Customer Reviews

Restoration (Sceptre 21's)

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I was encouraged to read this book because I had seen and thoroughly enjoyed the film by the same title. As a practicing physician and lover of early Baroque music, I found myself deeply moved by Rose Tremain's novel. The story is narrated in the first person by Rober Merivel, a physician during the reign of Charles II, the English king restored to the throne after the end of the English civil war and the regime of Oliver Cromwell. I was profoundly impressed at how Tremain, a female, was able to so intimately and accurately write from a masculine perspective. In addition, she was able to clearly express the fears, anxieties, and growing pains of a physician that still hold true today. Her portrayal of the close friendship between Merivel and "Pearce," a Quaker, and fellow physician reminded me of my own professional relationships with some of my colleagues. I wonder if she has had some close relationships with physicians. It certainly speaks well for her research on the historical and scientific background for this book. Tremain's description of the practice of 17th century Euopean medicine was fascinating and well portrayed. I found the growth of Merivel as a human being most engaging of all. His trials and tribulations, his evolution from a self-centered hedonistic court fop to a serious and senstitive man is beautifully and poignantly portrayed. Tremain's work also has some thinly veiled commentary our own times, times not unlike the Restoration wherein, as Charles II describes at the novel's end, " Even in an age in which we wisely practise the excellent art of oblivion, certain things remain." There is a very amusing and ironic moment in the novel where Merivel, a newly appointed Overseer of the Poor in his shire, is instructed in the differences between the "Idle, Able, and Impotent Poor." His own commentary on how this may be applied to the aristocracy and hangers on at court is just one very entertaining and particularly barbed example of the author's view of our own times. I would put this novel in the same class as "The Citadel" by A.J. Cronin, being a story of a physician's life and of the times in which he lives and works. I recommend this book to anyone interested in going into medicine, in the midst of training, or in the practice of the healing arts. I would also recommend it to anyone searching for meaning in these difficult not-so-modern times. My only two regrets are that the story came to an end and that I am unable to personally express my gratitude to the author for writing this work. It left a deep impression on me, one that makes me feel better about our common humanity over the ages.

Restoration is full of energy and continually fascinating. I loved it. It's one of those novels in which all the elements are satisfyingly resolved by the end of the story. The setting, seventeenth century England, reflects an astonishing amount of research into the life of that time: a Quaker community established to heal the insane, with its division of patients by their potential for harm; details of dress (Robert Merivel, the hero, often tells us how he removes his wig, or puts it on, and the condition of his scalp underneath); chocolate cake as a normal breakfast food; and seventeenth century medicine. Robert is trained as a doctor, but has lost his will to practice after the death of his parents by fire, and the book is about his restoration and accession to maturity following this loss. Robert begins as a fool for King Charles II, marrying the King's mistress but forbidden to touch her, and it is this relationship to the King that shapes his life in the story. One aspect of Robert's restoration is his work with the patients at the Quaker asylum: in addition to the ideas and attitudes of the time, we are allowed to see Robert developing his own notions of the causes and cures of madness, which are applied with some success and some ruinous results. Robert's dear friend Pearce, a lugubrious Quaker who introduces him to the asylum, is a beautifully developed character of great depth, annoying and admirable and pathetic; they are orphans together. Two aspects of the novel I found especially powerful: descriptions of the Great Fire of London, including the geography of its spread and the behavior of the fleeing crowds, and Robert's love for King Charles. Nowhere else have I ever seen conveyed so well the notion of tender love for a King as a wise and mature parent, a love essential to European ideas of kingship before the eighteenth century. The intensely personal nature of Robert's devotion to the King-as-Parent is a fable, a fairy story, but it is brilliantly woven into a realistic story of adventure, failure and grace.

Robert Merival believes he has a wonderful place in the court of King Charles II. He has been given the honour of marrying one of the King's most treasured concubines who needs to be temporarily removed from court to avoid the King's wife. They are given an estate and an income in return for the promise that Robert will not lay a finger on his wife.

Robert becomes quite comfortable in his new found luxury, splurging on food, drink, toys and furnishings, believing himself to be quite the gentleman. However, he begins to become aware of one small problem, he is falling in love with his wife.

Through certain events he comes to realise that he was not chosen to be married to the King's lover because of their friendship, but because he was the only fool that would do it without question.

He is a laughing stock. When everything is taken away from him, his wife, his estate and money, he seeks out an old friend who works in a lunatic asylum.

This is where Robert begins his personal restoration. Through studying and attempting to help and cure the people of their madness, he begins to see just exactly what kind of person he is.

Rose Tremain is wickedly comedic, with stories of people that we can laugh with and relate to, despite centuries separating us. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, as I have done with all of the others I have read from this wonderful author.

