Many will be unfamiliar with the exotic and turbulent life of the Prince Regent's secret wife; Munson makes this both an intriguing piece of history and a somewhat racy read. The notorious love affair between George IV and Maria Fitzherbert is one of the most bizarre episodes in the history of the royal family - even the antics of the current incumbents rarely match this particular royal saga. Munson vividly describes the story of a young, Catholic widow who became the secret wife of the heir to the throne because she refused to become his mistress. Munson's fascinating account reveals a genuine love story between the spoilt, egocentric prince and the older woman who brought peace and order to his life of restlessness and excess. The resulting marriage defied English law and broke all of the rules of monarchy. Maria Smythe was born in 1756 and lived a sheltered country childhood. Two marriages resulted in widowhood and wealth, and at 24 she settled in London, a very attractive prospect for any suitor. The young prince, fresh from his first scandalous love affair, fell for the Widow Fitzherbert - he wanted her, but she wanted marriage. He tried to force her hand by attempting suicide, but she fled to France, returning a year later to be married secretly at night. Inevitably, the marriage became an open secret. This is a fascinating investigation into an irregular royal marriage, written by an author whose earlier Victoria: Portrait of a Queen showed his total grasp of such subjects.
