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Book Mistress Nell Gwyn

    Book Details:
  • Author : Marjorie Bowen
  • Publisher : T. Allen
  • Release : 1926
  • ISBN :
  • Pages : 266 pages

Download or read book Mistress Nell Gwyn written by Marjorie Bowen and published by T. Allen. This book was released on 1926 with total page 266 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Book Nell Gwyn

    Book Details:
  • Author : Charles Beauclerk
  • Publisher :
  • Release : 2005
  • ISBN : 9780333904718
  • Pages : 432 pages

Download or read book Nell Gwyn written by Charles Beauclerk and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 432 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Beautiful, quick-witted, good humoured and sexually magnetic, Nell Gwyn remains one of England's great folk-heroines. The story of her exceptional rise from an impoverished childhood (she was the fatherless daughter of an alcoholic bawd) to the wealth and connections that came with being the lover of one history's most louche kings, is a highly charged mix of lust, money, high politics and love.Possibly a child prostitute, 'pretty Nelly', as Samuel Pepys called her in his diary, was famously spotted selling oranges in the first Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. She took to the stage and became the most successful comedienne of her day with parts written for her by the great dramatists of the age. It was while she was performing that she caught the eye of Charles II, the newly restored, pleasure-seeking, 'merry monarch' of a nation in full hedonistic reaction to puritan rule.

Book Nell Gwynn

Download or read book Nell Gwynn written by Jessica Swale and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: London, 1660. King Charles II has exploded onto the scene with a love of all things loud, extravagant and sexy. And at Drury Lane, a young Nell Gwynn is causing stirrings amongst the theatregoers. Nell Gwynn charts the rise of an unlikely heroine, from her roots in Coal Yard Alley to her success as Britain's most celebrated actress, and her hard-won place in the heart of the King. But at a time when women are second-class citizens, can her charm and spirit protect her from the dangers of the Court? Jessica Swale's exhilarating take on the heady world of Restoration theatre premiered at Shakespeare's Globe, London, in September 2015, before transferring to the West End in February 2016, starring Gemma Arterton. It won the Olivier Award for Best New Comedy in 2016.

Book The First Actresses

Download or read book The First Actresses written by Gillian Perry and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Featuring a range of large-scale, public and more intimate portraits of actresses, The First Actresses provides a vivid spectacle of femininity, fashion and theatricality from Nell Gwyn to Sarah Siddons. Ranging from oil paint to porcelain, these portraits illustrate the enduring popularity of portraits of women performers. Crucially the book seeks to reassess the traditional association between actress and'prostitute', and the moral ambiguity of women playing male roles. Portraiture became an important vehicle for the expression of concerns about female sexuality, social status, decorum, gender and celebrity. The authors also chart the commercialisation of the spectacle of the actress, as well as the connections between the eighteenth-century 'star system' and modern celebrity culture. Organised thematically, sections include: 'Painting Acresses' Lives', 'Nell Gwyn and Covent Garden Goddesses', 'Divas, Dancing and the Rage for Music: Painting Women in Musical Performance', 'Beauty, Ageing and the Body Politic of the Eighteenth-Century Actress' and 'Star Systems'. Illustrated with remarkable paintings by major artists of the period, a fascinating and lucid text reveals the many ways in which women performers enabled artistic innovation and creativity, provoked intellectual debate and contributed to the popularity and visibility of the theatre. Accompanies an exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, London, 20 October 2011 - 8 January 2012

Book The Darling Strumpet

    Book Details:
  • Author : Gillian Bagwell
  • Publisher : Penguin
  • Release : 2013-06-04
  • ISBN : 0425263428
  • Pages : 386 pages

Download or read book The Darling Strumpet written by Gillian Bagwell and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2013-06-04 with total page 386 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Nell Gwynn, born into poverty but drawn into the world of theatre, manages to capture the heart of King Charles II in 17th century London and must maneuver the ruthless and shifting alliances of the royal court.

