Court Beauties of Old Whitehall: Historiettes of the Restoration

"Court Beauties of Old Whitehall: Historiettes of the Restoration" by W. R. H. Trowbridge is a historical telling that shines a light on the lives of prominent women during the English Restoration, specifically those involved in the court of Charles II. The story presents the intertwined lives of the Mancini sisters, focusing especially on Hortense Mancini, Duchess de Mazarin, and their paths through the luxurious and dangerous world of power. Raised in aristocracy and under control of their uncle, Cardinal Mazarin, the sisters face struggles and schemes that test their ambitions as they chase love and freedom, revealed through historical context and captivating stories which paints a picture of these women in the social scene of the Restoration court.