The King’s Bed

Sex and Power in the Court of Charles II

By: Don Jordan, Michael Walsh

Narrated by: Steve West

Length: 12 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

From two veteran historians comes an intelligent and spirited history of Charles II's dissolute life and surprising legacy. To refer to the private life of Charles II is to abuse the adjective. His personal life was anything but private. His amorous liaisons were largely conducted in royal palaces surrounded by friends, courtiers, and literally hundreds of servants and soldiers. Gossip radiated throughout the kingdom. Charles spent most of his wealth and his intellect on gaining and keeping the company of women, from the lowest of society such as the actress Nell Gwyn to the aristocratic Louise de Kérouaille. Some of Charles' women played their part in the affairs of state, coloring the way the nation was run.

The authors take us inside Charles' palace, where we will meet court favorites, amusing confidants, advisors jockeying for political power, mistresses past and present, as well as key figures in Charles' inner circle, including his "pimpmasters" and his personal pox doctor.

The astonishing personal life of Charles II reveals much about the man he was and why he lived and ruled as he did. The King's Bed tells the compelling story of a king ruled by his passion.

©2016 Don Jordan and Michael Walsh (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

intriguing

Well written. It’s a history lesson through the real life baby momma drama of Charles II.

Interesting, well written, and excellently read.

Generally biographies of monarchs concentrate on the politics, while leaving out the personal aspects. For Charles II the personal was the political. Beautifully read by Steve West, who ought to have many more opportunities in the historical realm of book narration.

a great listen! sex and king charles

a wonderful narrator. I would listen again . kept me interested. great subject matter.

Awesome

Very informative book, kept getting onto google to look up references and look at maps…. Totally worth it

Restoration England - Sex, Drugs and Wigs!

Okay, maybe no drugs but the rest is pretty accurate. Charles II obviously loved to party. I've long been interested in Restoration England because of Nell Gwynn. I had to re-listen to some of the chapters because I was losing track of all of his mistresses. Apparently he had a LOT of them. This was an engaging story that tends to be erased because of how prominently women featured in the history of this turbulent era, not to mention how bawdy it was. What I found fascinating was the power some of his mistresses were able to wield. Many of these women were resourceful, using their intelligence as well as their beauty to not just survive but thrive in this rather licentious era. It was interesting that despite his many mistresses and the fact that the Queen did not give him heirs, he refused to put her aside. He also claimed all of his children by his mistresses. The entire era filled with political and sexual intrigue and frankly, deserves its own miniseries a la The Tudors and Versailles. I also enjoyed Mr. West's reading with his dry wit and sly cheekiness.

A titillating tale of a licentious reign

Who knew the ribald reign of Charles the 2nd! This story rocks like it was 1666!!

Great

Charles II was a fascinating character in history and this book does a great job of delving into his relationships with women. He was a complicated character and is generally portrayed as just a lecherous womanizer, but he was definitely more than that.

Its a well-written, intelligent book and the narrator did a great job performing

Who knew?

What a randy royal! Very well written, and the reader is excellent. Richly detailed and surprisingly fast paced.

Beautiful story telling

Easy to understand story and very in depth. The drama of the period makes the book a perfect story. Entertaining and factual

Interesting but Too Long

It doesn't take very long to get the gist of this book. Charles II was a horrible king, ruled by his desire for fun and sexual conquest. He allowed his libido to shape everything from foreign policy to the state of the nation's religion. His various mistresses and lovers were more in control of England than he ever was.