Review of The Queen of Bushy House by Molly Gartland
New royal bride Adelaide encounters the ghost of her husband’s late mistress and must understand her story to win round her children.
Story
London, 1818. German-born Adelaide, new bride to William, Duke of Clarence, arrives at Bushy House. There she senses a ghostly presence, the late Mrs Jordan, former actress and mother of William’s many children. Adelaide must tame William’s spending, befriend his children, and produce an heir. But to achieve this she needs to understand why Mrs Jordan’s restless spirit haunts Bushy House.
Setting
Molly Gartland clearly knows Bushy Park well, and throughout the novel it is a haven for both Adelaide and Mrs Jordan, its natural beauty in changing seasons matching their moods. The highlights and hardships of Mrs Jordan’s career on the provincial and London stage are accurately evoked.
Characters
Dorothea (“Mrs”) Jordan is a fiery character, clawing her way through provincial theatre to acclaim at Covent Garden, winning the hearts of London theatregoers. While she is a devoted mother to her ten children, the itch of acting draws her away from home. William, third in line to the throne, evidently loves her, but sadly their children, the FitzClarences, can never inherit. Mrs Jordan is quixotic and single-minded, occasionally selfish, but I rooted for her.
Adelaide is a quieter character, bearing the burden of caring for William’s brood in the home of his dead mistress, while yearning for her own child. She has less agency in her life than Mrs Jordan but still fights the FitzClarences’ corner.
My opinion
Mrs Jordan is a ghost throughout the book, so a reader has to suspend disbelief over the manner of Adelaide learning her backstory. Both women act as first person narrators, with alternating chapters. Once this context is accepted, the ascent of Mrs Jordan is a fascinating tale, and I had full confidence in the author’s meticulous historical research. A nice touch in Mrs Jordan’s chapters was her use of theatrical metaphors for the challenges in her off-stage life.
The machinations of George III’s various children and their wives was informative, but less compelling. However, Adelaide, loyal and stoic, navigates her personal disappointments with dignity. I was struck by the terrifying minefield of motherhood in that era.
In an understandable attempt to encompass the complex life of Mrs Jordan and the fraught politics of succession, the novel has an extensive cast and spans decades. I could have done with a family tree to track all the secondary characters.
But the indefatigable spirit of Dorothea Jordan carries the story through, as she reinvents herself after each setback, and fiercely champions her children, even after death. An intriguing read, especially for those with an interest in Bushy House or the turbulent Regency era.
Author website: https://www.mollygartland.com/
Enjoyed this review?
Join my book club for monthly updates on new reviews and a behind the scenes look at writing historical fiction