Saturday, December 3, 2016

Restoration London

From English Historical Fiction Authors:
Charles II's reign is known as the Restoration in English history. This is because Charles was restored to the throne in 1660 after the Commonwealth period during which Oliver Cromwell and his more repressive Puritan views had set the moral tone. When the King came back from exile he brought with him a Court which had taken on the laxer morals of France and was determined to impose them. Charles II himself was a womaniser and reveller, and soon he gathered a coterie of wild and dangerous young men around him.They could do almost anything they wanted and get away with it, very often under the protection of the King himself, which is why their behaviour was tolerated, even if it was outrageous or repellent by usual standards. (Read more.)
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6 comments:

Isabel Azar said...

I find the Restoration period quite fascinating, especially considering that many of the most dissipated characters died repentant. Charles II converted to Catholicism on his deathbed, John Dryden became Catholic about the time James II ascended the throne, Rochester made a full repudiation of his sinful life before dying, and Nell Gwyn made her will "in the hope of a joyful resurrection." I love that they saw the Truth in the end.

Isabel Azar said...

Also, I had to read Wycherley's "The Country Wife" in the same class in which we read "Evelina" (we covered the last bit of the Restoration era). Apart from the wit displayed by the characters, I found it dreadful - everyone cheated on everyone else, with no consequences. Morally bankrupt.

elena maria vidal said...

I agree! I wonder if it was Queen Catherine's prayers....

elena maria vidal said...

Yes, there was a great deal of wanton literature at that time.

Isabel Azar said...

I'm sure that had something to do with it!

Isabel Azar said...

True, though I read Congreve's comedy "The Way of the World" for amusement this past summer, and there was some sense of morality in that - the main couple in the end pledge to have a strictly monogamous relationship, regardless of what everyone else is doing.