OOC: Hello and welcome! This story is not necessarily closed, and I am open to at least 2 other individuals joining in addition to myself and Ariosto. If you feel you might be interested in joining this tale, I ask that you PM me first to discuss possible characters and storylines. This is an historical piece, and I do wish to stay somewhat true to that period. That means no warrior queens or aliens. I think many here understand the idea. And if you do not wish to join then it is my sincerest wish that you might find something here worth reading and enjoying. Thank you ~
Background – the book
I feel it is only right and proper to give due credit to the book and author that inspired this idea. In 1944, Kathleen Winsor’s book Forever Amber was published in the United States. The book contained scandalous material and was considered quite racy in its day. It was banned in Boston for its content, and most teenaged girls at the time had to sneak their mother’s copy to read. (Ironic how most women had a copy of this book to read!) Touted as the first (or perhaps second, after Gone With The Wind) historical romance, the novel dealt with eroticism, political intrigue, love, lust, illegitimate children, and prostitution amongst other things. The heroine, Amber St Clair, was viewed as a woman of frank sexuality and strength – yet she was not the totally likeable beauty found in romance novels of the current era. Ms. Windsor passed away a couple of years ago, yet this book lingers on in the hearts and imaginations of those who have come to know the characters she created.
Prologue – History
In 1660 England the scope of politics was changing. After 11 years of rule under the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth, Oliver Cromwell, and the forced retirement of his son, Richard Cromwell, England was once again to have a monarch. Charles II, whose father Charles I was beheaded in 1649, was pronounced king of England and was making his way to London to claim his throne. He was 30 years old and had lived in exile in France and other parts of Europe from the time he was 18.
During Cromwell’s tenure, the House of Lords had been banished. Likewise, the House of Commons also met with similar fate when it disagreed with Cromwell’s thinking. Puritans were in power and England became a rather dismal place. There was no theater, fashions were muted and modest, religiosity was promoted. Neighbor was compelled to “tattle” upon neighbor, and people were expected to live within very narrow guidelines.
With the restoration of the monarch (and the reason why this period is known as Restoration England), things changed. Charles II once again opened the theaters. People could freely indulge in pleasures that were previously denied to them. It became a time of pleasure and fun – at least for those in the upper classes.
When Cromwell had lead the country, one of the first things he did was to confiscate the lands of the aristocracy and the church and sell them. Those noblemen who suddenly had their ancestral lands taken from them were placed in exile, and many supported the return of Charles II to the throne. When the time for action came, these noblemen eagerly fought with Charles II to regain his throne. Known as excellent swordsmen and horsemen, they came to be known as Cavaliers, a word that still lives on in our language as a man of valor, courage, and manners. These noblemen, upon securing Charles II to his throne, then sought the restitution of their lands. Many were able to buy back their lands and titles.
Charles II died in 1685, thereby ending what has come to be known as the period of “Merry Olde England.”
Prologue – Forever Amber
Forever Amber opens in 1660 when Amber St. Clair meets Lord Bruce Carlton. Amber was living with Puritan relatives, having been born a bastard. She felt constrained within the tiny village of her birth and longed for the excitement of London. Lord Bruce Carlton had lost his ancestral lands and joined forces with Charles II to restore his throne and to attempt to buy back his lands. He meets Amber when he stops for the night in the tiny village she calls home. There is instant attraction and Amber manipulates Lord Carlton into taking her with him to London. While there, she falls in love with him, though he considers her to be nothing much more than a passing fancy. When duty calls, he leaves Amber alone with a small amount of money. Amber, who finds herself pregnant and eventually penniless on the streets of London, ends up in Newgate prison. While there, she begins to learn the means by which she would save herself over and over again: prostitution.
After leaving prison, Amber entangles herself with a group of highwaymen and women, yet manages to escape. She goes on to have many liaisons with various men of greater and greater power. Lord Carlton pops in and out of her life, always assuming she will be there for him. And she is. However, while her hopes for a future with Lord Carlton are high, he discounts her based on her occupation and low birth. During the period of the plague, in 1665, Lord Carlton and Amber are together, come down with the disease, and nurse each other back to health. Not even this act of love and charity keeps Bruce around. He leaves as soon as both are healthy.
