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jules_writes's review against another edition
I'm giving up on The Darling Strumpet after making it just more than half way through. I found it a chore to read and I was getting fed up with the characters - I love historical fiction but The Darling Strumpet just didn't stand out for me or it did but just not in a good way.
There are just too many great books out there waiting to be read to continue with something that is struggling to grab and hold my attention...
There are just too many great books out there waiting to be read to continue with something that is struggling to grab and hold my attention...
friya123's review
2.0
This was a fun read, but it did lack substance. Saying that, though, I'm not sure what I was expecting from a novel about a playful, likeable young prostitute! It was clearly well researched and the writer's love for the character was evident, which always helps to make a book engaging.
mrsbooknerd's review
1.0
I wanted to enjoy this novel far more than what I actually did, especially as Nell Gwyn is someone that I have heard about but not in any great detail. I thought that this would be a romantic tale of a common actress winning the heart of King Charles, and their 'true love' relationship against the odds. Instead, there was a severe lack of emotion and connection between the pair. The novel didn't seem to know whether it was a romance or just the bland telling of Nell Gwyn's story.
I actually disagree with other reviewers that the novel was too brutal and sexual. I liked this rawness because it gave the whole novel an authentic, historical feel. Nell would have suffered brutally in this time, it was a hazard of her life and upbringing and I am glad that Bagwell didn't shy away from telling us how it really was.
One of my biggest issues was that over half of the novel was just a bland retelling of the history of Nell Gwyn. There was little emotion, little impact and little drama. I forced myself to get through these sections to reach the romance, yet even these elements were woefully under-developed and lacking in emotion.
I felt that we didn't know Charles at all, he just came across as this vague figure in Nell's life who slept with her and then went off to another one of his paramours. It certainly didn't endear him to me when he had such a number of women in his little black book. We should have seen his attachment to Nell so that even if we didn't understand his affairs, we at least had something to hold on to.
The biggest example of the lack of focus was that half of the novel was dedicated to Nell's career on the stage, but when she falls pregnant with Charles' baby, she is pregnant and gives birth in about two paragraphs. I would have loved to have seen Charles' reaction to finding out that he is to be a father again, or how he treats Nell during her pregnancy… to see the development between them. Instead the whole thing was summed up in about 200 words, like it was unimportant.
Overall, 'The Darling Strumpet' had an authentic, historical feel but needed a stronger focus and more impactful emotion, especially between Nell and Charles as this was the main draw of the novel.
I actually disagree with other reviewers that the novel was too brutal and sexual. I liked this rawness because it gave the whole novel an authentic, historical feel. Nell would have suffered brutally in this time, it was a hazard of her life and upbringing and I am glad that Bagwell didn't shy away from telling us how it really was.
One of my biggest issues was that over half of the novel was just a bland retelling of the history of Nell Gwyn. There was little emotion, little impact and little drama. I forced myself to get through these sections to reach the romance, yet even these elements were woefully under-developed and lacking in emotion.
I felt that we didn't know Charles at all, he just came across as this vague figure in Nell's life who slept with her and then went off to another one of his paramours. It certainly didn't endear him to me when he had such a number of women in his little black book. We should have seen his attachment to Nell so that even if we didn't understand his affairs, we at least had something to hold on to.
The biggest example of the lack of focus was that half of the novel was dedicated to Nell's career on the stage, but when she falls pregnant with Charles' baby, she is pregnant and gives birth in about two paragraphs. I would have loved to have seen Charles' reaction to finding out that he is to be a father again, or how he treats Nell during her pregnancy… to see the development between them. Instead the whole thing was summed up in about 200 words, like it was unimportant.
Overall, 'The Darling Strumpet' had an authentic, historical feel but needed a stronger focus and more impactful emotion, especially between Nell and Charles as this was the main draw of the novel.
rosetyper9's review
4.0
This was a very interesting and delving read. I love history, and I love history about English monarchs, it's always so smutty and dramatic. I had never read anything yet about this Nell or Charles the II, that I remember at least, and I was very intrigued to keep reading. Nell seemed to step into the world of the King and court at a time when things were changing. I loved seeing all the players in this book and the addition to women actors as the book progressed. I really loved the dynamic and interaction of the characters to the surrounding world.
