Florizel's Folly

Florizel's Folly unravels the scandalous, glittering history of Brighthelmstone, the fishing village that became Brighton, courtesy of one dissolute Prince of Wales. John Ashton traces the town's journey from its humbler origins (appearing in the Domesday Book, bracing against the Spanish Armada, shivering through fears of French invasion) to its transformation into the most notorious resort in England. The catalyst was George, Prince of Wales, who adopted the pseudonym Florizel for his secret visits, chasing actress Mary Darby (the 'Perdita' of his desires) through Brighton's cobbled streets. The town built a palace for his pleasures, and England built a culture of aristocratic vice that echoes to this day. Ashton excavates the fishing industry that sustained the town, the defensive walls that never saw battle, and the social climbers who smelled opportunity in royal favor. This is local history with a wicked grin, a book that understands Brighton was never just about the sea air, but about what the sea air allowed certain people to get away with.