Eventually, Amber marries and becomes a Countess. Yet, not even that is enough to impress the elusive Bruce Carlton. She manages to eventually work her way into the bed of Charles II himself and for a time becomes one of his mistresses. As a “reward” for services rendered, the king bestows a duchy on Amber. She has reached the highest pinnacle of society that is possible. And she now outranks even Lord Bruce Carlton! Yet it is still not enough. Lord Carlton has been spending his time in Colonial Virginia, developing a plantation, and courting the daughter of a wealthy planter.
Lady Corinne Carlton is everything Amber is not: innocent, sweet, selfless, kind. Amber is certain Bruce only agreed to the marriage for the funds his wife would bring to the marriage. Amber also feels that, because she has Bruce’s son, she has a “trump card.” However, when Bruce wants to take “little Bruce” back home with him to Virginia, Amber’s claws come out. Eventually, she gives into Bruce’s wishes, and watches as her little boy takes off with his father.
In the court, however, there is intrigue everywhere, and Amber is not appreciated as one of Charles’ mistresses. In a plot to rid her from court, certain individuals conspire to inform her that Bruce truly does love her and not his wife. Amber, always willing to believe this, immediately makes plans to leave England and surprise Bruce in Virginia.
Our Tale
Kathleen Winsor had always wanted to write a sequel to Forever Amber, however, she never did so. Our tale attempts to continue this story. The story will open as Amber arrives in Virginia. What happens next will be written as we go along, but hopefully it will be an interesting and fun journey!
Additional information: I would like to keep this thread small with 4 people, max. I have tried numerous people in one thread and it seldom works for me. The parts of Amber St Clair and Lord Bruce Carlton are already cast. (Myself and Ariosto, respectively)
There are other characters that can be played. Of course, the most obvious one for another female would be that of Corinne, Lady Bruce Carlton. (Note: she is very much a woman of her time – she is not some warrior queen or other fantastical character, although she is a woman of great quiet strength)
Additional roles for men might include: Lord Almsbury – another Cavalier who rode with Lord Carlton and was there when Amber met Bruce. Lord Almsbury had always been infatuated with Amber, and managed to rescue her from multiple scrapes, yet she never returned his affections to the degree he would have wanted. Also, Captain Rex Morgan, a privateer and cad with a gentlemanly bent. This would play a bit with the story, as in the book he is put to death. Yet, we are dealing with fantasy, yes? He had been involved with Amber before she began her climb in society and is very familiar with her faults as well as her “treasures.” There are other possibilities, but please PM me first to secure roles!
Background – the book
I feel it is only right and proper to give due credit to the book and author that inspired this idea. In 1944, Kathleen Winsor’s book Forever Amber was published in the United States. The book contained scandalous material and was considered quite racy in its day. It was banned in Boston for its content, and most teenaged girls at the time had to sneak their mother’s copy to read. (Ironic how most women had a copy of this book to read!) Touted as the first (or perhaps second, after Gone With The Wind) historical romance, the novel dealt with eroticism, political intrigue, love, lust, illegitimate children, and prostitution amongst other things. The heroine, Amber St Clair, was viewed as a woman of frank sexuality and strength – yet she was not the totally likeable beauty found in romance novels of the current era. Ms. Windsor passed away a couple of years ago, yet this book lingers on in the hearts and imaginations of those who have come to know the characters she created.
Prologue – History
In 1660 England the scope of politics was changing. After 11 years of rule under the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth, Oliver Cromwell, and the forced retirement of his son, Richard Cromwell, England was once again to have a monarch. Charles II, whose father Charles I was beheaded in 1649, was pronounced king of England and was making his way to London to claim his throne. He was 30 years old and had lived in exile in France and other parts of Europe from the time he was 18.
During Cromwell’s tenure, the House of Lords had been banished. Likewise, the House of Commons also met with similar fate when it disagreed with Cromwell’s thinking. Puritans were in power and England became a rather dismal place. There was no theater, fashions were muted and modest, religiosity was promoted. Neighbor was compelled to “tattle” upon neighbor, and people were expected to live within very narrow guidelines.
With the restoration of the monarch (and the reason why this period is known as Restoration England), things changed. Charles II once again opened the theaters. People could freely indulge in pleasures that were previously denied to them. It became a time of pleasure and fun – at least for those in the upper classes.
