The Lives of the English RakesRake (n) "was a dissolute man, esp. one in fashionable society; roue." The English rake strides through the pages of romantic fiction, impossibly handsome, cynical and dangerous, a gambler, a deadly swordsman leaving a trail of broken hearts and slain rivals in his wake. The reality was if anything more intriguing. Some were poets and playwrights of genius - including the Earl of Rochester, author of some of the most tender and most obscene lyrics in the language. Others, such as Colonel Charteris 'Rape-master General', personified depravity. This unique and fascinating book charts the exploits the English rake, beginning in the Restoration Era with the hedonistic Charles II and his licentious courtiers, and following the flowering and then final decline of the rake during the Victorian era. Along the way you learn about England's most reckless libertines and discover how the Hellfire Club lived up to its reputation for debauchery and satanic blasphemy. You'll become intimately acquainted with those who have the dubious accolade of being the biggest rogues, lechers and profligates in history. |
Contents
Prelude | 91 |
The HellFire Clubs | 117 |
The Fires Die Down | 154 |
Copyright | |
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abbey affair Alice Keppel amusing aristocratic asked bawd beauty became Beresford Bertie Bertie's Brighton Pavilion brothels brother Brotherhood Brummell Buckingham Burnet called Chancellor Charles Charteris child Churchill Colonel court Daisy Daisy Brooke Dashwood daughter death debts died Douglas dressed drinking Duchess Duke Duke of York Earl Edwardian England eventually father fortune Frances gambling gave George IV George Selwyn girl Hell-Fire Club Hertford Horace Walpole horse husband John Keppel Killigrew King King's Lady Castlemaine Langtry later letter Lillie Lillie Langtry live London Lord lovers marriage married Mary Medmenham Memoirs Mie-Mie mistress Mohocks mother never night Old Q Piccadilly poet political Prince of Wales Prince's Princess Queen Queensberry rake reputation Rochester Rochester's royal rumours Sandwich says scandal servant sexual Sheridan St James's story Street swived syphilis told took wealthy whore wife Wilkes woman women wrote Yarmouth young