So much has been written and broadcast about the Tudors that Henry VIII’s courtiers seem stars in their own right. We know their acts and allegiances, their loves and lies, their foibles and (often terrible) fates. Yet one lesser-known figure often lurks near the centre of court machinations while remaining beyond the spotlight. She is Jane Rochford, the focus of Philippa Gregory’s latest novel ‘The Boleyn Traitor’.
Showing posts with label historical fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label historical fiction. Show all posts
30 May 2026
22 August 2022
'I, Mona Lisa' by Natasha Solomons
17 August 2020
Eleanor's Army
'The Revolt' by Clara Dupont-Monod (Quercus, 2020)
As long term readers know, I love historical fiction. I'm also a sucker for a beautiful book, so when Quercus Books tweeted the gorgeous Chris Wormell cover for 'The Revolt' by Clara Dupont-Monod, I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy.
'The Revolt' is a story of medieval rule-breaker Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, told largely by her favourite son, Richard, the eventual King Richard the Lionheart. A woman aware of her status and worth as Duchess of Aquitaine and heir of Poitiers, she expects to rule beside her husband, not be owned by him. After her disappointing first marriage is annulled, she believes she's found a better match in Henry Plantagenet, later King Henry II of England. Unfortunately, he has other ideas, and by the time their children are grown, he has taken control of her dominions, subjugating her people and ransacking the land. Eleanor, her sons and ex-husband King Louis of France band together to revolt against the hated ruler, but can they defeat the warrior king? And if they fail, what punishment will be devised for this bold and beautiful queen?
As long term readers know, I love historical fiction. I'm also a sucker for a beautiful book, so when Quercus Books tweeted the gorgeous Chris Wormell cover for 'The Revolt' by Clara Dupont-Monod, I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy.
10 June 2017
Stormy Weather
Last week I finished 'The Angry Tide' by Winston Graham, the seventh Poldark novel. Normally I'm a bit of a sucker for a good book cover, but for some reason I didn't pay much attention to this one. Wish I had as I'd have been much better prepared for this book's revelations...
It's the last years of the 1700s and still waters run deep for the Poldarks and Warleggans. While both Ross and George appear prosperous and content, old rivalries continue to simmer beneath the surface and it's not long before they burst forth. While the enduringly bitter George seizes chances to conspire and strike against the Poldarks and their associates, an opportunity of another kind may mean a ray of hope for the unrequited lovers Morwenna and Drake. But best laid plans often go astray, especially in the storm ravaged Cornish peninsula...
I might be being a bit harsh, but I felt that 'The Angry Tide' took a while to get going, but once it did, boy did it go! Winston Graham shows himself to be a master plotter, deftly setting the scene and building the tension before letting the deluge go. I found this book almost impossible to put down, as wave after wave peaked and troughed until the story's devastating climax is reached.
Graham also shows himself to be an expert at the art of misdirection - just when I thought I knew which way things would go, the current took me elsewhere.
Along with the 'The Black Moon', I think this is the best of the series so far and that fans of historical fiction or family saga will love it too. I can't wait to get started on 'The Stranger from the Sea' - but I think it'll have to wait until after the new BBC series!
Related Posts
Ross Poldark
Demelza
Jeremy Poldark
Warleggan
The Black Moon
The Four Swans
 |
| 'The Angry Tide' by Winston Graham (2008, Pan Macmillan) |
I might be being a bit harsh, but I felt that 'The Angry Tide' took a while to get going, but once it did, boy did it go! Winston Graham shows himself to be a master plotter, deftly setting the scene and building the tension before letting the deluge go. I found this book almost impossible to put down, as wave after wave peaked and troughed until the story's devastating climax is reached.
Graham also shows himself to be an expert at the art of misdirection - just when I thought I knew which way things would go, the current took me elsewhere.
Along with the 'The Black Moon', I think this is the best of the series so far and that fans of historical fiction or family saga will love it too. I can't wait to get started on 'The Stranger from the Sea' - but I think it'll have to wait until after the new BBC series!
Related Posts
Ross Poldark
Demelza
Jeremy Poldark
Warleggan
The Black Moon
The Four Swans
13 January 2015
Leave 'Em Wanting More
So, my first book of 2015 was 'The Empty Throne' by Bernard Cornwell, the latest novel in the bloody marvellous Saxon Stories series.
