SECRET HISTORY OF THE ROYAL COURT OF ENGLAND

Subtitled 'The Scandalous Chronicle of the Georgian Monarchy', the book was famous or perhaps infamous for its portrayal of the British monarchy as corrupt, immoral and inconsiderate of the needs of what the author refers to as "the productive classes". The Georgian era, we are told, was a "polite and commercial" era. It was an era which witnessed the flowering of art, literature, and music. But at the heart of the British Empire was something rotten: vice, corruption, and crime reigned supreme. Someone decided to expose this and so, in 1832, a curious book appeared for sale titled The Secret History of the Court of England. Written by Olivia Serres under the pseudonym of 'Lady Anne Hamilton,' this was a sensational chronicle of the crime, vice, and debauchery designed to shock and titillate its reader. It contained a number of accusations against establishment figures: Was George IV guilty of bigamy? What was the Prince's true relationship with one Mrs Robinson? Did the Duke of Cumberland's servant Mr Sellis really commit suicide or was he murdered in cold blood? Originally published in 1832 and reprinted at long last, and including woodcuts for example the title page of the fourth issue in which George IV visits the house of a young and virtuous maiden in order to seduce her, the text is taken from the 1832 two-volume edition of William Henry Stevenson's edition with all the original spelling, syntax and punctuation retained. Well illustrated, 338 large pages. Any fans of Bridgerton will love this exercise in defamation!