REVIEW: Courtiers (Lucy Worsley)

Book: The Courtiers

Author: Lucy Worsley

My rating: 3.5/5

Premise: In the eighteenth century, the palace's most elegant assembly room was in fact a bloody battlefield. Ambitious and talented people flocked to court of George II in search of power and prestige, but Kensington Palace was also a gilded cage. Successful courtiers needed level heads and cold hearts. Among them, a Vice Chamberlain with many vices, a Maid of Honour with a secret marriage, a pushy painter, an alcoholic equerry, a Wild Boy and any number of discarded royal mistresses.

The Georgian era is a period of history that gets glossed over at school. So I really enjoyed learning more about George I and II and about early 18th century Britain. I love Lucy Worsley's work - she makes history exciting and interesting without dumbing down the content. I hadn't realised the precarious position of the monarchy at that time and just how potential heirs were passed over for George I to become king. Also, I didn't know about the feuds in the Royal family that make Megxit pale in comparison! But its not just the royals. This book follows individuals at court, showing what life as a courtier was like and showcasing some of the colourful characters. Overall, a really interesting read!