The future looks bleak for Mercia. Its ruler, Aethelred, is dying without a male heir and too many people want to fill the soon-to-be-empty throne. Nobles at home and abroad are manoeuvring themselves and a coup seems inevitable. Yet the candidates are all politicians, not the warlords Mercia needs to defeat its Danish invaders and prevent them taking over the whole country. Although Aethelred's wife, the formidable Aethelflaed, is a proven warrior and inspirational leader, no woman has ever ruled and her greatest supporter, Uhtred of Bebbanburg is wounded. So is this the end for Mercia?
There's little I can say here that I haven't said before about other Bernard Cornwell books. That sounds like a bad thing, but it's actually a compliment. His work is consistently absorbing, energetic, interesting and enjoyable, so that really only the action and locations change. It's like reading one book in instalments rather than a series of books over a number of years.
In a way, the fact that this book is part of a series is its weak spot. The story, while gripping and eventful, feels like a bridge between one plot point and another rather than a destination in itself. Even so, it still gives Uhtred fans all the things we've come to expect - treachery, battles, political machinations, sea voyages, a quest and a wonderful sense of time and place.
But because it feels like a stepping stone, it really leaves you wanting more. Not just more from different characters, but literally what happens next because it feels half done. I'm like an excitable youngster in a shieldwall, held back by a more experienced commander who knows when it's best to strike. I'm sure Mr Cornwell knows what he's doing, but, goodness, the next couple of years will feel a long wait! Just as well I have plenty of other things to read in the mean time!
'Sword Song' by Bernard Cornwell (Saxon Story Four)
'The Burning Land' by Bernard Cornwell (Saxon Story Five)
'The Death of Kings' by Bernard Cornwell (Saxon Story Six)
'The Pagan Lord' by Bernard Cornwell (Saxon Story Seven)
 |
| 'The Empty Throne' by Bernard Cornwell (HarperCollins, 2014) |
There's little I can say here that I haven't said before about other Bernard Cornwell books. That sounds like a bad thing, but it's actually a compliment. His work is consistently absorbing, energetic, interesting and enjoyable, so that really only the action and locations change. It's like reading one book in instalments rather than a series of books over a number of years.
In a way, the fact that this book is part of a series is its weak spot. The story, while gripping and eventful, feels like a bridge between one plot point and another rather than a destination in itself. Even so, it still gives Uhtred fans all the things we've come to expect - treachery, battles, political machinations, sea voyages, a quest and a wonderful sense of time and place.
But because it feels like a stepping stone, it really leaves you wanting more. Not just more from different characters, but literally what happens next because it feels half done. I'm like an excitable youngster in a shieldwall, held back by a more experienced commander who knows when it's best to strike. I'm sure Mr Cornwell knows what he's doing, but, goodness, the next couple of years will feel a long wait! Just as well I have plenty of other things to read in the mean time!
Related Posts
'Sword Song' by Bernard Cornwell (Saxon Story Four)
'The Burning Land' by Bernard Cornwell (Saxon Story Five)
'The Death of Kings' by Bernard Cornwell (Saxon Story Six)
'The Pagan Lord' by Bernard Cornwell (Saxon Story Seven)
23 February 2014
Uhtred Unleashed
I've just finished 'The Pagan Lord' by Bernard Cornwell, the latest in the Saxon Stories series and, I think, the best so far.
Uhtred of Bebbanburg is restless. The characteristics that make him a hero in times of war are causing trouble in times of peace. His sense self-importance, quick reactions and strength mean he soon clashes with the Church, while his reputation, status and daring make him a target for the devious Danes conspiring over the border. Exiled from a Wessex dominated by a naive priesthood and hated by the Northmen whose plans he's repeatedly dashed, he finds himself alienated from everyone and everything that gives him direction and purpose. Bereft of land and fortune and with few followers, Uhtred doesn't know what to do next. So his thoughts return to an oath older than any sworn to King or Queen, a promise that draws him back to the fortress inheritance stolen from him as child. Bebbanburg calls.
I thoroughly enjoyed 'The Pagan Lord'. The plot was tighter than some of its predecessors and Mr Cornwell clearly took full advantage of the fact that the Uhtred of this book is a free agent, oath sworn to nobody, and that there were fewer known historical events for him to fit the plot around. Mr Cornwell seized the opportunity to let his imagination run riot and, as a result, has created what I think is the best instalment yet. I was on tenterhooks throughout and can't wait to see where Mr Cornwell takes his wayward warrior during his next outing.
