Restored to the British throne in 1660 after years of exile, Charles II began a reign famous for dramatic events (the Plague, the Great Fire, the Dutch Wars), the flowering of science and the arts, and for notorious sexual liaisons. With a bevy of mistresses and flamboyantly addicted to high living, the Merry Monarch successfully presided over 'Merry Olde England' in an age of intrigue and religious dissent. When his tolerance extended to acknowledging his illegitimate son at court, James's life changed out of all recognition. This is the story of a remarkable man, and the spectacular upheavals and reversals of the time, told through the eyes of his illegitimate son, James, Duke of Monmouth.
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“Jude Morgan is careful to challenge the preconceptions of his historical characters.” -- The Times
--This text refers to the
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This beautifully crafted novel brings to life an era famous for its dramatic events—the Plague, the Great fire of London, the Dutch Wars—and notorious for its sexual license and scandal. It was an era in which the King of England became a byword for sensual indulgence—enjoying ardent affairs and nurturing an addiction to witty company, horse racing, and high living, all the while maintaining an iron hold on his throne amid intrigue and violence. The King’s Touch tells the story of Charles II from a uniquely enlightening perspective—that of the first–born son he loved above all others, but who would never become his heir…
--This text refers to the
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The King's Touch,
By
This review is from: The King's Touch (Paperback)
A character-driven reconstruction of the Restoration period, from the point of view of the ill-fated Duke of Monmouth.
I don't understand why so little historical fiction takes the English Civil War and its lengthy and dramatic aftermath as a setting. Whatever the reason, its rarity makes The King's Touch a particularly welcome book. While a bit more grasp of the period's ideologies and material culture would have been an improvement, in general I thought the Restoration was effectively evoked. Told primarily in first person from the point of view of Jemmy, Charles II's illegitimate son who becomes Duke of Monmouth, the narrative focuses heavily on Jemmy's childhood, his upbringing and his relationships with others, particularly his elusive father. Morgan effectively portrays human, flawed yet deeply sympathetic characters who have been damaged by disinheritance, exile and uncertainty, without sliding (much) into anachronism. Solely a book about human relationships, King's Touch contains little physical action; a different author might have chosen to portray Jemmy in battle rather than skimming over military events. However, the plot held my interest. I think this would have a broad appeal to readers of romantic historical fiction (as opposed to 'historical' romance novels).
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Life with Father....the King,
By Kristen "historical fiction junkie" (Central Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The King's Touch (Paperback)
"The Kings Touch" is a marvelous story of Charles II and Restoration England told through the eyes of the boy who was the first born son of Charles II, eventually known as the Duke of Monmouth. Through Jemmy, the boy, we meet Charles while he is still a man in exile holding out for hope. We see how Charles' life, sense of self, and inability to trust in others and to say "no" is shaped by his domineering and jealous mother, Queen Henrietta Maria, his favorite sister, Minette, and his jealous brother James. It seems that Charles is always searching for love and acceptance - yet politics, power and jealousy interfere repeatedly. Through Jem's eyes we see this man grow into an indulgent and excessive King who rules largely ineffectively. He is a difficult father as well - displaying love one minute, distrust another, and with holding the same sense of security from his son that he seemed to long for himself.
Author Jude Morgan has the Midas Touch when it comes to bringing Restoration England alive on the pages. This book is full of vivid descriptions, larger than life characters (as they were in life), and is a story you smell in full and see in color. The King's Touch is full of intrigue, jealousy, sex, drunkeness, lust and drips with the excessive displays of the period. Despite the many lovers Charles II is known to have had, and the numerous children he produced outside of his marriage which he acknowledged and raised, few know of The Duke of Monmouth though he is said to have been the one most loved and favored by the King. This is particularly odd since Monmouth himself lead such a tumultuous and interesting life, and eventually was arrested and executed for waging a rebellion after the death of this father. These facts alone make this story well worth reading.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautifully written with vivid characters,
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This review is from: The King's Touch (Paperback)
The King's Touch is told in the first person by Jemmy (James, Duke of Monmouth), the best-known out-of-wedlock son of Charles II. It covers his life from his childhood with his beautiful, unstable mother to his decision to lead his rebellion against James II. Though Jemmy's military adventures play a part in this novel, this is by no means an action-packed tale. Nor is it concerned chiefly with the politics of the age, though they of course play an important background role. Rather, the focus is on Jemmy's relationships, most especially with his enigmatic father
Having been reading some others' thoughts about reviewing, it's struck me that my favorable reviews tend to be similar to each other: I praise the author's characterizations and writing style. That's no accident, because character to me is what the essence of novel writing is about; if I can't connect with the people in a novel on some level, the novel doesn't work for me. So having said that, you'll not be surprised to hear that I enjoyed The King's Touch chiefly for its characters. They're vivid and memorable, particularly Charles II and Jemmy himself. Morgan's writing style is also a treat: elegant yet unfussy, and full of little gems like this comment about Jemmy's grandmother, Queen Henrietta Maria, who's just been told by Charles that he wants Jemmy raised as a Protestant: "My grandmother sat down tragically. (I cannot give a clear idea of tragical sitting-down, but my grandmother could manage it.)" The dialogue here sparkles, and is appropriate to the characters, some of the best lines being too bawdy to quote here. Here's a random sample from Jemmy's cousin Mary, who's not looking forward to her wedding day: "'Then I am very well. But I am not, of course. It is not true, by the by, that I wept two days together after Father told me I was to marry Prince William. It was only a day and a half.'" This was a great read. Pick it up.
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