The Scapegoat

APPLE BOOKS REVIEW

Murder, corruption, and scandalous sexual liaisons pepper this gripping historical biography of the first Duke of Buckingham. With the pervasive rumours of King James’ fondness for beautiful young men, it was no surprise the elegant George Villiers rose quickly from courtesan to the king’s favourite. More than a pretty face, Villiers was ruthlessly cunning, and his fearless scheming eventually put him at odds with some powerful people, even his own king and protector. Using everything from court records to personal correspondence, cultural historian Lucy Hughes-Hallett has created an extensively researched and utterly captivating account of the rise and fall of one of 17th-century England’s most charismatic characters. Hughes-Hallett’s knowing narration sounds almost conspiratorial as she reveals the shocking secrets and salacious machinations of some of the tumultuous era’s most flamboyant characters, including Francis Bacon, Prince Charles, and a possibly murderous couple of minor royals, the Earl and Countess of Somerset. If you thought politics is cutthroat now, get a load of this lot of schemers and backstabbers.