The Touchstone of Fortune Being the Memoir of Baron Clyde, Who Lived, Thrived, and Fell in the Doleful Reign of the So-called Merry Monarch, Charles II

"The Touchstone of Fortune" by Charles Major is a historical novel, capturing the trials of British high society during the reign of King Charles II. It highlights the experiences of Baron Clyde and his cousin, Frances Jennings, as they boldly navigate the treacherous waters of the royal court, aiming to improve their social standing. Baron Clyde observes friend George Hamilton and the royal court's political games, while Frances, armed with her captivating beauty, hopes to gain the position of maid of honor to the Duchess of York. The novel opens with the introduction of Frances's desperate situation, the strain of her father's declining wealth, and her blossoming romance with George Hamilton, pointing out the dark side of life at court, where moral compromises and personal ambition are rampant.