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The Scandalous Saga of Caroline of Brunswick, Britain's Uncrowned Queen
by Ann Foster
The dramatic, absolutely outrageous story of Caroline of Brunswick, a beloved icon of the Regency era, who uplifted the voice of the public and unabashedly defied society's expectations, yet was shockingly robbed of her crown, from the host of the Vulgar History podcast.
Caroline Amelia Elizabeth, Princess of Brunswick, was born in the northern German town of Braunschweig. Her mother and father, the duke and duchess, instantly knew one thing: there was something irrefutably untamable about their daughter. She grew up a wild child, sequestered from others to protect her family's reputation—a Regency-era Rapunzel.
She was freed from this gilded cage by an unexpected marriage proposal from George Augustus Frederick, Prince of Wales and the eldest son of George III and Queen Charlotte. Caroline was entirely unprepared for the backstabbing mean girls of the royal court. Always staying true to herself, she stepped into her role of queen-to-be without compromising her character, showing off her affinity for fashion, her many eccentric hobbies, and ultimately, her infallible spirit, despite being ostracized as an outsider by her in-laws.
And so Caroline became the unlikely figurehead of the anti-monarchists, aided by the just-emerging tabloid press. Yet, despite her status as a revolutionary heroine, Caroline's name faded away following her death. Until now.
For fans of Normal Women, Ann Foster brings us the riveting story of Caroline of Brunswick, Britain's uncrowned queen, through an empowering examination of womanhood and autonomy that feels just as relevant today.
"[A]n entertaining and revelatory resurfacing of a figure whose life seems to echo through history." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"An eventful life, told with enthusiasm." —Kirkus Reviews
"Fans of Bridgerton, rejoice! Here is the real-life saga of defiant Caroline of Brunswick, forced to battle her nightmare of a husband, England's King George IV, for her legitimate marital rights. Told with verve and deliciously wicked humor by Ann Foster, host of the hit podcast Vulgar History, Rebel of the Regency rescues Queen Caroline from the trivial role consigned to her by the British royal family and puts her back in the spotlight where she belongs." —Nancy Goldstone, author of The Rebel Empresses: Elisabeth of Austria and Eugénie of France, Power and Glamour in the Struggle for Europe
"Rebel of the Regency by Ann Foster is the perfect biography for readers who want to know the real history – and the real gossip – of the Bridgerton era. It is a readable account of the life of Caroline of Brunswick, the wife of the Regent Prinny, who features in (and gives his name to) so many Regency Romances. Fans of Ann's feminist history comedy podcast Vulgar History will know to expect pop culture references, strong opinions and free association – all underpinned by real research. This book does exactly what I like in a biography: shows the reader why people care about the past, and, with its myriad quirky facts, discussions of lost opportunities and sliding door moments, encourages you to go and find out more. By the end of the book and the final showdown, I was as invested in Caroline's story as the Freelance Mob…" —Jennifer Morag Henderson, author of Daughters of the North
This information about Rebel of the Regency was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Ann Foster is a librarian, writer and podcaster based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Ann has appeared as a historical expert on BBC radio, and her writing has been published on JSTOR Daily, Longreads, Shondaland, in Bitch Magazine, and elsewhere. She has hosted the Vulgar History podcast since 2019.
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