Queen Caroline

The Trial of Queen Caroline: The Scandalous Affair That Nearly Ended a Monarchy by Jane Robins. Tells the story of one of history's least happy couples -- King George IV and his cousin, Caroline of Brunswick -- and shows how the partisan press helped magnify the story and brought Britain to the brink of revolution. (Also published under the title "Rebel Queen.")

The Unruly Queen: The Life of Queen Caroline by Flora Fraser. Biography of George IV's wife. Vulgar and undisciplined, she fled from the husband she hated and became nearly as well known for her promiscuity as George IV himself. Viewed by the public as a wronged woman, eventually opinion turned against her. (This review © Amazon.com.)

A Queen on Trial: The Affair of Queen Caroline by E.A. Smith. Letters, journal entries, and newspaper articles present the sensational life and trial of Queen Caroline through the eyes of her contemporaries. An excellent resource.

Caroline by Thea Holme. A biography of Caroline of Brunswick. Out of print, but available at Alibris.

A Correct, Full, and Impartial Report, of the Trial of Her Majesty Caroline, Queen Consort of Great Britain, Before the House of Peers by Caroline and J. H. Adolphus. About the official investigation into Caroline's personal life.

George & Caroline: The Gendered Discourse of a Royal Scandal by Margaret Swanson. 1n 1820, George IV accused his wife, Caroline, of adultery. The middle class defended Caroline while the aristocracy backed George. This book examines pamphlets, caricatures, and newspapers from the time to show the changing social context of the period.

Poetry and Popular Protest: Peterloo, Cato Street and the Queen Caroline Controversy by John Gardner. About the poetry written in response to Peterloo, the 1819 peaceful protest that became a massacre; the Cato Street Conspiracy of 1820; and the Queen Caroline controversy, when the estranged wife of George IV tried to claim her crown.

Books About King George IV
Books About Princess Charlotte
Books About Regency England
Books About the Royal House of Hanover

Fiction

Indiscretions of the Queen by Jean Plaidy. Novel about Queen Caroline from Plaidy's Georgian Saga. Out of print, but available at Alibris.

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Documentaries

These programs are formatted for North American audiences.

A Royal Scandal. The fascinating story of the misfated union of King George IV and Princess Caroline of Brunswick, a torrid tale of infidelity, illegitimate offspring and royal mistresses, with parallels to today's scandals. From BBC America. Sometimes available at Amazon on videotape.

DVDs About King George III
Other Movies and Documentaries About Royal History