Book Review: Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor

Amber St. Clare uses her feminine wiles, wit and considerable charm to climb her way out of the slums of 17th century London to the lofty position as King Charles II favorite mistress. Along the way Amber continuously plots and schemes to ensnare the one man she perhaps truly loves but can never have. Amber’s personal drama takes place amid the political intrigue of Restoration England and the court of the Merry Monarch. Detail is not spared in this 976 page novel. Kathleen Winsor’s panicked description of the Great Fire of London make the reader swear they smell smoke; her graphic account of the plague makes one feel fortunate to live in modern times. In contrast, the fashion and customs of 17th century London are vivid and lavish. Character development is not lost in all the period detail. Winsor’s main character, Amber St. Clare, has been described as a latter-day Scarlett O’Hara from Gone with the Wind. Amber is certainly more promiscuous than Scarlett but the ambition and drive to improve their station in life is comparable.

Forever Amber was written in 1944, and its publication caused much controversy. Fourteen states and the Catholic Church actually banned the book due to its “sheer sexiness” and “blatant sexual references”. Nonetheless, it sold over 100,000 copies in its first week of release and became the best selling U.S. novel of the 1940’s. By today’s standards, Forever Amber could be described as lusty and sensual, but certainly not sexually explicit. I would recommend this epic novel for anyone who savors a captivating and romantic masterpiece. -Linda G.