Queen in Waiting

Queen in Waiting, published originally in 1967, is the story of Caroline of Ansbach, wife to the future George II, before she became queen. This book starts out rather gloomily, with Caroline's spiritless mother, Eleanor, making a disastrous second marriage that nearly results in her being poisoned. Fortunately, smallpox saves Eleanor by widowing her a second time, and with Eleanor's decline and death soon following, the story switches to the much more interesting figure of Caroline herself. We follow Caroline into her marriage with George Augustus, whose father is destined to become King George I of England. In what would apparently become a Hanoverian family tradition, George I and George Augustus hate each other heartily, and their jockeying for power once the family moves from Hanover to England forms most of the plot of the novel. Caroline is an intelligent, shrewd opportunist who is quick to take advantage of George I's unattractive personality by ingratiating herself with the people. Though George I succeeds in getting control of some of Caroline's children, Caroline is no victim like her mother; the fight never goes out of her. I also liked George Augustus's mother-in-law, Sophia, who is pleased when George Augustus takes up with an English mistress: "It should improve his English," she tells the furious Caroline. Sophia is one of several cheerfully cynical characters here. There are some repetitive moments; we're reminded way too often that George I has locked up his wife because of her love affair. Amusingly, once the Hanoverians move to England, Plaidy reminds us of their heavy German accents by having the Prince and Princess of Wales speak sentences such as these: "Ve vill think of something, my tearest." This usually works well enough, but it tends to undermine Plaidy's more dramatic moments. All in all, though, this novel left me looking forward to more dysfunctional family fun with its sequel, Caroline, the Queen.

Caroline had a sad and confusing childhood with her mother and brother. Eventually, she meets Sophia Charlotte and they become best friends. Sophia Charlotte introduces Caroline to the world of learning, in which Caroline quickly becomes involved. Caroline also becomes a friend with Sophia, who has a very good chance of becoming the next ruler of England. Caroline is convinced to marry George, Sophia's grandson. Around this same time, Sophia Charlotte dies, leaving Caroline desolate. Caroline eventually bears many children, and is smart enough to know how to deal with her husband properly. Her father-in-law is also created King of England, since Sophia recently died. Caroline was smart enough to learn English, so she and her husband or loved much more than the king in England. The king has his revenge, though. Their son is made to live in Germany, and their younger children are sent to live with the king. Somehow, Caroline and George live through the reign, and are crowned King and Queen.I enjoyed this book a lot. Caroline is an admirable woman that I would be proud to have my friend (if she were alive). Plaidy brings her to life so vividly, I feel like I know her.

The survival of the British monarchy as a popular institution owes a lot to its queens who were, more often than not, more intelligent than their husbands. Caroline of Ansbach is such a queen. Well-educated and from one of the poorer German principalities, Caroline married into the boorish House of Hanover. It isn't long before she discovered she's caught between a loathsome, vindictive father-in-law, George I, and her not-too-bright and domineering husband, the future George II. The House of Hanover, newly ascended to the English throne, would not have survived on the personal popularity of its kings. It took the cleverness of Caroline coupled with that of Sir Robert Walpole, the Prime Minister, to keep things in balance. Jean Plaidy tells the tale of the reign of George I through the personal trauma of this most remarkable of English Queens.