Book Icons and Identities

    Book Details:
  • Author : Tanya Bentley
  • Publisher : National Portrait Gallery
  • Release : 2021-05-25
  • ISBN : 9781855147188
  • Pages : 144 pages

Download or read book Icons and Identities written by Tanya Bentley and published by National Portrait Gallery. This book was released on 2021-05-25 with total page 144 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Drawing on the outstanding collection of the National Portrait Gallery, this volume celebrates the variety and complexity of portraiture The National Portrait Gallery holds the world's most extensive collection of portraits: a museum of people, a gallery of stories and ideas, and a home of artistic masterpieces. Icons and Identitiesdraws together icons from Shakespeare to Audrey Hepburn alongside less well-known sitters that provide insight into the representation of identity in portraits. It also includes some intriguing surprises to reflect the diversity of the National Portrait Gallery's collection and to introduce audiences around the world to exceptional portraits of many kinds. Icons and Identitiesshows how artists, working across mediums, have revealed the visually stimulating and intellectually vibrant tradition of portrait making. The book is structured around a series of key themes and each section includes a selection of works from a range of periods. Artists include: Peter Paul Rubens, Anthony van Dyck, Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough, Andy Warhol, Marlene Dumas and Shirin Neshat.

Book The Women of Nell Gwynne s

Download or read book The Women of Nell Gwynne s written by Kage Baker and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This steampunk novella, set in 1844 London, follows the exploits of the harlots of the exclusive establishment known as Nell Gwynne's, where they gather intelligence for the shadowy Gentlemen's Speculative Society, a predecessor to the Company featured in several of Baker's novels (most recently 2006's The Machine's Child). Lord Basmond hires the ostensibly blind madam, Mrs. Corvey, and some of her girls to entertain his wealthy foreign guests at an odd party, where it quickly becomes clear that Basmond is selling a mysterious item to the highest bidder. Things heat up when someone goes missing and two people end up dead. The beautifully drawn Victorian era is neatly spiced up with futuristic technology such as mechanical eye implants. Baker's fans will delight in this slight, bawdy and funny confection. Illus. by J.K. Potter not seen by PW. (July) Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Book The Restoration of Nell Gwyn

Download or read book The Restoration of Nell Gwyn written by Steve Trafford and published by Oberon Books. This book was released on 2016-09-27 with total page 64 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Full of humour and bawdy wit, this new comedy transports us into the wanton world of the English Restoration. A new comedy by Steve Trafford with songs by Henry Purcell. King Charles 2nd lies ill, Nell Gwyn, his royal whore, once the brightest star of the Restoration theatre, rages against her fate. What will become of her if Charles is summoned to his Maker? What perils will befall the English nation? Mistress Gwyn and Margery, her maid, lead us a merry dance, filled with their laughter, their tears, and Nell’s enchanting songs of the Baroque: A rollicking romp which ends with a sting in its tail. Eleanor ‘Nell’ Gwyn (2 February 1650 – 14 November 1687) was a long-time mistress of King Charles II of England and Scotland. Called ‘pretty, witty Nell’ by Samuel Pepys, she has been regarded as a living embodiment of the spirit of Restoration England and has come to be considered a folk heroine, with a story echoing the rags-to-royalty tale of Cinderella. She was the most famous Restoration actress and possessed a prodigious comic talent. Gwyn had two sons by King Charles: Charles Beauclerk (1670–1726); and James Beauclerk (1671–1680). The surname of her sons is pronounced 'Bo-Clare'. Charles was created Earl of Burford and later Duke of St. Albans.

Book Exit the Actress

    Book Details:
  • Author : Priya Parmar
  • Publisher : Simon and Schuster
  • Release : 2011-02-01
  • ISBN : 1439171181
  • Pages : 464 pages

