For lovers of Georgette Heyer.... There are fascinating glimpses of the lovely Princess Charlotte of Wales in Heyers IMO best novel, A Civil Contract. Some main characters gossip about Charlotte, her desastrous relationship with her father, her first engagement to "slender Billy" (William of Orange) and while it's not even a sub plot of the novel, only a topic of gossip that anchors the story, it's beautiful to read. Heyer is the queen of serious research and this book is more sombre than her usual delightful froth. It gives a wonderful impression of the royal family and the aristocracy. The old Queen (and would you believe it, she still speaks with a German accent!), former Prince Florizel dancing with his favourite sister Mary (always the beauty of the family)... and the charming, dissolute Prince Regent has a real role in the book. I recommend it.
I read Becoming Victoria and nearly cried at the death scene. It was a terrible tragedy, and people must have been desperate - who would end up on the throne?
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