RestorationRestoration
Score Classic
What it's about
In 1660s England, after Charles II is restored to the throne, Robert Merivel, a young medical student who loves pleasure, becomes a favorite at the king's court. Charles gives him an estate, on one condition: that he marry the king's mistress and never touch her. When Merivel falls in love with her, he loses everything, and must find a new way to live.
Why it's worth reading
It was a Booker finalist. It's a rich, bawdy, moving historical novel.
You'll love it if you liked
Wolf Hall
Possession
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de ZoetGood to know
It's bawdy and frank about sex.
By the numbers
- Readers41 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics32 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
On our reserve shelf: it doesn't have enough readers yet for us to rank it alongside the Must-Read 50 pool. We check again every month, and it can still turn up in your 50 once you've read most of our ranked books.
Why it made the list
If you like this, read next
Gone with the Wind
The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York
The Making of the Atomic Bomb
The Lord of the Rings
A Brief History of Time
MausExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Restoration worth reading?
It was a Booker finalist. Its Must-Read Score is 61.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Restoration about?
In 1660s England, after Charles II is restored to the throne, Robert Merivel, a young medical student who loves pleasure, becomes a favorite at the king's court. Charles gives him an estate, on one condition: that he marry the king's mistress and never touch her. When Merivel falls in love with her, he loses everything, and must find a new way to live.
How long does it take to read Restoration?
About 9 hours (371 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Restoration?
If you liked it, try Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel, Possession by A. S. Byatt or The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell.