Memoirs of an Unfortunate Queen. Interspersed with Letters (Written by Herself) to several of Her illustrious Relations and Friends, on Various Subject and Occasions. The Second Edition.

London: Printed for J. Bew..., 1776. 12mo, 167 x 96 mms., pp. [ii], 260, engraved portrait as frontispiece, contemporary sheepskin; joints cracked and tender, corners worn and, overall, not a wonderful copy, with the autograph and date "R. M. Vevers/ Feb. 21/1794" on the front past-down end-paper, with the name and date repeated on the title-page. Thes memoirs were presumably suppressed, as Queen Caroline was a sister of the King of England and while married to Christian VII of Denmark entered into a notorious love affair with her husband's doctor called Struensee. It eventually led to his execution and her banishment to Celle where she died of Scarlet Fever in 1775 at the age of 23. Her later biographer Wraxall was at first inclined to doubt the authenticity of the book, but on reflection he decided that the circumstantial evidence pointed to it being written by one of her circle, avoiding the displeasure of George III by remaining anonymous. The work would also appear in French and German translations with spurious imprints. There have been several more fictionalized biographies since, including film adaptations. The work was reviewed in The Monthly Review in 1776, with an abrupt opening: "In this truly Grubean, though not ill-written performance, poor Mathilda is made to turn Authoress.... These Sketches are tolerably drawn, after pretty good originals; and, on the whole, it is evident, from the promising specimens before us, that if Carolina Matilda had not, unfortunately for herself, been made a Queen, she might, in time, have arrived at the honour of being even a Monthly Reviewer. N. B. The honest Grub is a warm advocate for the virtue and innocence of his heroine; in which he may be right; though it does not appear he ever travelled to Copenhagen." The work was also translated into French, with London as the location and Bew as the printer, buth the French version was published in The Netherlands. This second edition is not a re-issue of the first also printed in London. ESTC locates copies of the first edition in BL, and Cambridge; and California State Library. The present, second edition is found in BL (three copies) and the Bodleian in these islands; and Harvard, Huntington, and Library of Congress in the United States.

CAROLINE-MATILDA, QUEEN OF DENMARK. - Memoirs of an Unfortunate Queen. Interspersed with Letters (Written by Herself) to several of Her illustrious Relations and Friends, on Various Subject and Occasions. The Second Edition.