This story by Jean Plaidy follows the life of Sophia Dorothea, Princess of Celle. Her father, George William, was the destined heir to the principality of Hanover. When faced with the prospect of marriage to Sophia of Bohemia, George William denies his birthright in favor of his best loved younger brother, Ernest Augustus. George William promises to never marry as part of his contract with his brother, the new Prince of Hanover.
However, he meets Eleanore d'Olbreuse, a French aristocrat. They fall madly in love and George William begs to be allowed to marry. They marry and have a daughter, Sophia Dorothea. Meanwhile, Ernest Augustus and Sophia's family grows with the births of many sons, the oldest being George Louis - an uncouth, crude, ugly man.
Sophia Dorothea grows up happily, loved by her parents, expected to marry the heir of Wolfenbuttel, who she knows and loves, then suddenly on her 16th birthday her father declares she will marry George Lewis of Hanover. This shocking news almost destroys Sophia Dorothea and she enters into an unhappy marriage with George Lewis. She is hated at the court of Hanover by many because of her gentle manners and beauty. In the midst of her unhappy life in Hanover, a man from her childhood appears, Philip Konigsmark, and they begin an affair. But they are discovered and Sophia Dorothea is banished to a prison by her husband for the rest of her life.
This story was okay. I felt so bad for Sophia Dorothea, whose life was so happy and good and then suddenly became a nightmare. I always have the hardest time imagining being in that situation - having no choice in who you are going to marry and ending up in a loveless marriage. Those poor princesses! I do not envy them at all.
Rating: 3.75/5
2 comments:
Wow, sounds like a sad story!
And now, reading new reviews from you, I feel bad that I'm taking a break from my book blog...
By the way, can I just reiterate how much I HATE that you're now on Eastern time again?? Every time I want to call you, it's too late! Grrr.
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