Description

First published in 1923, The Great Roxhythe is Georgette Heyer's debut novel, a Restoration romance set within the glittering and treacherous court of Charles II.

Before establishing the Regency romance as a distinct literary tradition, Heyer turned to the seventeenth century for her first sustained historical narrative. The novel centres upon the enigmatic favourite of King Charles II, a man of dazzling charm and dangerous influence, whose fortunes rise and fall amidst political intrigue and personal ambition. Against the backdrop of courtly rivalry and shifting loyalties, Heyer examines questions of honour, love, and self-interest.

Rich in period atmosphere, the novel reflects Heyer's early commitment to historical research and stylistic precision. Though later celebrated for her Regency settings, this Restoration drama reveals the foundations of her craft: careful attention to social nuance, wit tempered by restraint, and a sustained interest in the intersection of personal feeling and public life.