I've heard the Saxon Stories described as 'Game of Thrones but real', which I think does them a disservice. Historical fiction is where mud and myth meet, where hearsay and history are combined expertly to evoke a past that we all have links to Not only does a plot have to be built around indisputable events and facts, it has to be interesting and surprising enough to make us keep reading. A really good piece of historical fiction will not only tell you about the past, but make you feel something about it too. 'The Pagan Lord' recreates bloody battles, rural landscapes and Dark Ages culture, but also presents engaging characters who make you think about how it may have felt to step into your first shieldwall, crew a warship on violent seas or live amongst the ruins of the Roman world.
Usually when reading a series of books, it makes sense to start at the beginning. But if someone asked me which Saxon Story to start, I would be sorely tempted to suggest this one. So let's hope no-one ever asks. It's nice to have something this good to look forward to!
'Sword Song' by Bernard Cornwell (Saxon Story Four)
'The Burning Land' by Bernard Cornwell (Saxon Story Five)
'The Death of Kings' by Bernard Cornwell (Saxon Story Six)
Uhtred of Bebbanburg is restless. The characteristics that make him a hero in times of war are causing trouble in times of peace. His sense self-importance, quick reactions and strength mean he soon clashes with the Church, while his reputation, status and daring make him a target for the devious Danes conspiring over the border. Exiled from a Wessex dominated by a naive priesthood and hated by the Northmen whose plans he's repeatedly dashed, he finds himself alienated from everyone and everything that gives him direction and purpose. Bereft of land and fortune and with few followers, Uhtred doesn't know what to do next. So his thoughts return to an oath older than any sworn to King or Queen, a promise that draws him back to the fortress inheritance stolen from him as child. Bebbanburg calls.
 | |
| 'The Pagan Lord' by Bernard Cornwell (HarperCollins, 2013) |
I've heard the Saxon Stories described as 'Game of Thrones but real', which I think does them a disservice. Historical fiction is where mud and myth meet, where hearsay and history are combined expertly to evoke a past that we all have links to Not only does a plot have to be built around indisputable events and facts, it has to be interesting and surprising enough to make us keep reading. A really good piece of historical fiction will not only tell you about the past, but make you feel something about it too. 'The Pagan Lord' recreates bloody battles, rural landscapes and Dark Ages culture, but also presents engaging characters who make you think about how it may have felt to step into your first shieldwall, crew a warship on violent seas or live amongst the ruins of the Roman world.
Related Posts
'Sword Song' by Bernard Cornwell (Saxon Story Four)
'The Burning Land' by Bernard Cornwell (Saxon Story Five)
'The Death of Kings' by Bernard Cornwell (Saxon Story Six)
30 November 2013
Previously from the Girl Who Loves Books III
Oh dear. It's all gone a bit wrong this month. No idea why, although it's probably something to do with it being too cold to sit outside and read now winter has finally arrived in the UK. Turning pages is just too tricky with freezing fingers!
So, by way of an apology and to say I've not forgotten you, here are some reviews I wrote before starting this blog. Hope you enjoy them!
So, by way of an apology and to say I've not forgotten you, here are some reviews I wrote before starting this blog. Hope you enjoy them!
'Cautionary Tales for Grown-Ups' by Chris Addison
`Cautionary Tales...' is a collection of humorous rhymes, each of which deals with a different 21st century `sin' and wreaks terrible (and often grotesque) vengeance on the perpetrator. The crimes against society include browsing in bookshops rather than buying, NIMBY-ism, reality TV shows, littering, driving 4x4s in town, excessive Christmas lights and nude charity calendars among many others.
After reading this book, I have very mixed feelings. I liked the idea of it very much, but was disappointed that the stories were in rhyme rather than prose. It has the unfortunate effect of making the tales seem insubstantial, as if the author had been knocking up a poem or two every time he got bored and had a spare five minutes. I found them amusing rather than funny and it did make me wonder whether they would have been funnier if developed into full short stories. Also, this is a very middle class book and some of the morals did come across as a bit patronising. On the plus side, there were some poems which did make me laugh out loud, although there were also some punishments which made me wince!
Overall, this book feels like it may be the start of something interesting which could be developed, but it also feels like a throw away doodle and isn't really worth the £7.99 price tag. It could, however, be just the right gift to bring a smile to the wound-up whinger in your life.
'The Vampire Lestat' by Anne Rice
When I wrote my review of `Interview with the Vampire', the first of Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles, earlier this year, I ended hoping that its sequel would be less ambiguous. I am delighted to say it is, although it almost goes to the other, indepth extreme!
