The Visit Of The Royal Physician
  • Published: 1 July 2003
  • ISBN: 9780099447054
  • Imprint: Vintage
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 320
  • RRP: $24.99
Categories:

The Visit Of The Royal Physician

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Adultery, insanity, enlightenment and the bluest blood - this compelling and prize-winning historical novel exposes the seamy underside of eighteenth-century Denmark.

An award-winning historical novel exposing the scandals of eighteenth-century Denmark, weaving a wide range of historical characters from Voltaire to Catherine the Great to George III

It is the 1760s, the height of the Enlightenment. The young King of Denmark, Christian VII, is a half-wit. His queen, the English princess Caroline Mathilde, has fallen in love with his most trusted advisor, the court physician Struensee. Guldberg, a cold-blooded religious fanatic, is determined to annihilate the Enlightenment ideas Struensee is introducing to Denmark - whoever prevails in their bitter ideological battle will control not only the king but the nation state.

With adultery, insanity, enlightenment and the bluest blood, Enquist brilliantly recasts a dramatic era of Danish history into a tale of ruthless political ambition and personal betrayal.

‘One of those rare, magical books that creates its own world so modestly that it is only halfway through that you realise you have been entranced’ Telegraph
  • Published: 1 July 2003
  • ISBN: 9780099447054
  • Imprint: Vintage
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 320
  • RRP: $24.99
Categories:

About the author

Per Olov Enquist

Per Olov Enquist is one of Sweden's most acclaimed writers: a novelist, playwright and poet with works published in 26 countries. He is the author of Captain Nemo's Library, The Visit of the Royal Physician (winner of the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize) and The Story of Blanche and Marie.

Also by Per Olov Enquist

The Story of Blanche and Marie
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Praise for The Visit Of The Royal Physician

was hard to put down. Love, idealism, corruption and insanity in the Danish court of the Enlightenment: the world he draws is so complete, it s a very absorbing read.

Rachel Seiffert, Daily Telegraph

One of the most dramatic and memorable historical novels to have hit these shores in years...Fierce, direct, imbued with wintry, windswept poetry, Enquist's style makes 18th-century court intrigue as rough and raucous as a mafia feud

Independent

One of those rare, magical books that creates its own world so modestly that it is only halfway through that you realise you have been entranced

Daily Telegraph

An impressive historical novel...brilliantly mixing motifs of madness, role-playing and control

The Times

An elegant and gorgeous novel

Los Angeles Times
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