The Playboy King: Carol II of Romania

(Hardback)

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Description

The love story between King Carol II of Romania and his long-time mistress, "Magda" Lupescu, was a subject of great interest in the first half of the 20th century. For several decades sensation-seeking journalists provided eager readers with gossip about one of history's most puzzling and bizarre romances. Even today, 40 years after his death, many remember Carol chiefly as the international playboy of sensational Western newspaper stories. Herein, the full story of the life and reign of one of modern Europe's most complex and enigmatic rulers is told.

Reviews

Carol was, by no means, a good king, or even a decent person. But he does merit a carefully researched and documented biography, and he gets a really good one from Quinlan....Although a scholarly tome, The Playboy King is an easy read....What makes the book so good (apart from Quinlan's comfortable writing style) are the sources, some of which are in Roumania, and were not accessed by other biographers.-Royal Book News
This anecdotal account is gripping, from Carol's childhood to the last gasp of the former monarch in exile....Quinlan sets forth a stimulating account of a troubled boy and man who vainly sought equilibrium in an unbalanced milieu.-American Historical Review
This well-written and informative study....is the result of many years of research in public and private archives in the United States, Romania, and Great Britain, years during which the author consulted a vast bibliography that constitutes the basis for the present work. Thanks to these efforts, the author succeeds to make known numerous previously unpublished pieces of information that add both charm and depth to his work....Both the professional historian and the interested reader will benefit from this excellent monograph elaborated with zeal and professionalism by Paul Quinlan.-Romanian Civilization
"Carol was, by no means, a good king, or even a decent person. But he does merit a carefully researched and documented biography, and he gets a really good one from Quinlan....Although a scholarly tome, The Playboy King is an easy read....What makes the book so good (apart from Quinlan's comfortable writing style) are the sources, some of which are in Roumania, and were not accessed by other biographers."-Royal Book News
"This anecdotal account is gripping, from Carol's childhood to the last gasp of the former monarch in exile....Quinlan sets forth a stimulating account of a troubled boy and man who vainly sought equilibrium in an unbalanced milieu."-American Historical Review
"This well-written and informative study....is the result of many years of research in public and private archives in the United States, Romania, and Great Britain, years during which the author consulted a vast bibliography that constitutes the basis for the present work. Thanks to these efforts, the author succeeds to make known numerous previously unpublished pieces of information that add both charm and depth to his work....Both the professional historian and the interested reader will benefit from this excellent monograph elaborated with zeal and professionalism by Paul Quinlan."-Romanian Civilization

Author Bio

PAUL D. QUINLAN is an Associate Professor of History at Providence College. He is the author of several books, including Clash Over Romania, and is a fellow of the Russian Research Center, Harvard University.