Nell Gwyn was born in a London slum in 1650, and at fifteen she
was selling oranges at the King's Theatre, Bridges Street. Two years
later she first went on the stage at Drury Lane. When she became
King Charles II's mistress in 1668, she had already had four lovers,
and her royal liaison produced two openly-acknowledged sons.
The King's appetite for mistresses was legendary, but his wife,
Queen Catherine, who was unable to bear him a living child, tolerated
them. Nell was the most popular of the King's paramours, and she
resisted the temptation to become involved in politics or to influence
him in any way. When King Charles II was on his deathbed in February
1685, he asked his brother and heir, who became King James II, to
look after his mistresses, and in particular ensure that Nell would
not starve. The new King granted her a pension, and she died after
a stroke two years later.
Plot
job/profession: - king/queen/emperor
Job/profession/poverty story Yes
Period of greatest activity? - ancient times
Subject of Biography
Gender - Female
Profession/status: - actor/actress/producer
Age: - 20's-30's
Biography of famous person? Yes
Ethnicity - White
Nationality - British
How sensitive is this person? - sensitive to others' feelings
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique
Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 8 (a significant amount)
Europe Yes
European country: - England/UK
Misc setting - Fancy Mansion
Century: - 17th century
Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
Book makes you feel? - thoughtful
Writer's slant towards subject: - favorable
Story of entire life, or part? - story of set of events during life
Pictures/Illustrations? - A ton 16-20 B&W
How much dialogue in bio? - significantly more descript than dialog
How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life? - 76%-100% of book
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