I love Nell, she is strong, and she does what she needs to do to survive, and I always respect that in a women. Charles, however, is rather despicable, but he is the King and I guess he gets to do what he wants, as it usually is. I enjoyed this book and I recommend any history lovers out there pick it up. Also recommend if you want a nice, enjoyable, historically smutty, read.
I love Nell, she is strong, and she does what she needs to do to survive, and I always respect that in a women. Charles, however, is rather despicable, but he is the King and I guess he gets to do what he wants, as it usually is. I enjoyed this book and I recommend any history lovers out there pick it up. Also recommend if you want a nice, enjoyable, historically smutty, read.
bookishbisimwas's review
3.0
Reads alot like a documentary with dramatized portions.. not my style normally, and found it a bit boring after a point.
roguebelle's review
4.0
Now this was the novel about Nell Gwyn I was waiting for!
The Darling Strumpet is definitely a gritty, unapologetic version of the story, with no prettying up or trying to reinvent history. She is, no question, a whore. And, while Bagwell doesn’t flinch away from some of the nastier elements of the profession (including disease, alcoholism, beatings, and rape), Nell comes to quite enjoy aspects of her life between the sheets — particularly once she’s servicing delightfully decadent noblemen rather than common folk. The line between prostitute and mistress is drawn in silk, but it also comes with a lot more security, both physical and financial. Bagwell presents Nell’s sex life vividly and without judgment, and I loved that Bagwell was willing to go to some saucier places, to indulge so fully in the libidinous excesses of the time period. The morals (or, perhaps, lack thereof) embraced and celebrated in the wake of the Protectorate were not nearly so straight-laced as we tend to think of English history (nor, come to it, as our own). Bagwell presents the world of Restoration London in all its dubious glory: gilt-edged and soot-stained at the same time.
My major criticism of this book is that Bagwell doesn’t quite seem know what to do with action sequences. Her sections on the plague and the Great Fire lack some punch, which is a shame, because those are two major events in this time period, and they have a lot of dramatic potential. Bagwell sort of rushes through them. There are also places where the story feels a bit disjointed. She’s much better with character than with plot, and the personal bits — the interactions between characters, the internal contemplations — are where this story shines. She also includes a great many of the popular anecdotes and witty quips attributed to Nell, but they don’t always fit in neatly with the narrative. Sometimes it feels like she was shoehorning them in, either because she liked them too much to leave them out or because she thought they were expected.
On the whole, I thoroughly enjoyed The Darling Strumpet. It’s refreshingly honest about both history and human sexuality, and it covers its topic quite nicely.
Full review at the Incurable Bluestocking.
The Darling Strumpet is definitely a gritty, unapologetic version of the story, with no prettying up or trying to reinvent history. She is, no question, a whore. And, while Bagwell doesn’t flinch away from some of the nastier elements of the profession (including disease, alcoholism, beatings, and rape), Nell comes to quite enjoy aspects of her life between the sheets — particularly once she’s servicing delightfully decadent noblemen rather than common folk. The line between prostitute and mistress is drawn in silk, but it also comes with a lot more security, both physical and financial. Bagwell presents Nell’s sex life vividly and without judgment, and I loved that Bagwell was willing to go to some saucier places, to indulge so fully in the libidinous excesses of the time period. The morals (or, perhaps, lack thereof) embraced and celebrated in the wake of the Protectorate were not nearly so straight-laced as we tend to think of English history (nor, come to it, as our own). Bagwell presents the world of Restoration London in all its dubious glory: gilt-edged and soot-stained at the same time.
My major criticism of this book is that Bagwell doesn’t quite seem know what to do with action sequences. Her sections on the plague and the Great Fire lack some punch, which is a shame, because those are two major events in this time period, and they have a lot of dramatic potential. Bagwell sort of rushes through them. There are also places where the story feels a bit disjointed. She’s much better with character than with plot, and the personal bits — the interactions between characters, the internal contemplations — are where this story shines. She also includes a great many of the popular anecdotes and witty quips attributed to Nell, but they don’t always fit in neatly with the narrative. Sometimes it feels like she was shoehorning them in, either because she liked them too much to leave them out or because she thought they were expected.
