History Literature / ForeverAmber

The novel was condemned as indecent by the Catholic Church, [[NoSuchThingAsBadPublicity which helped to make it popular]]. One critic went so far as to number each of the passages to which he objected. Fourteen US states also banned it as pornographic, but despite (or because of) this, ''Forever Amber'' became the best-selling American novel of the 1940s, selling over 100,000 copies in its first week of release and more than three million in total. It was also responsible for popularizing "Amber" as a given name for girls in the 20th century.

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The book was condemned by the Catholic Church for indecency, [[NoSuchThingAsBadPublicity which helped to make it popular]]. One critic went so far as to number each of the passages to which he objected. The film was finally completed after substantial changes to the script were made, toning down some of the book's most objectionable passages in order to appease Catholic media critics. Fourteen US states also banned the book as pornography, but despite this, ''Forever Amber'' was the best-selling US novel of the 1940s. It sold over 100,000 copies in its first week of release, and went on to sell over three million copies. It was also responsible for popularizing "Amber" as a given name for girls in the 20th century.

[[TheFilmOfTheBook Adapted into a film]] in 1947 by Creator/TwentiethCenturyFox, directed by Creator/OttoPreminger and starring Linda Darnell in the title role, with a supporting cast including Cornel Wilde, Richard Greene, Creator/GeorgeSanders, Glenn Langan, and Creator/JessicaTandy. The film was also a big success, earning the biggest opening-week box office totals of any film released up to that point in time.

* WhipItGood: Amber uses a horsewhip to [[spoiler: attack her third husband, who has tried to poison her. A blow from her servant finishes him off.]]
* YoungFutureFamousPeople: A preteen Nell Gwyn makes an appearance.

[[TheFilmOfTheBook Adapted into a film]] in 1947 by Creator/TwentiethCenturyFox, directed by Creator/OttoPreminger and starring Linda Darnell in the title role, with a supporting cast including Cornel Wilde, Richard Greene, Creator/GeorgeSanders, Glenn Langan, and Creator/JessicaTandy.

[[TheFilmOfTheBook Adapted into a film]] in 1947 by Creator/TwentiethCenturyFox, directed by Creator/OttoPreminger and starring Creator/LindaDarnell in the title role, with a supporting cast including Creator/CornelWilde, Richard Greene, Creator/GeorgeSanders, Glenn Langan, and Creator/JessicaTandy.

''Forever Amber'' (1944) is a historical romance novel by Kathleen Winsor set in 17th-century England. It was made into a film in 1947 by Creator/TwentiethCenturyFox.

The novel tells the story of orphaned Amber St. Clare, who makes her way up through the ranks of 17th century English society by sleeping with and/or marrying successively richer and more important men, while keeping her love for the one man she can never have. The subplot of the novel follows Charles II of England as he returns from exile and adjusts to ruling England. The novel includes portrayals of Restoration fashion, including the introduction and popularization of tea in English coffeehouses and the homes of the fashionably rich; politics; and public disasters, including the plague and the Great Fire of London. Many notable historical figures appear in the book including Charles II of England, members of [[DeadlyDecadentCourt his court]], and several of his mistresses including Nell Gwyn.

* DeadlyDecadentCourt: The court of King Charles II, which is true to real life as the backstabbing and debauchery there was legendary.

The book was condemned by the Catholic Church for indecency, which helped to make it popular. One critic went so far as to number each of the passages to which he objected. The film was finally completed after substantial changes to the script were made, toning down some of the book's most objectionable passages in order to appease Catholic media critics. Fourteen US states also banned the book as pornography, but despite this, ''Forever Amber'' was the best-selling US novel of the 1940s. It sold over 100,000 copies in its first week of release, and went on to sell over three million copies. It was also responsible for popularizing "Amber" as a given name for girls in the 20th century.

* PurpleEyes: Lady Barbara has violet eyes and is famous for her beauty.

* OurLoveIsDifferent: The novel takes an odd view of this trope. When Amber first meets Bruce Carlton at sixteen years of age, she's convinced that they're true lovers even after he leaves, and this continues when they reunite some years later. The thing is, Amber knows he's The Casanova. When her stepdaughter becomes infatuated with him, Amber is cruel and blunt in explaining about how Carlton only cares about her to the extent it gets him laid. And yet never at any point does Amber consider that her infatuation with him is any different, willfully ignoring all evidence to the contrary.

* WhipItGood: Amber uses a horsewhip to [[spoiler: attack her third husband, who has tried to poison her. A blow from her servant finishes him off.]]

* IntroOnlyPointOfView: The prologue is based around the POV of Judith, who gives birth to Amber and then dies.