It's been a while since I read this, and I was absolutely wild about it when it first came out. Merivel is an eighteenth century party animal, indulging in the most fun of the seven deadly sins like gluttony and lust. He's too good natured to indulge in the nastier ones, and he's usually drunk. He's attending medical school, and he has a gift for healing; he's not in the least bit squeamish. But he doesn't recognize the most valuable part of himself, because he's so caught up in the glitter of materialism and the resplendency of his idol, the larger than life Charles II. The king decides to make use of his merry but obsequious devotee and give one of his many mistresses a husband. But Merivel breaks the cardinal rule and falls in love with his charge. The king is furious, but he doesn't react as Merivel would expect. This is a joyful novel that beautifully illustrates the splendor and tawdriness of its time and setting while creating a timeless parable about self-worth and coming to spiritual and moral enlightenment. Ultimately the main character, his wife and the king discover and rediscover what is truly valuable. More to the point Rose Tremain has a wonderfully delicate, tactful and strong prose style that is a pleasure to read. This book comes highly recommended, though Tremain truly outdoes herself in Restoration's literary sequel, Music and Silence, which is set in the same period at the court of Charles II' cousin, the king of Denmark. That book is even better than this one.

Set during 17th century England and the "restoration" of Charles II, Rose Tremain's novel, "Restoration" is the story of Robert Merivel, a man set on "restoring" himself.

Merivel is a walking contradiction. He longs for money and power but admits that he is lazy about doing what needs to be done in order to obtain them. In fact, Merivel even eschews his profession as a physician in favor of an easier life, one that did not entail so much hard work and long hours. He actually marries the king's mistress though he is absolutely forbidden to touch her. Complications arise when Merivel makes the mistake of falling in love with, who else...his own wife.

It was, however, Merivel's laziness that caused Charles II to look upon him with askance. Feeling that Merivel still had potential, Charles forced him to practice his profession at a Quaker asylum, thus restoring Merivel to his status as a working man.

Although Merivel develops great compassion for the poor and the insane of the asylum, he does not completely transform himself. He still desires power and wealth, but his self-control have at least taken a turn for the better. This is the thrust of the book as I see it, the restoration of self-respect and self-sufficiency to Robert Merivel, although all of the other aspects of the book were interesting as well.

Details of 17th century England abound in this novel and they all serve to elevate the book beyond what it would have been had they not been included. This is historical fiction with a comedic twist, and it is very, very good historical fiction. At its heart, though, "Restoration" is the portrait of a man, a very flawed man, who, through the acknowledgement of his own flaws, perhaps, is restored. In Robert Merivel, Rose Tremain has created a wonderful character: a man who is flawed, but honest about those flaws, a man who is lazy but caring, vain but concerned about his own vanity. It is easy to love Robert Merivel and even easier to relate to him and to his contradictions.

It is Merivel's trials and contradictions, his loves and desires, that shape the course of this book. His transformation from a self-centered, hedonistic fool to a serious and sensitive man is beautifully rendered. "Restoration," though a commentary on 17th century England, could very well be a commentary on the entire 21st century world as well. As Charles II, himself, says, "Even in an age in which we wisely practice the excellent art of oblivion, certain things remain." It is the wise reader who will remember Charles' words..."certain things remain"...and proceed, like Merivel, to do something about the situation.

I loved this book, I was most facinated by the main character Merivel. He was so honest and open about his own misgivings and strange habits, that I instantly developed a fondness for him. By giving Merivel faults and weaknesses, Rose Tremain managed to create a very human, very real character in which even modern-day people can find themselves relating to. While Merivel may have been sloppy and without proper manners, one can't help but find his antics charming in their own way. I found the storyline itself to be perfecty intriguing,I was unable to put the book down. This book gives a wonderful insight to the civilizations and societies of the 17th century. And of course, having Robert Downey Jr. on the cover sure didn't hurt either... :-)

I would recommend this book to someone who wants an entertaining overview of Restoration England. But I would urge you, if you enjoy this novel, to go to the real source, Samuel Pepys diary. The audio version, narrated by Kenneth Branaugh, is exceptional. Like R Tremain's main character, Pepys was an intimate of CharlesII's court. He was also an exceptionally honest and self-discerning diarist. The only real comparison in literature is Rousseau's Confessions. Personally, I feel that Pepys' is the more genuine self-examination.

Robert Merivel, who has studied to be a physician, is appointed, ironically, to be veterinarian for the spaniels of King Charles II, who has recently been restored to the throne following the death of Oliver Cromwell. Merivel enjoys the gaiety and frivolity of court life, and, a bit of a fool, he entertains the king. The king's decision to placate one of his lovers by marrying off his favorite mistress to Robert Merivel, spells the beginning of the end for Merivel's tenuous fortunes. Warned not to fall in love with his wife, Celia Clemence, since the king intends to continue seeing her, Merivel cannot help himself, and he is cast out, losing not only the king's affection, but also his house and, of course his wife.