On the whole, I thoroughly enjoyed The Darling Strumpet. It’s refreshingly honest about both history and human sexuality, and it covers its topic quite nicely.
Full review at the Incurable Bluestocking.
elysianfield's review
3.0
3.5 stars
The book starts with 10 year old Nell trying to fins something to eat and trying to stay clear from her drunken mother. King Charles II is making his return to London and the people are in party mood but Nell is more worried about getting something to eat. She ends up losing her virginity to a boy in exchange for money so she can buy food. She later tries to get more money from a group of boys that doesn’t end up well. Nell’s older sister Rose is working on a brothel and she convinces Madame Ross to take Nell in. There she meets group of actors and becomes fascinated by them. When she gets an opportunity on stage she is delighted. While on stage she catches the eye of the king whom she has met before and is surprised when he remembers her.
Having never read about Nell before I was really interested to read this. I’m still not sure how to feel about this. It wasn’t bad but I think it still kept lacking that something. Can’t say if it’s the book or the fact that I’m not that interested in this time period and don’t know much about it.
I liked Nell: she was nice, likeable girl who was to determined to have better life. But I also felt like she was too nice. All liked her and if they didn’t they were clearly bad. I’m pretty sure she did something unlikable sometime…
I knew it had quite many sex scenes and while I understand that since Nell is a whore I think there didn’t have to be so many of those. And I really didn’t need to read in so many details 10 year old having sex twice (okay there were more guys involved but still) on the day she loses virginity. But I’m also happy that it wasn’t too sanitized because she was after all a whore.
What I really missed was to know how she felt when the queen was accused plotting against the king. The thing was mentioned, Charles flew into rage and that was it. It would have been interesting to read Nell’s thoughts about the matter.
I liked Buckingham and how he and Nell were friends. She didn’t seem to have many friends at court so that was nice. But I’m still wondering if they were friends in real world?
And I liked Charles Hart and he was so adorable. I just wanted to shake Nell and get some sense into her to stay with Hart.
All in all it was enjoyable read and I’m curious to read the author’s next book to see if it goes in the same lines.
The book starts with 10 year old Nell trying to fins something to eat and trying to stay clear from her drunken mother. King Charles II is making his return to London and the people are in party mood but Nell is more worried about getting something to eat. She ends up losing her virginity to a boy in exchange for money so she can buy food. She later tries to get more money from a group of boys that doesn’t end up well. Nell’s older sister Rose is working on a brothel and she convinces Madame Ross to take Nell in. There she meets group of actors and becomes fascinated by them. When she gets an opportunity on stage she is delighted. While on stage she catches the eye of the king whom she has met before and is surprised when he remembers her.
Having never read about Nell before I was really interested to read this. I’m still not sure how to feel about this. It wasn’t bad but I think it still kept lacking that something. Can’t say if it’s the book or the fact that I’m not that interested in this time period and don’t know much about it.
I liked Nell: she was nice, likeable girl who was to determined to have better life. But I also felt like she was too nice. All liked her and if they didn’t they were clearly bad. I’m pretty sure she did something unlikable sometime…
I knew it had quite many sex scenes and while I understand that since Nell is a whore I think there didn’t have to be so many of those. And I really didn’t need to read in so many details 10 year old having sex twice (okay there were more guys involved but still) on the day she loses virginity. But I’m also happy that it wasn’t too sanitized because she was after all a whore.
What I really missed was to know how she felt when the queen was accused plotting against the king. The thing was mentioned, Charles flew into rage and that was it. It would have been interesting to read Nell’s thoughts about the matter.
I liked Buckingham and how he and Nell were friends. She didn’t seem to have many friends at court so that was nice. But I’m still wondering if they were friends in real world?
And I liked Charles Hart and he was so adorable. I just wanted to shake Nell and get some sense into her to stay with Hart.
All in all it was enjoyable read and I’m curious to read the author’s next book to see if it goes in the same lines.
rednikki's review
4.0
I've always been fascinated by Nell Gwynn. This does a great job of telling Gwynn's story and filling in the gaps in a manner that is both plausible and historically consistent. Plus, it's compulsively readable.
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