In 1660s Restoration England, Robert Merivel, an ambitious medical student, enters the glittering and dangerous world of the royal court. Set during the splendid yet fragile reign of King Charles II, this masterly historical novel immerses readers in all the spectacle and instability of London during the seventeenth century. Robert Merivel rises in favour as ‘paper groom’ to one of the King’s mistresses, gaining entry to a court shaped by patronage, power and shifting loyalties. But when Robert’s personal longing clashes with royal authority, his quick wit and charm cannot keep him from court intrigue social downfall and extreme consequences... 'For a vivid – and funny – fictional re-creation of the era, Tremain’s Restoration is hard to beat.' The Times