`The Vampire Lestat' is a hefty tome which principally follows the life, creation and afterlife of the enigmatic Lestat de Lioncourt, a minor French nobleman who dreams of more than the futile existence dictated by his position as the younger son in a poor but arrogant family. But this book is also about so much more. This second Chronicle is a lot thicker than the first for the simple reason that it not only contains the `life' story and personal development of Lestat himself, but also the histories of two older vampires, the elegant Marius and the lost Armand, as well as legends of the race's origins and the first vampires, Enkil and Akasha. Like the first book, `The Vampire Lestat' continues to ponder life and death, good and evil and where vampires fall in the grand scheme of things, but there is also a lot of action and adventure which give the overall tale much more bite than the first and greatly improve its pace.
Although I enjoyed this much more than `Interview...', I believe that both books should be read rather than one or the other. `The Vampire Lestat' casts a great deal of light on the events of `Interview...', placing it in the context of Lestat's existence and explaining much of the what happened between Lestat, Louis, Claudia and Armand. It's almost as if `Interview...' is a taster for `The Vampire Lestat' rather than a novel in its own right.
In short, although its length made it hard to keep momentum towards the end and I feel a bit cheated because it's now clear that the second and third Vampire Chronicles are really one book/story rather than two, I feel that my perseverance has been rewarded and I am keen to continue reading. `The Vampire Lestat' is exciting and interesting, just as its predecessor verged on the depressing and perverse, and it really is a great read. Just try not to be put off by the size of it!
'Demelza' by Winston Graham
This is the second of the twelve Poldark novels. As such, I began it a little worried that, like far too many sequels, it wouldn't live up to expectations.
`Demelza' begins a few months after `Ross Poldark' and with the birth of Ross and Demelza's first child, Julia. It covers a turbulent time for the couple, as poverty and illness ravage Cornwall and relations with cousin Francis are once again become strained. As Demelza spreads her wings and begins to find a place in society, Ross becomes involved in a venture that threatens the Warleggan's financial stranglehold on the county, putting the young family in danger from their shadowy influences. Meanwhile, there are developments between cousin Verity and the disgraced Captain Blamey and a love triangle develops between the new doctor Dwight Enys, miner Daniel Martin and his new wife Keren.
I'm delighted to say that this book was as far from a disappointment as you can get. Once again, Mr Graham evoked a powerful sense of time and place which was completely absorbing. The plot is a rollercoaster of joys and misfortunes which culminates with a dramatic description of two ships being storm-wrecked and looted, a pivotal event which is intrinsic to the next book.
I would thoroughly recommend this book to any fan of Cornwall-set or historical fiction. Unlike much historical fiction, the world that this author creates feels all the more realistic because it doesn't shy away from tragedy nor exclude the humour of everyday life. As such, both `Ross Poldark' and `Demelza' stand out for me and, once again, I hope that the remaining ten books in the series do not disappoint!
'Angels: A History' by David Albert Jones
`Angels: A History' is an excellent, if rather brief, introduction to the subject of these celestial beings and their origins in Jewish, Christian and Islamic scripture. Although the text is quite dry at times and can read like an edited essay, it manages to cover a lot of ground in a very simple, factual way which meant that I learned quite a lot from a relatively short book. This book would not be out of place in the excellent Oxford `Short Introductions to...' range, which, if you are familiar with this series, gives an indication of its style.
My only criticism of this book is that its title is a bit of a misnomer. It is not really a history of the angels, more a summary of the original sources on the subject and what they tell us about these beings. In a way, it feels like the first few chapters of a longer book. Although more modern representations of angels, including on film and in art, are mentioned, it is always to support a point made rather than as part of a linear, chronological narrative.
Even so, this is still a fascinating insight into where our modern idea of angels came from and gives some indication as to why they have remained such an emotive concept within modern cultures. Recommended for those curious about the subject but who do not know where to start.
Related Posts
Previously from the Girl Who Loves Books I
Previously from the Girl Who Loves Books II
Related Posts
Previously from the Girl Who Loves Books I
Previously from the Girl Who Loves Books II
11 October 2013
Burn, Baby, Burn
Earlier this week, I finished 'The Burning Land' by Bernard Cornwell, the fifth book in the (currently) seven strong army of novels set during the reign of Alfred the Great.