Joining a group of men who work at an asylum for the insane, Merivel learns that there are deeper concerns in life than the hedonism of his life at court, and he develops genuine affection for several of the kindly Quaker men with whom he works. When he transgresses the society's rules, however, he is cast out from there, too, ending up in London at the time of the Great Plague and eventually the Great London Fire.

Painting vivid pictures of Merivel's life--at court, at the asylum in Whittlesea, and in the neighborhoods of London--author Rose Tremain brings the age, its customs, its science, and its social structure to life. The years of 1664 - 1666 are especially difficult, and as Merivel lives through the horrors of the Plague and the panic of the Great Fire, which Tremain recreates with the drama they deserve, the reader can see Merivel becoming less a fool and more a human. Like the restoration of the king to the throne, Merivel's "restoration" to dignity takes place after a period of dark reflection and self-examination, and both Merivel and the country learn from their travails.

Tremain develops Merivel's personal transformation with sensitivity, finesse, and much ironic humor, and when, at last, he is noticed again by the court, his understanding of himself and his role in the world is far more profound than it was before. Depicting the personal and the philosophical turmoils of these early Restoration years with a historian's eye for detail and a detached observer's sense of wit, Tremain illustrates the contradictions of this period realistically and often with dark humor. A fine historical novel, Restoration transcends its period, offering observations, themes, and lessons for the present day. Mary Whipple

Robert Merivel, who has studied to be a physician, is appointed, ironically, to be veterinarian for the spaniels of King Charles II, who has recently been restored to the throne following the death of Oliver Cromwell. Merivel enjoys the gaiety and frivolity of court life, and, a bit of a fool, he entertains the king. The king's decision to placate one of his lovers by marrying off his favorite mistress to Robert Merivel, spells the beginning of the end for Merivel's tenuous fortunes. Warned not to fall in love with his wife, Celia Clemence, since the king intends to continue seeing her, Merivel cannot help himself, and he is cast out, losing not only the king's affection, but also his house and, of course his wife.

Joining a group of men who work at an asylum for the insane, Merivel learns that there are deeper concerns in life than the hedonism of his life at court, and he develops genuine affection for several of the kindly Quaker men with whom he works. When he transgresses the society's rules, however, he is cast out from there, too, ending up in London at the time of the Great Plague and eventually the Great London Fire.

Painting vivid pictures of Merivel's life--at court, at the asylum in Whittlesea, and in the neighborhoods of London--author Rose Tremain brings the age, its customs, its science, and its social structure to life. The years of 1664 - 1666 are especially difficult, and as Merivel lives through the horrors of the Plague and the panic of the Great Fire, which Tremain recreates with the drama they deserve, the reader can see Merivel becoming less a fool and more a human. Like the restoration of the king to the throne, Merivel's "restoration" to dignity takes place after a period of dark reflection and self-examination, and both Merivel and the country learn from their travails.

Tremain develops Merivel's personal transformation with sensitivity, finesse, and much ironic humor, and when, at last, he is noticed again by the court, his understanding of himself and his role in the world is far more profound than it was before. Depicting the personal and the philosophical turmoils of these early Restoration years with a historian's eye for detail and a detached observer's sense of wit, Tremain illustrates the contradictions of this period realistically and often with dark humor. A fine historical novel, Restoration transcends its period, offering observations, themes, and lessons for the present day. Mary Whipple

I love historical fiction, and as a doctor, I am also interested in the history of medicine. Considering that this book features the excesses of court life under Charles II and the treatment of the mentally ill in the 17th Century, I really expected to enjoy it. As a simple story I did, but I constantly felt that something was lacking.

The book tries to show us the evolution of Robert Merrivel's character from hedonistic, self-interested and needy, to wise and contented. Indeed, at the end of the book Merrivel seems to achieve what he craved all the way through - a sense of worth and of being loved by someone. He thought he had these at the beginning of the book in the form of social standing and the King's affection, but discovered that he was fooling himself.

It was surprising then, that in the end, he finds these things in just that - social standing and the King's affection. The fact that we are told Merrivel eventually realises his foolishness in wanting the King's friendship, and yet at the end still craves, pursues and recieves it anyway, I felt somehow ridiculous. I wondered whether this really showed a transformation of character. He made use of the same things as he did in the beginning of the book for affirmation. In short, I found it disappointing that his aims and goals, and his criteria for happiness, did not change along with his personality. Merrivel's actions simply do not reflect what the book is trying to tell us has occured within him. This incongruity bothered me quite a lot, and left me wondering what the point of describing the inner transformation was.

I also felt more could have been made of the Bedlem section of the book. It would have been nice if Merrivel had made a discovery on the treatment of mental illness, just as he realised that the heart as an organ has no sense of feeling (a well known medical fact today). But that is just a personal feeling I guess.

Read this book if you want a good story, and an interesting main character. Just don't expect the emotional journey of Merrivel to make much sense in the end.