An Unforgetable Romp Through History - Forever Amber (Forever Amber - Kathleen Winsor)

Member Name: foreveramber

Product:	Forever Amber - Kathleen Winsor
Date:	10/11/08 (198 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: An indepth insight into life in London in the 16 century

Disadvantages: Nothing

I figure it's about time I venture away from my usual reviewing matter, if only to show there is more to my life than eating and cleaning!

The book I am reviewing, Forever Amber, is my ultimate all time favourite book. If anyone asks me the question "what's your favourite book?", Forever Amber has been my answer for the last 25+ years.

As you've probably noticed, it's the name I've given myself on dooyoo and Amber is the name of my eldest daughter.

My mother presented me with her copy of this book when I was a teenager, thinking I'd enjoy it as much as she had. From the first page I couldn't put it down and I've probably read it at least 10 times since. I'm also on my fourth copy.

~~~About the Author~~~


The novel by Kathleen Winsor, was written in the 1940's when thousands of women were managing their homes and families alone while their husbands were at war. It was written to appeal to independent and spirited women who saw themselves as strong and capable and able to succeed in life without a man.

Although she achieved great fame after writing this bestselling novel, Kathleen Winsor never wrote anything else that gained as much publicity although she continued with a profitable writing career. The book was made into a film in 1947 but wasn't particularly successful and doesn't do justice to the book.

According to Wikipedia, the book was banned in 14 US states when it was first published due to its references to sexual intercourse, abortions and undressing! Kathleen Winsor herself never even visited England, instead gleaning all her facts and information from hundreds of historical reference books on the restoration period.

The resulting book is 972 pages long and even this was a reduction by four fifths of its original size. Although it's now sold as one volume, it was originally sold as volume one and volume two.

~~~Synopsis~~~

Forever Amber is about a 16 year old girl called Amber St Clare who starts life in a small Essex village, moves to London and through her wit and beauty, achieves the highest position for a women in Restoration England, the favourite mistress of King Charles II.

The entire story is interwoven with fictional characters mingling with true historical personalities of the time. The depth in clarity of detail of the time period shows the extent of research undertaken by the author. From clothing, houses and food to the language used and the escapades of the courtiers of King Charles, descriptions are so vivid you can see, smell and actually feel what it was like in those days.

The story begins dramatically in 1644 with Amber's mother dying in childbirth. What Amber doesn't know is that her parents were aristocratic but unwed. She is then brought up by an Essex couple who refrain from informing her of her heritage. What occurs in this short first chapter is crucial to the rest of the story.

We are then brought forward to 1660 where Amber has matured into an extremely beautiful and much sought after young woman. Although she has all the young men in the village at her beck and call, Amber knows there is more to life than this small Essex village.

Her life changes the day a group of Cavaliers returning to London from their exile in Europe, pass through her village. One of the Cavaliers is Bruce Carlton who remains a central character throughout the story.

Amber pleads to go to London with Bruce, who, while charmed by her beauty, has no long terms plans for her. She becomes pregnant but is left to fend for herself by any means she can.

The novel is rich in historical detail as the reader is shown the enormous poverty, violence and horror of life in 17th century London. We are shown the grim reality of the inside of Newgate prison, the notorious place where murderers, thieves and whores were sent to mingle together. We learn about the hierarchy of prisoners, including the high esteem given to highwaymen. We are provided with all the gory details of hangings, beheadings and heads on spikes.

While we follow the story of Amber and her trials and tribulations, there is a concurrent story of King Charles II, his wife and mistresses (including Nell Gwyn) and various important people of the time. Here we are introduced to the sheer extravagance of those born into wealth where everything is done to excess as people strive to shake off years of repression of a puritan country.

Amber experiences all levels of life in London, from extreme poverty, to becoming an inmate at Newgate, then as a member of the criminal underworld. She lives through the plague and Great Fire of London where the author brings to life the fear, desperation and true horrors of those times. Finally she starts coming up in the world through marriage and acquires money and status that eventually brings her into contact with the King.

The ending, while unsatisfactory for some, requires the reader to interpret what happens next and leaves scope for a sequel. However, no-one has produced one as yet.

~~~My Thoughts~~~

I learned so much about the history of the 17th century from this novel. It prompted me into searching for further information on the subject as well as hunting out buildings still remaining in London from that time. I remember thinking when I first read it, "if only history books were as interesting as this when I was at school, I would have done brilliantly."

I would say this is primarily a book for women. Despite me raving over the years about this wonderful book to my husband, he hasn't as yet, felt inclined to pick it up, much to my disgust.

Although it was published in 1944, it is still relevant for today's society. As quoted from Barbara Taylor Bradford, it's "compulsive reading...a genuine page turner.... The book remains a smashing read, as compelling now as it was all those years ago."

I couldn't agree more.

If you can't find it in a bookshop, it's readily available online from booksellers such as Waterstones and Amazon.

Summary: A wonderful story, rich in history, plot and storytelling