Catherine of Braganza. Boring? Plain? Ineffectual? Think again.
Charles II’s wife was a trouser-wearing tastemaker who introduced tea drinking, popularised card games and championed baroque fashion and art. Her salon culture was infamous for its parties, theatricals and frequent trips to the pub.
A Catholic queen in a strictly Anglican country, she was the diplomatic bridge between an unstable Britain and the European mainland, and carefully navigated the treacherous political landscape of Restoration England.
This book reveals a woman who defied the limitations imposed upon her and had a profound impact on the world around her.
Queen Catherine’s Court: Power and Rebellion in Restoration England by Sophie Shorland is published in paperback on 5 June, 2025. It was previously published as The Lost Queen.
There are many more ideas for historical reading in our list of over 170 books published this year.
