Immerse yourself in the turbulent world of England's Restoration period, where courtly intrigue and personal drama collide. Follow the lives of characters navigating societal boundaries, from opulent courtiers to those seeking refuge from the era's upheaval. This series explores themes of honor, love, and survival amidst profound change. Experience the dramatic rise and fall of individuals whose fates are forever intertwined with political shifts and passionate entanglements.
Robert Merivel abandons his medical studies for the vibrant Court of Charles II, where he finds unexpected favour with the King and serves as a 'paper groom' to the youngest of the royal mistresses. But by falling in love with her, Merivel violates the one rule that will cast him out from his new found paradise. Driven to work in a Quaker Bedlam, he must endure a yet more painful fall from grace before he can achieve spiritual and social restoration.
Set in seventeenth-century England, the story follows Robert Merivel, a physician and courtier to Charles II, as he grapples with the complexities of middle age. As he questions his roles as a father, master, and friend to the King, Merivel embarks on a journey to the French court of Versailles. His quest for self-discovery leads to a series of misadventures, blending humor and introspection in a richly depicted historical context.