1st Duchess of Cleveland, Charles II’s longest, and perhaps most influential, mistress. Charles may have had the appetite of a king, but Barbara Villiers was ravenous!

The volume opens with a foreword by the lovely Gareth Russell as he invites us to discover Zuvich’s text which isn’t necessarily seeking to “rehabilitate” Barbara Villier’s image, but to give a more full understanding of her character and circumstances. This is something Zuvich certainly delivers in her book. She presents Barbara Villers’ life without judgment or without trying to sanctify her, instead offering a nuanced view of a complex and endlessly interesting woman. Perhaps this detail has escaped me from my other readings, but I thought it was fascinating that Barbara Villiers was so closely aligned with Henrietta Maria (who I am always eager to learn more about!) From beginning to end, this was a thoroughly entertaining look at a complicated woman lived life on her own terms, occasionally to her detriment.

I also wanted to mention some technical aspects of this book that I found to be very delightful. Zuvich makes the most of her sources to create a captivating portrait of her subject. The tone is both academic and fun, inviting you to learn, while also allowing you to delight in the scandalous and occasionally absurd details that emerge (still obsessed with Barbara Villiers sending her Madonna & child portrait to a convent.) I enjoyed that there were so many chapters and that they never felt cumbersome or difficult to finish in one sitting. This allowed me to absorb the information while also encouraging me to press onwards.