When Cromwell had lead the country, one of the first things he did was to confiscate the lands of the aristocracy and the church and sell them. Those noblemen who suddenly had their ancestral lands taken from them were placed in exile, and many supported the return of Charles II to the throne. When the time for action came, these noblemen eagerly fought with Charles II to regain his throne. Known as excellent swordsmen and horsemen, they came to be known as Cavaliers, a word that still lives on in our language as a man of valor, courage, and manners. These noblemen, upon securing Charles II to his throne, then sought the restitution of their lands. Many were able to buy back their lands and titles.
Charles II died in 1685, thereby ending what has come to be known as the period of “Merry Olde England.”
Prologue – Forever Amber
Forever Amber opens in 1660 when Amber St. Clair meets Lord Bruce Carlton. Amber was living with Puritan relatives, having been born a bastard. She felt constrained within the tiny village of her birth and longed for the excitement of London. Lord Bruce Carlton had lost his ancestral lands and joined forces with Charles II to restore his throne and to attempt to buy back his lands. He meets Amber when he stops for the night in the tiny village she calls home. There is instant attraction and Amber manipulates Lord Carlton into taking her with him to London. While there, she falls in love with him, though he considers her to be nothing much more than a passing fancy. When duty calls, he leaves Amber alone with a small amount of money. Amber, who finds herself pregnant and eventually penniless on the streets of London, ends up in Newgate prison. While there, she begins to learn the means by which she would save herself over and over again: prostitution.
After leaving prison, Amber entangles herself with a group of highwaymen and women, yet manages to escape. She goes on to have many liaisons with various men of greater and greater power. Lord Carlton pops in and out of her life, always assuming she will be there for him. And she is. However, while her hopes for a future with Lord Carlton are high, he discounts her based on her occupation and low birth. During the period of the plague, in 1665, Lord Carlton and Amber are together, come down with the disease, and nurse each other back to health. Not even this act of love and charity keeps Bruce around. He leaves as soon as both are healthy.
Eventually, Amber marries and becomes a Countess. Yet, not even that is enough to impress the elusive Bruce Carlton. She manages to eventually work her way into the bed of Charles II himself and for a time becomes one of his mistresses. As a “reward” for services rendered, the king bestows a duchy on Amber. She has reached the highest pinnacle of society that is possible. And she now outranks even Lord Bruce Carlton! Yet it is still not enough. Lord Carlton has been spending his time in Colonial Virginia, developing a plantation, and courting the daughter of a wealthy planter.
Lady Corinne Carlton is everything Amber is not: innocent, sweet, selfless, kind. Amber is certain Bruce only agreed to the marriage for the funds his wife would bring to the marriage. Amber also feels that, because she has Bruce’s son, she has a “trump card.” However, when Bruce wants to take “little Bruce” back home with him to Virginia, Amber’s claws come out. Eventually, she gives into Bruce’s wishes, and watches as her little boy takes off with his father.
In the court, however, there is intrigue everywhere, and Amber is not appreciated as one of Charles’ mistresses. In a plot to rid her from court, certain individuals conspire to inform her that Bruce truly does love her and not his wife. Amber, always willing to believe this, immediately makes plans to leave England and surprise Bruce in Virginia.
Our Tale
Kathleen Winsor had always wanted to write a sequel to Forever Amber, however, she never did so. Our tale attempts to continue this story. The story will open as Amber arrives in Virginia. What happens next will be written as we go along, but hopefully it will be an interesting and fun journey!
Additional information: I would like to keep this thread small with 4 people, max. I have tried numerous people in one thread and it seldom works for me. The parts of Amber St Clair and Lord Bruce Carlton are already cast. (Myself and Ariosto, respectively)
There are other characters that can be played. Of course, the most obvious one for another female would be that of Corinne, Lady Bruce Carlton. (Note: she is very much a woman of her time – she is not some warrior queen or other fantastical character, although she is a woman of great quiet strength)
Additional roles for men might include: Lord Almsbury – another Cavalier who rode with Lord Carlton and was there when Amber met Bruce. Lord Almsbury had always been infatuated with Amber, and managed to rescue her from multiple scrapes, yet she never returned his affections to the degree he would have wanted. Also, Captain Rex Morgan, a privateer and cad with a gentlemanly bent. This would play a bit with the story, as in the book he is put to death. Yet, we are dealing with fantasy, yes? He had been involved with Amber before she began her climb in society and is very familiar with her faults as well as her “treasures.” There are other possibilities, but please PM me first to secure roles!
