Blazing Star : The Life and Times of John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester

He was 'THE WICKEDEST MAN ALIVE'. He went to Oxford University at the age of 12 He slept with his first prostitute at 13 He was an alcoholic by 14 He was imprisoned in the Tower at 18 He was acclaimed a war hero at 19 He died of syphilis at the age of 33 He was English history's first celebrity. He was John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester: Poet, dandy and libertine. BLAZING STAR is a compelling portrait of a remarkable and complex man, and of a cultural golden age that often spilled over into depravity. The scandalous life of England's most notorious libertine, the Earl of Rochester, portrayed by Johnny Depp in The Libertine Restoration England witnessed an extraordinary flowering of literature, music, architecture, and science. At the center of the burgeoning cultural life of the age was John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester. A peerlessly witty satirist, Rochester epitomized the manners of the court of Charles II. But he was also a libertine and drunkard, a writer of scandalously offensive poetry who got himself banned from court. Rochester died of syphilis at the age of just 33, leaving behind him a mystery as to the true nature of his character. This is a compelling portrait of a remarkable yet complex man and of a cultural golden age that often spilled over into depravity, and the only biography of the Earl to date to use the uncensored poetry Restoration England Witnessed An Extraordinary Flowering Of Literature, Music, Architecture And Science. At The Centre Of The Burgeoning Cultural Life Of The Age Was John Wilmot, Earl Of Rochester. A Peerlessly Witty Satirist, Rochester Epitomised The Manners Of The Court Of Charles Ii. But He Was Also A Libertine And Drunkard, A Writer Of Scandalously Offensive Poetry Who Got Himself Banned From Court. Rochester Died Of Syphilis At The Age Of Just 33, Leaving Behind Him A Mystery As To The True Nature Of His Character. This Text Presents A Compelling Portrait Of A Remarkable Yet Complex Man And Of A Cultural Golden Age That Often Spilled Over Into Depravity. Alexander Larman. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 367-369) And Index. Restoration England witnessed an extraordinary flowering of literature, music, architecture and science. At the centre of the burgeoning cultural life of the age was John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester. A peerlessly witty satirist, Rochester epitomised the manners of the court of Charles II. But he was also a libertine and drunkard, a writer of scandalously offensive poetry who got himself banned from court. Rochester died of syphilis at the age of just 33, leaving behind him a mystery as to the true nature of his character. ROCHESTER is a compelling portrait of a remarkable yet complex man and of a cultural golden age that often spilled over into depravity.