Download or read book Exit the Actress written by Priya Parmar and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2011-02-01 with total page 464 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the critically acclaimed author of Vanessa and Her Sister, the debut novel hailed by New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory as “a vivid imagining of the restoration London of Charles II with Nell Gwynn as a powerful and engaging heroine.” While selling oranges in the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, sweet and sprightly Ellen "Nell" Gwyn impresses the theater’s proprietors with a wit and sparkle that belie her youth and poverty. She quickly earns a place in the company, narrowly avoiding the life of prostitution to which her sister has already succumbed. As her roles evolve from supporting to starring, the scope of her life broadens as well. Soon Ellen is dressed in the finest fashions, charming the theatrical, literary, and royal luminaries of Restoration England. Ellen grows up on the stage, experiencing first love and heartbreak and eventually becoming the mistress of Charles II. Despite his reputation as a libertine, Ellen wholly captures his heart—and he hers—but even the most powerful love isn’t enough to stave off the gossip and bitter court politics that accompany a royal romance. Telling the story through a collection of vibrant seventeenth-century voices ranging from Ellen’s diary to playbills, letters, gossip columns, and home remedies, Priya Parmar brings to life the story of an endearing and delightful heroine.

Book The King s Favorite

    Book Details:
  • Author : Susan Holloway Scott
  • Publisher : Penguin
  • Release : 2008-07-01
  • ISBN : 9780451224064
  • Pages : 452 pages

Download or read book The King s Favorite written by Susan Holloway Scott and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2008-07-01 with total page 452 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The acclaimed author of Duchess and Royal Harlot returns with the unforgettable story of a king's last love and London's darling? BRNell Gwyn has never been a lady, nor does she pretend to be. Blessed with impudent wit and saucy beauty, she swiftly rises from the poverty of Covent Garden to become a sensation in the theater. Still in her teens, she catches the eye of King Charles II, and trades the stage for Whitehall Palace-and the role of royal mistress. Even though she delights the king, she must learn to negotiate the cutthroat royal court, where ambition and lust for power rule the hearts of all around her. For beneath her charm and light-heartedness, Nell has her own ambition-to become no less than the king's favorite.

Book Charles II s Favourite Mistress

Download or read book Charles II s Favourite Mistress written by Sarah-Beth Watkins and published by Pen and Sword History. This book was released on 2021-10-30 with total page 244 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Nell Gwyn, the most infamous mistress of Charles II, was a commoner raised from the dingy back alleys of London to the stage and into a king’s arms. Hers was a true rags to riches story that saw a young girl rise from selling oranges to capturing the heart of a king. The Restoration period was one of change. After the troubled years of the English Civil War, it was time for pleasure, debauchery and entertainment with the ‘Merry Monarch’ restored to the throne. Nell was one of the first actresses on stage; a loveable comedienne who wowed audiences with her wit and charm. She fell in love with Charles Hart (one of the leading actors of the time), had a torrid affair with Lord Buckhurst and ultimately ended up in the king’s bed. She stayed on the stage for six years, but she stayed in the king’s heart for seventeen – his only mistress who was faithful to him. Set against the backdrop of Restoration London, this book charts Nell’s life and that of her family and friends – from her drunken mother and troublesome sister to the most notorious wits of the age John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester and George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham. Nell had a generous heart and a mischievous spirit, and was friends with people from all walks of life. The only woman she really detested was another of the king’s mistresses, Louise de Kerouaille, known as the French Spy. This highly entertaining book will tell the story of Nell’s life – the good and the bad – and show why Nell truly embodies the spirit of the Restoration.

Book Playhouse Creatures

    Book Details:
  • Author : April De Angelis
  • Publisher : Samuel French Limited
  • Release : 1994
  • ISBN : 9780573130076
  • Pages : 67 pages

Download or read book Playhouse Creatures written by April De Angelis and published by Samuel French Limited. This book was released on 1994 with total page 67 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Book Nell Gwyn   A Decoration

Download or read book Nell Gwyn A Decoration written by Marjorie Bowen and published by Good Press. This book was released on 2021-11-09 with total page 164 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Nell Gwyn - A Decoration" is a historical novel about Eleanor Gwyn, a celebrity figure of the Restoration period. Samuel Pepys praised her for her comic performances as one of the first actresses on the English stage. Yet, she was most famous for being a long-time mistress of King Charles II of England and Scotland.

