Mistress Nell Gwyn

Mistress Nell Gwyn is the title of the New York edition of an historical novel by the British writer Marjorie Bowen.

The story depicts the life of Nell Gwyn and her rise from an orange seller to the mistress of Charles II of England during the seventeenth century.

Great affairs have been left out and details of the reign of Charles II are provided only as a background for the figure of the heroine.

[1] The year of its publication, the novel was adapted for the silent film Nell Gwyn, a prestige production directed by Herbert Wilcox for which the Hollywood actress Dorothy Gish was brought over to Britain to play Gwyn.

The novel also provided inspiration for Nell Gwynn the 1934 sound remake of the film, also directed by Herbert Wilcox.