Reviews of 'Courtiers, The Secret History of Kensington Palace'

'A stylish courtier’s-eye view of the reigns of George I and George II ... reveals the complexity, anxiety and pathos behind the façade of those caught up in the golden circle of the Court'. The Telegraph, Books of the Year, 2010

'Taking the 16 courtiers represented in William Kent's Grand Staircase painting, Worsley herds them through the glittering confusion of the court so vividly that one can hear them scheming'. The Independent on Sunday, Books of the Year, 2010

'As chief curator of the Historic Royal Palaces charity Worsley couldn't have been in a better position to winkle out the secrets of one of the palaces under her aegis.  She has written a book that vividly brings to life the reigns of the first Hanoverian monarchs and almost humanises the two Georges ... Worsley's book is full of extraordinary characters ... one of the most appealing characters is Caroline of Ansbach, queen to George II, a woman who would rather have been a philosopher than a ruler, ill-treated yet loved by her husband.  Her agonising end, brilliantly described, brought me to tears ... a compelling book'. The Express

‘Perhaps now the definitive work on the early Hanoverian court … The depth of Worsley’s scholarship is demonstrated by the absence of fudged details. She clarifies points of etiquette and toilette, for example, that most historians of the 18th century only half understand … As in her previous book, Cavalier, Worsley’s style is wonderfully readable and her talent for empathy enormous.  She always takes a charitable view of superficially obnoxious people and sees half-invisible female figures very clearly … haunts one’s imagination’. Ophelia Field, The Sunday Telegraph

‘A sparkling piece of popular history … as Ms. Worsley guides us on her stunning romp through council chamber and bedroom, hallway and boudoir, we can not only take pleasure in learning about the past but can even feel a little better about the present’. The Washington Times

‘Brilliantly entertaining … [she] writes with flair, bringing her characters to life … In spite of its accessible charm, Courtiers is a serious historical study which chisels much richness from the ornate, dingy, contradictory world of the palace’. Lisa Hilton, Times Literary Supplement

A 'sparkling compendium of Georgian gossip'. The Independent

‘She clearly demonstrates her passion both for the era and for historical accuracy … readers … will be carried along by the story and by the tragic humanity of some of the main characters’. San Francisco Book Review

‘We have a fine modern historian to guide us through the dreamlike maze of 18th-century palace life'.  Iain Fergusson, The Times

'Worsley’s winsome approach to history finds apt subject matter in “The Courtiers,’’ a richly informative and entertaining account of palace life under George I and George II ... Worsley’s deep scholarship shines through in her evocation of the details and routines of 18th-century life, as she expertly describes matters ranging from atrocious fingernail hygiene to wayward standards of marital fidelity. She has a keen eye for figures that many historians might omit'. Jonathan Lopez, The Boston Globe

'Racy, amusing and informative.  She brings the Georgian courts and their personalities to life … extremely enjoyable’. Sarah Bradford, Literary Review

‘Threaded through with the stinging witticisms of 18th-century observers, Worsley’s own prose bounces along’. Frances Harris, The Sunday Times

'A vivid portrait of courtly politicking'. The Times

'Rich, amusing gaze at the courts of George I and II ... engages immediately with its small and large plots and its wonderful characterisation ... the work, though strictly history, reads as a novel ... but this is no giddy read.  At the end you're left with a sympathetic and informed sense of the transition from Stuart to Hanoverian public life'.  The Irish Times

'From taciturn King George I's 1714 accession to the expiry on a water closet in 1760 of his 'slightly useless' son George II, Lucy Worsley's sprightly history illuminates the intrigues of early Hanoverian court life.  Worsley populates her zesty account with sharply restored characters that bring colour to a generally drab reign.  As chief curator at Historic Royal Palaces, Worsley is a diverting guide to the palace's 246 fireplaces and labyrinthine backstairs by the meat of her engaging book is the acrimonious royal relationships that dominated and divided those seeking favour'. The Financial Times

 'By George!  It's a ripping yarn with plenty of jelly ... a colourful cast of characters ... a fascinating portrayal of a bitchy, bawdy, rumbustious age.' The Independent on Sunday 

'An engaging and entertaining introduction to a pampered and ruthless world … Worsley is, above all, a talented storyteller … delightful writing’.  Suzannah Lipscomb, History Today

