This was a fascinating read. The research was meticulous. The perfect novel for art lovers and connoisseurs. I enjoyed Lauren Chater's talk at the Sutherland library prior to reading the book and that informed me of the research conducted on the Tudor period and the history behind the series of paintings titled The Beauties.

When Emilia Lennox loses everything after her husband’s lands and title are confiscated, her beauty is her best bargaining chip with the only man who can restore their fortunes: King Charles II himself.
But the king’s favour comes at a price. He will pardon Emilia’s husband only if she agrees to be his mistress. Torn, Emilia comes up with a condition of her own: she will consent, but not until her portrait hangs among the famed Windsor Beauties, a series commissioned by the Duchess of York to showcase the fairest women in the royal retinue.
For Henry Greenhill, ambitious assistant to the court painter, the opportunity to paint Emilia’s portrait is a chance to step out of his master’s shadow. But his sitter proves as evasive as she is beautiful, and with barely a sketch to show for his efforts, Henry’s career is on the line.
As the king’s patience wears thin, it’s clear that more than creative talent will be needed to capture this incomparable beauty on canvas ...

This book is about beauty, the price of beauty and what people will do for beauty. It is historical and interesting and in ways beautiful. But I must say it is a bit of a slow read and I did pick it up and put it down a few times.

As always with this author it is a well written and research novel and the characters and premise of the book is great. Love the time period and it is an education in the history and art of this era which I really enjoyed. A great read.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster (Australia) for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

WHAT PRICE BEAUTY? ‘THE BEAUTIES’ BY LAUREN CHATER
The ‘beauties’ in the title of this new historical fiction by Australian author Lauren Chater, were elegant women of the court of Charles II of England. Chosen by the Duchess of York for their looks, grace and, of course, position in the pecking order of Restoration-era nobility, the ‘Windsor Beauties’ portraits adorned palace walls and now hang in Hampton Court.

Several characters’ stories weave across each other in this narrative.

Emilia is a young wife whose husband’s lands and title have been stripped from the family due to her brother-in-law choosing the ‘wrong’ side to support during the English Civil Wars. Seeking the King’s favour in order to have the family’s position reinstated, she comes to the uncomfortable realisation that the surest way is to use her beauty – by striking a bargain with the King himself, agreeing to become his mistress in return for his forgiveness for her husband’s family.

First, though, her portrait will be painted to join the other Windsor Beauties.

Henry is the ambitious artist who sees this commission as a way to a secure future and favour from the royal family.

In the process of painting Emilia’s portrait, Henry realises that the road to fame is not straightforward, especially as his elusive and troubled sitter tries to delay the completion of his project for as long as she possibly can.

Anne is a young lady-in-waiting to the Princess Anne, the King’s niece (and later Queen Anne, the last Stuart monarch.) She experiences the rivalry, malicious gossip and betrayal that is the royal court. She, too, has her portrait painted – in different circumstances and with very different results than Emilia – and it changes the trajectory of her life.

The Beauties encompasses many of the tumultuous events of mid-seventeenth century England: the Civil Wars that tore communities and families apart; the frippery and indulgence of Charles II and his court; the reinvigoration of London’s theatre scene after the oppression of the Republic and Puritans; the constraints of the roles assigned to women; the devastation and ugliness of the dreaded plague that tore mercilessly through homes and towns.

Towards the end of the novel, Anne expresses one of its strongest themes, when she muses:

I was a duchess now, not a frightened lady-in-waiting. Not a girl, waiting for her life to begin. What if I could do that for others? Help them find their power, the courage to go on? I thought about the women I knew – mothers, sisters, daughters, mistresses, wives. Did they know how strong they were, that those roles, assigned by society, failed to define them? Did they ever see themselves in all their wonderful complexity? Did anyone ever hold up a mirror to show them how well they were doing, how far they’d come, how much they’d grown?…Why shouldn’t women see themselves as they truly were – strong, powerful, intelligent? Instead of gazing outwards, I wanted them to look within, identifying the unique skills and accomplishments that would allow them to endure the trials every woman must face.

The Beauties eBook loc 350 of 384
The Beauties is published by Simon & Schuster in April 2024.

My thanks to the publishers and to NetGalley for an advanced reading copy to review.

I have loved all of Lauren's book so this was a no-brainer for me. This one is about the portraits of The Beauties and how one in particular came about, so the premise really appealed to me. This one is a slow burn, I would have liked to see more happen a bit earlier on in the story. There are three point of views in the book - Anne, Henry and Emilia. I enjoyed Henry and Emilia more than Annes. I thought that Henry's story could have been developed more as he was so very interesting and I feel that there was more that could have been said about him. The art element could also have been stronger. Overall, it is a solid read and I enjoyed it.

The Beauties is Lauren’s latest book and it is set in the 1600s during the exile and restoration of King Charles II. It tells a story of two women as they work to find themselves in a society where a woman’s beauty is her only leverage.

‘A painting, Sire?’ The King leans towards her, affecting a confidential air. ‘Actually, it’s a series of portraits of the most beautiful women at court. We are calling them the Windsor Beauties.’

The story takes place both in London and The Hague during the restoration period. It tells the story of Emilia whose husband’s family have had their titles and estate taken away for assisting a traitor. Then there is Anne Hyde, Duchess of York and one of Princess Mary’s ladies in waiting. Finally Henry Greenhill, an assistant painter working for Dutch court painter Peter Lely. The latter is commissioned to paint a series of portraits called ‘The Beauties’ which will be part of a collection for Windsor castle.

‘I thought about the women I knew - mothers, sisters, daughters, mistresses, wives. Did they know how strong they were, that those roles, assigned by society, failed to define them? Did they ever see themselves in all their wonderful complexity? Did anyone ever hold up a mirror to show them how well they were doing, how far they’d come, how much they’d grown?’

