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Contents List of Illustrations xi Dramatis Personae xv Prologue 1 Act 1: Christ Had His John and I Have My George The King's Way 7 The Malcontent 11 All We Here Sit in Darkness 15 Debateable Lands 19 Apethorpe 24 Baynard's Castle 31 St George's Day 37 The Matter of the Garter 42 Neither a God nor an Angel 51 Keeper of the Seal 56 Made or Marred 64 Wickedest Things 68 Poor George Villiers 71 Act II: Two Venturous Knights The Favourite and the Fountain 81 A Masque on Twelfth Night 85 The Spanish Match 90 Periwigs 103 The House of the Seven Chimneys 112 Secret Intelligencers 127 A Farewell Pillar 132 Fool's Coats 135 Act III: The Greatest Villain in the World The Honey and the Sting 145 The English Junta 149 A Secret Matter 153 The Banqueting House 155 Countless Difficulties 160 The Forger of Every Mischief 162 A Game at Chess 168 Hobgoblins 171 To Ride Away an Ague 181 The Price of a Princess 185 What an Age We Do Live In 196 Act IV: We the Commons Poisonous Applications 211 Anne of Austria 220 And So the Devil Go with Them 228 All Goes Backward 241 The Knot Draws Near 244 Common Fame 248 The Bottomless Bagg 251 The Forerunner of Revenge 255 Great Matters of Weight 261 A Silly Piece of Malice 269 Dissolution 271 The Devil and the Duke 279 The Scrivener's Tale 282 I Am the Man 284 Sad Affliction's Darksome Night 287 Epilogue 291 Bibliography 295 Notes 303 Index 329 |
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“Woolley has an entirely new, riveting tale to tell…A perfect choice for readers who love English history, especially the Stuart period.”?Kirkus Reviews "Woolley once again proves himself an adept sleuth among complex sources.”?The Weekly Standard “Engaging…active history collections should include this niche-filling examination.”?Booklist “Woolley draws on new evidence from noted toxiocologist John Henry who believes that someone probably murdered the king...an engrossing portrait of an ambitious man trusted by two kings that both casual reader and Stuart history fans can enjoy."?Publishers Weekly “Woolley tackles his subject with the same type of narrative gusto displayed by Nathaniel Philbrick . . . Like Philbrick, his treatment of a legendary event and era in American history is comprehensive and myth shattering.” ?Booklist "Brilliantly framed narrative...fascinating...A well-told story." ?Kirkus (starred review) |