Edward VII: The Prince of Wales and the Women He Loved

by Catharine Arnold Narrated by Anne Flosnik

Overview

Edward Prince of Wales, better known as "Bertie," was the eldest son of Queen Victoria. Charming and dissolute, he was a larger-than-life personality with king-size appetites. A lifelong womanizer, Bertie conducted his countless liaisons against the glittering backdrop of London society, Europe, and the stately homes of England in the second half of the 19th century.



Bertie's lovers were beautiful, spirited, society women who embraced a wide field of occupations. There was Lillie Langtry, the simple Jersey girl who would become an actress and producer; "Daisy" Brooke, Countess of Warwick, the extravagant socialite who embraced socialism and stood for Parliament as a Labour party candidate; and bisexual French actress Sarah Bernhardt, celebrated for her decadent appeal and opium habit. One of Bertie's most intriguing liaisons was with American heiress Jennie Churchill, unhappy wife of Sir Randolph Churchill and mother of Sir Winston.



While the scandals resulting from his affairs-from suicides to divorces-were a blight on the royal family, Bertie would become a surprisingly modern monarch. His major accomplishment was transforming the British monarchy into the modern institution that we know today and ensuring its survival in a period when every other European dynasty collapsed in the wake of WWI.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Victorian England:We know what that was supposed to mean — all priggish prudery and "we-are-not-amused" harrumphing. Except now we know it wasn't all that . . . [Catharine Arnold’s] new biography focuses — deliciously — on the women who shared the scandalously plentiful sex life of Queen Victoria's eldest son, the Prince of Wales, later Edward VII.” —USA Today

“Hugely entertaining . . . [Arnold] is a delightful travelling companion through the centuries of the city of sin.” —Jeanette Winterson on The Sexual History of London, The Times (UK)

“Often titillating, sometimes shocking, frequently entertaining . . . The book is a lively affirmation of sexual desire in all its varieties.” —The Observer (UK) on The Sexual History of London

“To pack 2000 years of vice into less than 400 pages is a challenge, but Arnold achieves it admirably.” —The Independent (UK) on The Sexual History of London

“There's plenty to get stuck into here. Arnold arranges her formidable research lucidly.” —Evening Standard (UK) on The Sexual History of London

“Richly detailed . . . an engaging survey of sex and the city.” —The Sunday Times (UK) on The Sexual History of London

From the Publisher - AUDIO COMMENTARY

"Victorian England:We know what that was supposed to mean-all priggish prudery and "we-are-not-amused" harrumphing. Except now we know it wasn't all that . . . [Catharine Arnold's] new biography focuses -deliciously-on the women who shared the scandalously plentiful sex life of Queen Victoria's eldest son, the Prince of Wales, later Edward VII."— USA Today

Library Journal

06/01/2017
Focusing on the amorous king known as "Edward the Caresser," Arnold (Underworld London) has written a brisk, gossipy book about how the British aristocracy flouted the strict rules of morality associated with the Victorian era. Readers looking for an in-depth biography of Edward VII (1841–1910) will be disappointed, as the real focus is the prominent women—Lillie Langtry, Jennie Churchill, and Daisy Brooke, Countess of Warwick, to name a few—who became Edward's mistresses. Arnold devotes multiple chapters to these women, exploring their childhoods, marriages, and how their relationships with Edward elevated or imperiled their positions in society. The royal mistresses emerge as complex and fascinating figures, and Arnold's insights into the aristocratic code of behavior that condoned infidelity yet condemned cheating at cards is equally absorbing. Edward himself remains a lusty if affable mystery, seen only in relation to his considerable appetites and influence upon others. VERDICT Recommended for readers interested in the British aristocracy or the social mores of the Victorian and Edwardian eras.—Sara Shreve, Newton, KS

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170954131
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Publication date:	11/14/2017
Edition description:	Unabridged

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