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The great Roxhythe

by Georgette Heyer (1902–1974)

  • Free to read
  • 8 hours to read
  • 49 chapters

"The great Roxhythe" by Georgette Heyer is a historical novel written in the early 20th century. Set amid Restoration politics, it follows the charismatic yet enigmatic Marquis of Roxhythe—favorite of King Charles II—on a covert mission to court William of Orange, with a keen young secretary, Christopher Dart, drawn into espionage and statecraft. Expect court intrigue, rival ministers, continental travel, and a tension between loyalty to a monarch and loyalty to a nation. The opening of the novel introduces Whitehall’s glitter and gossip before King Charles privately tasks Roxhythe with secretly approaching his nephew William to secure England’s advantage despite the recent alliance with Holland. Briefed—uneasily—by Buckingham and Ashley-Cooper, Roxhythe recruits Christopher Dart, stages a public royal rebuff as cover, and sets out for the Low Countries. In Flushing and along the Dutch road, he deftly plays off suspected spies (including the amenable Mr. Milward and a man linked to Hyde), feigns illness at Rotterdam with the help of the loyal apothecary de Staal, and slips away by night. Reaching The Hague, he enlists Christopher’s brother Roderick—now devoted to William despite De Witt’s oversight—and quietly secures a clandestine evening audience with the Prince.

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  • Historical fiction
  • Spy stories
  • Kings and rulers
  • Great Britain · History · Charles II, 1660-1685
  • Spies

Read the opening

Chapter I

A LARGE gentleman was strolling from group to group in one of the great galleries of Whitehall. He was very exquisite, this gentleman, adorned with all the coloured silks, velvets and furbelows which that Year of Grace, 1668, demanded. A great peruke was on his head, with flowing, dark curls that reached over his breast and below his shoulders. He carried his plumed hat in his hand, and at times he made great play with it, as if to point some witty remark. At other times he opened his jewelled comfit-box with a delicate flick of his wrist, and selected, with some care, a tinted sweetmeat. Once or twice he swept a low bow to some lady of his acquaintance, but for the most part he was occupied with the courtiers who were present, always lazily smiling, and with his brown eyes bored and expressionless. His height, and the breadth of his shoulders made him easily distinguishable in the gay throng, so that those who wished to speak to him soon found where he was standing, and made their way towards him. He was the Most Noble the Marquis of Roxhythe, the King’s favourite and the ladies’ darling, and his name was on many lips.

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Contents

Show all 49 chapters
  1. Chapter I
  2. Chapter II
  3. Chapter III
  4. Chapter IV
  5. Chapter V
  6. Chapter VI
  7. Chapter VII
  8. Chapter VIII
  9. Chapter IX
  10. Book II
  11. Chapter I
  12. Chapter II
  13. Chapter III
  14. Chapter IV
  15. Chapter V
  16. Chapter VI
  17. Chapter VII
  18. Chapter VIII
  19. Chapter IX
  20. Chapter X
  21. Chapter XI
  22. Book III
  23. Chapter I
  24. Chapter II
  25. Chapter III
  26. Chapter IV
  27. Chapter V
  28. Chapter VI
  29. Chapter VII
  30. Chapter VIII
  31. Chapter IX
  32. Chapter X
  33. Book IV
  34. Chapter I
  35. Chapter II
  36. Chapter III
  37. Chapter IV
  38. Chapter V
  39. Chapter VI
  40. Chapter VII
  41. Chapter VIII
  42. Book V
  43. Chapter I
  44. Chapter II
  45. Chapter III
  46. Chapter IV
  47. Chapter V
  48. Chapter VI
  49. Chapter VII
  50. Chapter VIII
  51. Chapter IX
  52. Chapter X
  53. Chapter XI

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About this edition

This free edition of The great Roxhythe by Georgette Heyer comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #76816, released 2025-09-04. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Historical Novels, Novels, British Literature.

Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).

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