The Great Roxhythe

Published in 1922, this was one of Georgette Heyer’s earliest historical novels, and it trades the romance of her later work for court intrigue and quiet devotion. The Marquis of Roxhythe is a trusted agent of Charles II, moving through the secret diplomacy of the Restoration behind a charm that conceals his real purpose. His young secretary, Christopher Dart, idolizes him without grasping the compromises such loyalty demands. Heyer traces the intrigues linking the English, Dutch, and French courts, and the personal cost of serving a king whose favor is never quite secure. A sober, unusual entry in her catalogue, it reveals the historical seriousness beneath her more famous comedies. Free to read as a PDF and EPUB edition.