It's the late 800s and the greedy eyes of the Vikings are still fixed on Alfred's flourishing kingdom of Wessex. Looking for gold, power and reputation, two notorious Norsemen, Jarl Haestan and Harald Bloodhair, land in the country. While Haestan is content to wait for Alfred to buy him off, Harald ravages the land, leaving a trail of devastation in his wake. Before long, Uhtred of Bebbanburg, the king's reluctant oathsworn warrior, finds himself once again doing the calculating king's dirty work, going into battle to defend a country not his own. But this is an Uhtred whose success has made him confident to the point of arrogance, whose fury is fuelled by his enemies at court and who is made discontent by his burning ambition to retake the Northumbrian castle stolen from him by his uncle. Will Uhtred's bitterness overwhelm his judgement? Will Wessex's greatest warlord be there in its hour of need? Or, after so many year's of service, will Uhtred finally burn out?
I bloody love Bernard Cornwell's books. I wish I could say something more intelligent or analytical, but that really does sum it up. They're not high literature and shouldn't be read as such, but they're absolutely fantastic, rollicking, gung ho stories that sweep you up and keep you galloping along to the last page and beyond. The atmosphere Mr Cornwell creates is amazing and it's hard to visit any location mentioned without trying to imagine it all those centuries ago. A bit of escapism does us good once in a while.
This isn't everyone's idea of historical fiction - this is blood-and-guts rather than cloak-and-dagger or romance-and-royalty - but boy is it good fun!
'The Burning Land' is part of a series and, as such, does feel a bit of a stepping stone, but that's not really a problem. Because you know there are more books to follow, it just makes you wonder what waits in store for Uhtred and how long it will be until he makes a final play for his hereditary home. Although it is carefully structured (lead up to battle, battle, trouble, adventure, lead up to battle, battle), this book is not filler, it propels Uhtred's story forward and takes him into a different direction with a whole new set of possibilities. I can't wait to see what this means for him in 'Death of Kings' and just published 'The Pagan Lord'. After all, there's no smoke without fire.
Admittedly, Uhtred is not the nicest of characters - he's petulant, grumpy, thuggish and, at times, driven by his less than noble passions. You may not want to be mates with him, but he's a hero, has a spark of intelligence and a sense of justice and it's hard not to cheer him on as he joins another shieldwall or fights another battle.
Overall, if you want to escape from the daily grind of more cuts, bland characters and the first gloomy signs of autumn, here's a ring of fire you might enjoy diving into.
Now, the newly published Jung Chang or some more Saxon sword clashes?
 |
| 'The Burning Land' by Bernard Cornwell (2009, HarperCollins) |
I bloody love Bernard Cornwell's books. I wish I could say something more intelligent or analytical, but that really does sum it up. They're not high literature and shouldn't be read as such, but they're absolutely fantastic, rollicking, gung ho stories that sweep you up and keep you galloping along to the last page and beyond. The atmosphere Mr Cornwell creates is amazing and it's hard to visit any location mentioned without trying to imagine it all those centuries ago. A bit of escapism does us good once in a while.
This isn't everyone's idea of historical fiction - this is blood-and-guts rather than cloak-and-dagger or romance-and-royalty - but boy is it good fun!
'The Burning Land' is part of a series and, as such, does feel a bit of a stepping stone, but that's not really a problem. Because you know there are more books to follow, it just makes you wonder what waits in store for Uhtred and how long it will be until he makes a final play for his hereditary home. Although it is carefully structured (lead up to battle, battle, trouble, adventure, lead up to battle, battle), this book is not filler, it propels Uhtred's story forward and takes him into a different direction with a whole new set of possibilities. I can't wait to see what this means for him in 'Death of Kings' and just published 'The Pagan Lord'. After all, there's no smoke without fire.
Admittedly, Uhtred is not the nicest of characters - he's petulant, grumpy, thuggish and, at times, driven by his less than noble passions. You may not want to be mates with him, but he's a hero, has a spark of intelligence and a sense of justice and it's hard not to cheer him on as he joins another shieldwall or fights another battle.
Overall, if you want to escape from the daily grind of more cuts, bland characters and the first gloomy signs of autumn, here's a ring of fire you might enjoy diving into.
Now, the newly published Jung Chang or some more Saxon sword clashes?
Relevant Posts
'Sword Song' by Bernard Cornwell (Saxon Stories Book Four)
31 August 2013
The Scarlet Woman
I've done it! Only just, but I've done it! That's another two books read this month!
Last night I finished 'The Red Queen' by Philippa Gregory, the third book in her Cousins' War series and part-inspiration for the recent BBC serial 'The White Queen'.
