''Mistress Nell Gwyn'' is the title of the New York edition of an historical novel by the British writer

Marjorie Bowen Margaret Gabrielle Vere Long (née Campbell; 1 November 1885 – 23 December 1952), who used the pseudonyms Marjorie Bowen and Joseph Shearing, was a British author who wrote historical romances, supernatural horror stories, popular history and ...

. The book was also published in London with the title ''Nell Gwyn: A Decoration''.''Nell Gwyn: A Decoration'', by Marjorie Bowen, Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1926. This book was ''not'' written under the pen name, Joseph Shearing The book was first published in 1926. The story depicts the life of Nell Gwyn and her rise from an orange seller to the mistress of

Charles II of England Charles II (29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685) was King of Scotland from 1649 until 1651, and King of England, Scotland and Ireland from the 1660 Restoration of the monarchy until his death in 1685. Charles II was the eldest surviving child of ...

during the seventeenth century. Bowen states in the preface that very little is known about Nell Gwyn and that what history and tradition do "tell us of Nell Gwyn has been told as a decorative romance, where no liberty has been taken with what we know or believe to be truth." Great affairs have been left out and details of the reign of Charles II are provided only as a background for the figure of the heroine.

Adaptations

The year of its publication, the novel was adapted for the silent film '' Nell Gwyn'', a prestige production directed by

Herbert Wilcox Herbert Sydney Wilcox CBE (19 April 1890 – 15 May 1977) was a British film producer and director. He was one of the most successful British filmmakers from the 1920s to the 1950s. He is best known for the films he made with his third wif ...

for which the Hollywood actress

Dorothy Gish Dorothy Elizabeth Gish (March 11, 1898June 4, 1968) was an American actress of the screen and stage, as well as a director and writer. Dorothy and her older sister Lillian Gish were major movie stars of the silent era. Dorothy also had great s ...

was brought over to Britain to play Gwyn. The novel also provided inspiration for ''

Nell Gwynn Eleanor Gwyn (2 February 1650 – 14 November 1687; also spelled ''Gwynn'', ''Gwynne'') was a celebrity figure of the Restoration period. Praised by Samuel Pepys for her comic performances as one of the first actresses on the English stag ...

'' the 1934 sound remake of the film, also directed by

Publication details

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References

External links

* eboo
''Nell Gwyn (Mistress Nell Gwyn)''
a
Project Gutenberg Australia
1926 British novels British novels adapted into films Historical novels Nell Gwyn Novels set in the 17th century Novels by Marjorie Bowen {{1920s-hist-novel-stub