Ravenous: A Life of Barbara Villiers, Charles II's Most Infamous Mistress (Hardback)
Imprint: Pen & Sword History
Pages: 256
Illustrations: 40 black and white illustrations
ISBN: 9781526769107
Published: 30th July 2024
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Barbara Villiers was a woman so beautiful, so magnetic and so sexually attractive that she captured the hearts of many in Stuart-era Britain. Her beauty is legendary: she became the muse of artists such as Peter Lely, the inspiration of writers such as John Dryden and the lover of John Churchill, the future great military leader whom we also know as the 1st Duke of Marlborough. Her greatest amorous conquest was King Charles II, King of England, Scotland, and Ireland, with whom she had a tempestuous and passionate relationship for the better part of a decade.
But this loveliest of Stuart-era ladies had a dark side. She hurt and humiliated her husband, Roger Palmer, for decades with her unashamedly adulterous lifestyle, she plotted the ruin of her enemies, constantly gambled away vast sums of money, is remembered for the destruction of the Tudor-era Nonsuch Palace, and was known to unleash terrible rages when crossed. Crassly lampooned by John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester, and subjected to verbal and written assaults, she was physically abused by a later, violent spouse.
Barbara lived through some of the most turbulent times in British history: civil war, the Great Plague of London, which saw the deaths of around 100,000 people, the Great Fire of London, which destroyed much of the medieval city, and foreign conflicts such as the Anglo-Dutch Wars, the Williamite wars, and the War of the Spanish Succession.
An impoverished aristocrat who rose to become a wealthy countess and then a duchess, taking her lovers from all walks of life, Barbara laughed at the morals of her time and used her natural talents and her ruthless determination to the material benefit of herself and her numerous offspring. In great stately homes and castles such as Hampton Court Palace, her portraits are widely seen and appreciated even today. She had an insatiable appetite for life, love, riches, amusement, and power. She was simply ‘ravenous’…
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
NetGalley, Nicholas Artrip
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.
Oh man, Barbara.
NetGalley, Kate Cedras
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!).
About Andrea Zuvich
Andrea Zuvich is a seventeenth-century historian specialising in the House of Stuart (1603–1714), as well as a historical advisor and author of historical fiction. She is the host of the popular ‘The Seventeenth Century Lady’ blog and has degrees in History and Anthropology from the University of Central Florida. Zuvich has appeared on television and radio discussing the Stuart period and gives lectures on the Stuart dynasty throughout the UK. She was one of the original developers of and leaders on the Garden History Tours at Kensington Palace. Zuvich, a Chilean-American born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, now lives in England with her family. This is her sixth book.
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