Rebel of the Regency - by Ann Foster (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

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.

Review Quotes

"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

Praise for Caroline of Brunswick

"Poor woman, I support her as long as I can, because she is a woman, and because I hate her husband."-Jane Austen

"I wish with all my heart downfall to her enemies."-Mary Shelley

"She is an enchanting princess, who dwells in an enchanted palace, and I cannot help thinking that her prince must labour under some malignant spell when he denies himself her society."-Sir Walter Scott

"Such an over-dressed, bare-bosomed, painted eye-browed figure one never saw."-Mary Berry