2000 reissue of a forbidden 1944 tale, Chicago Review Press

Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor
Originally published 1944
Chicago Review Press, September 2000
Paperback 976 pages
Novel purchased from HalfPrice Books
Burton Book Review Rating: 4.5 stars


Forever Amber is one of those books that you either love or hate it. Some hate it because the main protagonist is a total dimwit with zero scruples. Others feel it is a total rip of Gone With The Wind. And, hey, if I were a critical woman I'd agree wholeheartedly, but the fact of the matter is that I simply do not care as long as I am being entertained. Instead of rereading Gone With the Wind over and over, I'd so much rather read rip-offs and garner a new experience with new characters. And what better setting than that of Restoration England?

Amber is a harlot and cares only about herself. Once I got past that icky fact, I let the scenery suck me into Amber's world during the seventeenth century. And lucky for us, the story is told omniscient so that we get a little taste of everyone, from Charles II and his Queen, to his mistress Barbara Palmer and but always back again to Amber. There are quite a few supporting characters and men to keep the story interesting, as Amber keeps that one man never far from our thoughts: Bruce Carlton (said as an epithet: Bruce Carlton!! $%#%$!!)

Halfway through the book, where in other novels heroines would finally have settled down and conducted themselves in a respectable manner, Forever Amber once again exhibits reasons why there are some who loathe it. I'll say it again: Amber is a harlot. Can I truly get past this fact four hundred pages later with even more to go? I will say that she actually does manage to redeem herself for half a moment when she takes care of Bruce, but I knew it wouldn't last long.

The background of the story (and its saving grace) is the magnificent era of the Restoration in all its glory. Charles II and his mistresses are featured, with the corresponding courtiers the likes of Samuel Pepys and the Duke of Hamilton/Buckingham/etc. The decadence, the plays, the plague, the privateers, the discontent of England and the distant hope of America are the novel's driving force as Amber becomes involved in them all.

Peggy Cummings, original star of Forever Amber, but sadly was replaced by Linda Darnell. This is exactly how I pictured her.

One of the amazing things that always gets me thinking is the original novel that Kathleen Winsor had written. Her original publisher is said to have cut her final draft to one-fifth its size. What was cut out? Why didn't they publish separate volumes if size was an issue? The author's other novels seem to be more themed as pure romance types, so I wonder if it was the romantic scenes that got the heave-ho. Even though the topic is scandalous enough for the 1940's when this was written, the sex scenes are completely skipped over. Fourteen US states banned the book for pornography.. from this typically prudish gal I'm like you've gotta be kidding me! Because even though Amber IS a harlot, the actual sex is not here. But, we're talking fifty years ago, so the ALLUSION of sex is evident and therefore ruffled prim and proper feathers.

The entire story of a girl sowing her oats in Restoration England is a memorable one, and I can understand the reasons why this novel has made the favorites list. The details are immense, and the narration of the story is done so well that the reader gets immersed in the era of Charles II and the Restoration. The final scene leaves us shaking our heads, and wondering what silliness Amber is going to embark on next. We can only imagine.

The Darling Strumpet:  A Novel of Nell Gwynn, Who Captured the Heart of England and King Charles II by Gillian Bagwell
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Berkley Trade; Original edition (January 4, 2011)
ISBN-13: 978-0425238592
Review copy provided by the author, thank you!
The Burton Review Rating: Four stars

The Darling Strumpet is a vivid and richly detailed historical novel that puts the reader smack in the tumultuous world of seventeenth century London. Based on the life of Nell Gwynn, who rose from the streets to become one of London's most beloved actresses and the life-long mistress of the King, the book opens on May 29, 1660, when the exiled King Charles II rides into London on his thirtieth birthday to reclaim his throne after the death of Oliver Cromwell. Among the celebratory crowds is ten-year-old runaway Nell Gwynn, determined to create a better life for herself and to become someone to be reckoned with....

As someone who prefers her history to be set in the earlier time of England, I have only heard of Nell Gwynn and have merely collected books on her. Bagwell's novel is actually my first real taste of the years in England after the Wars of the Roses and the reign of the Tudors. Set in 1660, six decades after Elizabeth I's successful reign, Bagwell's debut novel focuses on a famous mistress to the king of England. The setting is England during the Restoration, the period where Charles returns to England's throne after years of exile during Cromwell's leadership during the Protectorate.

Bagwell begins the novel with Nell as just a girl struggling to find food for her family, and ends the novel at the end of Nell's intriguing life. We learn how Nell began her work in the theater, and we are also introduced the men she meets along the way. It wasn't until halfway through the novel that King Charles II becomes more predominantly featured, as the first half of the novel focuses on the playhouses and Nell's relationships with the actors. Nell was one of the first successful actresses on the scene, and she took the trade by storm with her witty dialogues and apparent good looks. She used these looks to her advantage, and continued to be a whore, which Bagwell described in great detail. The Restoration of Charles II was littered with his many bastards, along with Nell's children, and was a period of well-known hedonism, which became mighty apparent as Nell bedded every gentleman she came to meet. It was at this point I wondered if I should keep reading, as I enjoy the historical aspects of my historical fiction much more than the adventures in bed.

After the romantic scenes started to take more of a  backseat to the more intelligent telling of the story, I again began to feel more comfortable in the novel. I started to respect Nell a little more, and I particularly enjoyed the historical characters that were included, such as Nell's rivals for Charles II's affection, and I became besotted with Nell's immediate family. Bagwell also included the political upheavals at the time, as Charles II had quite a problem with Parliament and their demands. Most importantly, I was enthralled by Nell's and Charles' relationship, as it was portrayed as one that was full of love and admiration for each other. And finally, the wind down of the novel really stole my heart, as Nell grappled with losses that came one after the other, and the last few chapters were extremely dramatic. If there weren't so many graphic sexual encounters in the novel I am sure this read would have been a five star read for me, as the ending of it was quite a soulful departure. As it is, I know I have to take those eye-rolling encounters into consideration within this review, as it was true that I became pretty annoyed as they went on and on and on. Yet, those who enjoy historical romance and a bit of bawdy love would find the best of history and sex here.

For those historical fiction readers who would not mind skimming over the romps in the hay, I would love to recommend this novel of Nell Gwynn's life. It provides an entertaining look at the newly opened playhouses, the plague, the great fire, and the King's royal ensemble. Although being a whore is not a respectable trade, Gillian Bagwell's sympathetic portrayal of Mistress Nell eventually tugged at my heart and made me weep for her. After this fabulous debut piece of work I cannot wait to see what else Gillian Bagwell has for us historical fiction fans.

Visit Gillian's website for more links and information on her subjects and historical articles.