Book Nell Gwyn

    Book Details:
  • Author : Lewis Saul Benjamin
  • Publisher :
  • Release : 1926
  • ISBN :
  • Pages : 410 pages

Download or read book Nell Gwyn written by Lewis Saul Benjamin and published by . This book was released on 1926 with total page 410 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Book The Oxford Book of Theatrical Anecdotes

Download or read book The Oxford Book of Theatrical Anecdotes written by Gyles Brandreth and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2020-10-08 with total page 511 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is the ultimate anthology of theatrical anecdotes, edited by lifelong theatre-lover Gyles Brandreth in the Oxford tradition, and covering every kind of theatrical story and experience from the age of Shakespeare and Marlowe to the age of Stoppard and Mamet, from Richard Burbage to Richard Briers, from Nell Gwynn to Daniel Day-Lewis, from Sarah Bernhardt to Judi Dench. Players, playwrights, prompters, producers—they all feature. The Oxford Book of Theatrical Anecdotes provides a comprehensive, revealing, and hugely entertaining portrait of the world of theatre across four hundred years. Many of the anecdotes are humorous: all have something pertinent and illuminating to say about an aspect of theatrical life—whether it is the art of playwriting, the craft of covering up missed cues, the drama of the First Night, the nightmare of touring, or the secret ingredients of star quality. Edmund Kean, Henry Irving, John Gielgud, Laurence Olivier, Ellen Terry, Edith Evans, Maggie Smith, Helen Mirren—the great 'names' are all here, of course, but there are tales of the unexpected, too—and the unknown. This is a book—presented in five acts, with a suitably anecdotal and personal prologue from Gyles Brandreth—where, once in a while, the understudy takes centre-stage and Gyles Brandreth treats triumph and disaster just the same, including stories from the tattiest touring companies as well as from Broadway, the West End and theatres, large and small, in Australia, India, and across Europe.

Book The Shakespeare Revue

    Book Details:
  • Author : Christopher Luscombe
  • Publisher : Dramatic Publishing
  • Release : 2000
  • ISBN : 9780871299895
  • Pages : 142 pages

Download or read book The Shakespeare Revue written by Christopher Luscombe and published by Dramatic Publishing. This book was released on 2000 with total page 142 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Book Allusions in Ulysses

Download or read book Allusions in Ulysses written by Weldon Thornton and published by UNC Press Books. This book was released on 1968 with total page 568 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This comprehensive list of allusions found in James Joyce's modern classic, Ulysses, is in itself a classic and is a feat of literary scholarship of unprecedented magnitude. In brief, this book is a copiously annotated list of Joyce's allusions in such areas as literature, philosophy, theology, history, and the fine arts. So awesome an undertaking would not have been possible without the prior work of such persons as Stuart Gilbert, Joseph Prescott, William York Tindall, M.J.C. Hodgart, Mabel Worthington, and many others. But the present list is more than a compilation of previously discovered allusions, for it contains many allusions that have never been suggested before, as well as some that have only been partially or mistakenly identified in earlier publications. In preparing this work, the author has kept its usefulness to the reader foremost in mind. He often refreshed the reader's memory in concerning the context of an allusion, since its context, in one sense or another, is always the guide to its function in the novel. The entire list is fully cross-referenced and keyed by page and line to both the old and new Modern Library editions of Ulysses. In addition, the index is prepared in such a way that it indexes not only the List but also the novel itself. The purpose of allusion in a literary work is essentially the same as that of all other types of metaphor -- the development and revelation of character, structure, and theme -- and, when skillfully used, it does all of these simultaneously. Joyce's use of allusion is distinguished from that of other authors not by its purposes, but by its extent and thoroughness. Ulysses involves dozens of allusive contexts, all continually intersecting, modifying, and qualifying one another. Here again Joyce's uniqueness and complexity lie not in his themes or characters, nor in his basic methods of developing them, but in his accepting the challenge of an Olympian use of his chosen methods. The value of this volume to Joyce scholars and students is obvious; however, its usefulness to anyone who reads Ulysses is as great, if not greater. It can truly be the key to this difficult but rewarding novel.