Pretty, witty Nelly Gwynn was an unusual woman for her
time, an accomplished, yet illiterate, actress in 17th
century London. Nell rose from her dirt-poor childhood to
become star of the stage and eventually the beloved
mistress of King Charles II, and mother of two of his
children.
In her book, THE DARLING STUMPET, debut author Gillian
Bagwell delights readers with tales of Nell Gwynn's
escapades in historically accurate detail. The story elicits
laughter, as well as a few tears, by the end of
the final page.
Nell Gwynn escaped her mother's bawdy house to become a
young prostitute under the care and guidance of her older
sister, Rose. Nell would entertain some of the top in the
world of acting, and the men took a liking to the bright,
saucy young girl who desired to better her life. Teaching
her the ropes of acting, Nell's gentlemen friends
encouraged her new-found career, and soon she was
attracting the attention of the King himself during her
performances.
Nell was taken under the wing of the Duke of Buckingham,
the King's cousin, and groomed to become the latest in King
Charles' stable of mistresses. Advised to always be
cheerful and happy for His Majesty, Nell would outlast all
of the women who vied for the King's attention, even his
Queen. Nell would become Charles' confident, keeping his
secrets during his often tumultuous reign. Nell never forgot
where she came from or those who helped her along the way,
and was generous with her money
and her influences, even helping her old, mean-spirited
mother in her final years.
Gillian Bagwell presents this story of the beloved
courtesan in a lively manner, giving the character of Nell
a quiet dignity and grace. Far from being a dry
documentary, Bagwell livens the action up with frequent
forays into Nell's famous sexual antics with her beloved
King and others, giving the book just the right amount of
spice! (I just imagine Nell would have given Madonna and
Lady Gaga a run for their money had they been around back
then!)
THE DARLING STUMPET is a well-told historical romance
that will be enjoyed by Anglophiles and fans of the days of
old alike.
A thrilling debut novel
starring one of history’s
most famous and beloved
courtesans.
From London’s slums to its bawdy playhouses,
The Darling Strumpet transports the reader to the
tumultuous world of seventeenth-century England,
charting the meteoric rise of the dazzling Nell
Gwynn, who captivates the heart of King Charles
II—and becomes one of the century’s most
famous courtesans.
Witty and beautiful, Nell was born into poverty but
is drawn into the enthralling world of the theater,
where her saucy humor and sensuous charm earn
her a place in the King’s Company. As one of the
first actresses in the newly-opened playhouses, she
catapults to fame, winning the affection of legions
of fans—and the heart of the most powerful man
in all of England, the King himself. Surrendering
herself to Charles, Nell will be forced to maneuver
the ruthless and shifting allegiances of the royal
court—and discover a world of decadence and
passion she never imagined possible.
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