A Pledge of Better Times
Margaret Porter
(Author)
Description
A sweeping tale of ambition, treachery, and passion incorporating historical figures and events. For generations Lady Diana de Vere's family loyally served England's crown. But after King Charles II's untimely death, her father firmly opposes James II's tyranny. Charles Beauclerk, Duke of St. Albans-the late king's bastard son by actress Nell Gwyn-also rebels against his newly crowned uncle's manipulation. Secretly pledging to wed Diana, he departs for the Continent to become a soldier. Political and religious turmoil bring about revolution and yet another coronation before Charles returns to claim his promised bride. As companion to Queen Mary Stuart, Diana has followed her de Vere forbears into royal service. She expects Charles to abandon his military career after marriage, but he proves unwilling to join the ranks of the courtiers he despises and mistrusts. In palace corridors and within their own household the young duke and duchess confront betrayals, scandals, and tragedies that threaten to divide them. And neither the privileges of birth nor proximity to the throne can ensure their security, their advancement-or their happiness. About the Author: Margaret Porter is an award-winning, bestselling novelist whose lifelong study of British history inspires her fiction and her travels. A former stage actress, she has also worked in film, television, and radio.Product Details
Price
$16.95
$15.76
Publisher
Gallica Press
Publish Date
April 01, 2015
Pages
414
Dimensions
6.0 X 9.0 X 0.92 inches | 1.33 pounds
Language
English
Type
Paperback
EAN/UPC
9780990742043
Earn by promoting books
Earn money by sharing your favorite books through our Affiliate program.
Become an affiliate
About the Author
MARGARET PORTER is award-winning, bestselling author of The Myrtle Wand (October 2022), The Limits of Limelight (September 2021), Beautiful Invention: A Novel of Hedy Lamarr, and twelve other historical novels. After studying British history in the U.K., she worked professionally in theatre, film, and television. A historian and avid traveler, Margaret returns to Great Britain and Europe for research. She lives in New England with husband and dog, dividing her time between an architecturally unique book-filled house in a small city and a waterfront cottage on one of the region's largest lakes. More information is available at her website, www.margaretporter.com.
Reviews
"Porter's ambitious novel of 17th-century England is brimming with vivid historical figures and events . . . rigorously researched and faithfully portrayed." Publishers Weekly "A true delight for fans of monarchy. . . Porter does a sensational job portraying the time period and showing how time passed and England was ever changing. . . the relationship between Charles and Diana in A Pledge of Better Times is complex and interesting." The Examiner "The remarkable figure of Lady Diana de Vere stands at the center of Margaret Porter's sumptuous, wonderful new novel . . . Porter winningly captures both the dramatic societal upheavals and the sparkling wit and court life of the time, especially in the character of Lady Diana, a wonderful fictional creation. It is a very rewarding reading experience - I highly recommend it." Historical Novels Review "A richly evocative peek into a world long gone and yet very familiar to modern readers, with political and ideological maneuvering and romantic entanglements not so different than today's . . . Porter explores friendship, marriage, parenthood, and loyalty as she tells the story of people who were celebrities in their time, and she illuminates the soft power aristocratic women had, if they were allowed to wield it." New Hampshire Sunday News "Marvelously detailed . . . a rich and unique perspective on the times. A must-read for any Stuart-era fan." Rebecca Henderson Palmer "Meticulously researched . . . an impressive cast of real-life characters brought to vibrant life. Margaret Porter crafts her story with exquisite detail, transporting the reader into a world full of intrigue, scandal, and breathtaking danger . . . a masterful writer." Award-winning author M. Reed McCall "With elegant prose and vivid detail, A Pledge of Better Times sweeps you into late Stuart England." Marci Jefferson, author of Enchantress of Paris and Girl on the Golden Coin "A portrait of Diana de Vere as rich as the portraits that grace British museums and palaces." Christy K Robinson, author of Mary Dyer Illuminated "The sparkling, dangerous, enticing post-Restoration period comes to vivid life! I couldn't stop reading!" Amanda Carmack, of Murder in the Queen's Garden: An Elizabethan Mystery