This is such an interesting and educational book as I have not read much from this time period. With real life characters and events it was interesting to learn about events that shaped rule in England during this Restoration period. Then there are other events such as female owned and run theatre and of course much about art history of the period. 1665 is also the year of the Great Plague of London and it was insightful to learn how this impacted the city. Yet at its heart this is a book about women of the period, their lack of power, individually and collectively, that led to exploitation. Beauty, in many a sense, was their only bargaining tool.

‘Why shouldn’t women see themselves as they truly were - strong, powerful, intelligent? Instead of gazing outwards, I wanted them to look within, identifying the unique skills and accomplishments that would allow them to endure the trials every woman must face.’

The Beauties is all encompassing for history buffs from playhouse to painting, from palace to plague. If this is your interest, follow along with characters and the many trials and tribulations as they seek out security, creativity, passion and love.

‘There is rebirth and connection, desire and self-knowledge. And there is the possibility of transformation even in the darkest times. All it requires is the courage to move beyond the frame.’







This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Firstly, thank you to Simon & Schuster Australia for the early readers copy via NetGalley.

I have long been a fan of Lauren Chater's books, but I think this is my favourite by far. Set over 2 time periods, a few years apart in the 1660s, we are introduced to a combination of real and fictional characters that are so cleverly interwoven that you think all the characters were real people. Inspired by the real life Windsor Beauties paintings, Chater questions an age old theme that we are still grappling with today: when beauty is your currency, who pays the price?

A delicious and easy read, Chater takes us to a time where England was reeling from a puritan ruler and a man who is waiting to take his place the throne that cost his father his head. King Charles II is a key player who stands on the sidelines, yet has a part in all of the women lives, both directly and indirectly. I was fasciated by the women run and owned theatre and how these women did the best they could with the gifts given to them. That's all any of us can still do, isn't it?


A fascinating and enjoyable read on time period that really should be more popular in fiction - so much as going on! 5 stars, highly recommend.

Beauty. Who doesn’t covet it? Yet, as Lauren Chater shows us in her latest historical novel, beauty can be a two-edged sword. In Chater’s capable hands, we see how beauty inspires everyone from a randy king to an aspiring artist and a loyal wife, who makes a Faustian bargain to restore the fortunes of her feckless husband.

The story’s setting in Charles II’s Restoration England is one of several delicious ironies in this captivating story, which employs a dual time-frame narrative to follow the journeys of its three spirited and relatable protagonists: Anne Hyde in the Hague and six years later, in 1865, Emilia Lennox and Henry Geenhill. The engaging supporting cast bring to life the world of snobbish, gossip-ridden courts, competitive art studios and the theatre. Through both narratives strides the enigmatic figure of Charles II, whose quest to regain his late father’s throne and later, lust for the lovely Emilia, triggers the story’s most compelling dilemma.

When Emilia travels to Charles II’s court to beg him to reinstate her estranged husband’s home and status, she inadvertently becomes the object of his affection. Charles II might share the restless sexual appetite of Henry VIII, but he’s a more astute diplomat. Hoping to ensnare Emilia as his mistress, he agrees to her desperate proposal that she first pose for a painting to be included in the Duchess of York’s series of court ‘beauties’. Enter Henry, rising artist, a compassionate mentor to his youthful apprentices, and a hotly contested rivalry with his female colleague, which adds a delightful edge to the narrative.

Should Emilia surrender herself to the king in return for his promised pardon? Would her sacrifice even matter to her husband? Should Henry paint Emilia’s portrait and advance his career, or help her to play for time and hopefully avoid becoming another notch on Charles’ bedpost?

I was intrigued by the author’s decision to use the titular ‘Beauties’ series of paintings to underpin the story. For me, this operates as a classic McGuffin – a pretext for an engrossing exploration of beauty and power. Exploit, or be exploited? Vulnerable to the attentions of more powerful men, Anne and Emilia harness their beauty as a weapon to achieve their respective goals. There’s a clear feminist aspect to both stories which gives the novel its contemporary relevance.

I particularly enjoyed the novel’s celebration of creativity. With deft, confident brushstrokes, Lauren Chater creates a richly detailed artistic world, bringing a lesser-known aspect of this interesting era to life. And alongside love and loss there is friendship too, respect, and loyalty.

Historical fiction lovers will enjoy the author’s elegant prose and masterful command of her research matter. So much to love in this vividly depicted historical novel, which is highly recommended.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for a copy of this novel in return for an honest review.

'Beauty can only take you so far'.

'The Beauties' transports the reader to Charles II's Restoration England and immerses us in a fecundity of beauty and art. It is a time when beauty was extolled and being beautiful brought power. Emilia Lennox is a natural-born beauty. For her though, her enviable looks have only brought unwanted attention, 'Her beauty - a mere accident of birth - distorts one's view of her'. However, after her husband and his family become destitute, perhaps her beauty is all that she has, 'The only thing Emilia has ever owned is her passion for art and her good looks...'. But beauty is fleeting so is it truly the only way to get ahead? As Emilia navigates her way between fending off the King's advances - without offending him - and securing a future for herself, she begins to understand what true beauty consists of and is inspired by women who earn respect through their wits and intelligence.

I enjoyed 'The Beauties' and learning more about this era through Emelia's story. Throughout history, we have tried to capture the elusive nature of beauty and define it. During the Restoration Era, beauty was particularly lauded, perhaps as a backlash against the Puritanical asceticism that previously presided. The number of real-life characters who appear within the book, as well as the close attention to art history, adds to the story's lushness. I believe any reader of historical fiction will enjoy this book but it will have a particular resonance for readers who have a passion for art history or England's Restoration Period.

Three-word summary: educational, philosophical, and luxuriant.