A recommended 'serious summer read', listed among other 'captivating works of biography and history ... The aristocratic lineage of newly minted British Prime Minster David Cameron gives added piquancy, and relevance ... to Lucy Worsley's 'The Courtiers', about 18th-century 'splendour and intrigue' at Kensington Palace.  All those flowers placed outside Princess Diana's London home 13 summers ago are only the latest chapter in the history of one of those palaces where the walls could tell many a take about the intersection of aristocracy and political culture'. The Wall Street Journal

'Worsley, who as chief curator for a number of England's historic royal palaces appears to be something of a court groupie, writes breezy, chatty prose…. The Courtiers is amusing and, among other things, a useful reminder that, contrary to what many believe, sex was not invented in the 1960s…. The accounts Worsley gives of lords and ladies willingly sacrificing what dignity remained to them as they tried to wiggle their way upward on the court's greased pole is not pretty, though on the other hand not really any uglier than what goes on every day in the year 2010 in the salons of Imperial Washington'. The Washington Post

‘Well-researched and entertaining … she paints an affectionate portrait of George I … excellent in her descriptions of court life … she has a keen eye for oddity, offering nice character sketches … she is very agreeably informative about the lives of below-stairs servants … very good on building work and decoration, and anyone is likely to learn a lot from this book … an engaging, splendidly readable account of the first two Georgian courts.  It is lightly written, but full of information.  I enjoyed it, and hope that Lucy Worsley will take the story further’. Allan Massie, The Spectator

‘She restores humanity to the stereotype of the courtier as silly or self-interested sycophant and uncovers the pathos behind the façade … handles her material with style … there are moments of real pathos’. Matthew Dennison, The Telegraph

'Worsley's book romps along breezily [and] the stories are fresh'. Mail on Sunday

‘Worsley resists the temptation to take juicy anecdotes at face value, and provides a multi-layered portrayal … well-researched and well-written’. Tribune

'Worsley brings to life the first two Georgian courts. Worsley’s vision is authoritative, her expertise as chief curator evident. Her portrayal of the courtiers is vivid and filled with gossip of the day.' British Weekly

'Serves up a tasty slice of 18th-century life that is colorful, gossipy, and authoritative'. Publishers Weekly

‘This entertaining account of 18^th-century court shenanigans lifts the lid on a riot of murder, sexual intrigue, baby-snatching and endless card games’. Times Educational Supplement

‘An intimate account of life at court that at times reads like an 18th-century version of Heat magazine … an exhilarating but unstable world, described with the relish of a court insider.’ David Lovely, Waterstones Books Quarterly

'At the core of Lucy's book is a discussion of the waning power of the monarchy, as the court became a backwater and the monarchy 'just a another branch of London's tourist industry', along with an examination of the degree to which court intrigue influenced state policy, but what gives this book mass market appeal is the liveliness of Lucy's writing and her talent for telling stories'.  Society of Antiquaries Newsletter

‘The kind of captivating history I most enjoy: full of unexpected stories.  It makes one look at Kensington Palace in an entirely new light'. Lady Antonia Fraser

'Lucy Worsley writes with flair and passion about a lost world where smiles could kill and kisses condemn.’ Amanda Foreman

‘Compulsively readable … it is impossible not to want to know how they all end up.’ Irish Examiner

‘Worsley is Chief Curator for the Historic Royal Palaces and what she doesn’t know about Kensington Palace isn’t worth reading, and here she tells its lurid and enthralling story with all the flair, panache and vitality of a born raconteur’. Lancashire Evening Post

‘The colourful goings-on at London’s Kensington Palace during its heyday in 1714-60 are vividly described by Dr Lucy Worsley … the book is packed with extraordinary characters … most people know little about Georges I and II but Worsley fills that gap’. Leicester Mercury

‘Brings to life the story of Kensington Palace as it was in the eighteenth century, with tales of sexual intrigue and bad behaviour conducted in the glittering drawing rooms and secret passages of this rabbit-warren of a place, where position and rank counted above everything, including personal happiness’. Angel Magazine

'Engaging and witty, yet also rigorous in its scholarship, Courtiers tells the scandalous stories of Kensington Palace in its Georgian hey-day'. Andrew Roberts