'The Red Queen' is Margaret Beaufort, daughter of the House of Lancaster and cousin of the unfortunate King Henry VI. Married to Henry's 24-year-old half-brother Edmund Tudor at just 12, she learns early that while an important tool in dynastic power games, she's not free to make her own decisions or wield power herself. Tudor dies two years later, but not before the 13-year-old Margaret becomes pregnant. She endures a horrifying birth which, fortunately, results in a baby boy. Naming him Henry after the troubled king of England, she sees her son as rightful heir to the throne and begins to set her sights on the ultimate prize. But will Henry Tudor support his mother's ambitions? Will her plans be discovered by the new York kings? Will either of them survive long enough to claim the crown for themselves?
I must admit I wish I hadn't started this. Not 'The Red Queen', it's not that bad. I mean that I wish I hadn't thought it would be a good idea to read a whole series of books in a row. The trouble is that this isn't a 'series' in a chronological sense. Instead of one book leading to the other, perhaps with a little transitional overlap in between, both 'The White Queen' and the 'The Red Queen' cover the same time period but from two different perspectives. And it's hard not to get a bit bored when you've heard some bits of the story before, especially when so much of both books consists of the lead characters waiting for news and wondering what's happening.
It also doesn't help that the narrators are women. I applaud Ms Gregory's intention of bringing female historical figures out of the shadows, but this doesn't change the fact that very few of them were allowed to actually do very much. I was vaguely aware that Lady Margaret Beaufort was her son's greatest confidante and advisor (none of which comes across here, so I'll have to check now.), but prior to gaining the status of King's Mother, things appear to have been very different. Beyond giving birth to Henry and finding a politically astute husband willing to support her, she doesn't really do that much in this book. What she does do is interesting, but not really enough for a whole book. The fact that Ms Gregory has to tell the final section of the story in third person away from Lady Margaret kind of suggests that even she was struggling at that stage. She didn't even bother to have her recount the story as if she'd heard it afterwards or a messenger tell her what happened.
Really, I feel that I would've enjoyed this book and its predecessor a lot more if they'd been written like 'The Other Queen', with multiple narrators, each contributing their perspective on the story to create a whole picture. I also think I might've liked it more if I'd not read it straight after 'The White Queen' as I may have forgotten some events and needed the reminder, but then again I didn't know that there was going to be so much overlap. Afterall, I loved 'The Lady of the Rivers', the first book in the series, and there was hardly any duplication between that and 'The White Queen'.
The one thing I would recommend this book for, and which shows Gregory at her best, is the birth of Henry Tudor. The incident is so shocking and awful that it could put you off having children for life. Then you remember that this was the suffering of a 13 year old girl and it all feels a lot worse. Ms Gregory is known for her skill in creating a sense of time and place through her characters and this is the only point at which I really felt it in this whole book.
I don't really want to be negative about the work of such a fantastic writer, but I didn't enjoy this book as much as I have books from the Tudor series and doubt that I'll bother reading the new novel, 'The White Princess'. What I will probably do, however, is look up some non-fiction books about the key characters portrayed. When I've got a few more titles off the shelves of course!
Now for something a bit different. Science fiction anyone?
Last night I finished 'The Red Queen' by Philippa Gregory, the third book in her Cousins' War series and part-inspiration for the recent BBC serial 'The White Queen'.
'The Red Queen' is Margaret Beaufort, daughter of the House of Lancaster and cousin of the unfortunate King Henry VI. Married to Henry's 24-year-old half-brother Edmund Tudor at just 12, she learns early that while an important tool in dynastic power games, she's not free to make her own decisions or wield power herself. Tudor dies two years later, but not before the 13-year-old Margaret becomes pregnant. She endures a horrifying birth which, fortunately, results in a baby boy. Naming him Henry after the troubled king of England, she sees her son as rightful heir to the throne and begins to set her sights on the ultimate prize. But will Henry Tudor support his mother's ambitions? Will her plans be discovered by the new York kings? Will either of them survive long enough to claim the crown for themselves?
 |
| 'The Red Queen' by Philippa Gregory (Simon & Schuster, 2010) |
It also doesn't help that the narrators are women. I applaud Ms Gregory's intention of bringing female historical figures out of the shadows, but this doesn't change the fact that very few of them were allowed to actually do very much. I was vaguely aware that Lady Margaret Beaufort was her son's greatest confidante and advisor (none of which comes across here, so I'll have to check now.), but prior to gaining the status of King's Mother, things appear to have been very different. Beyond giving birth to Henry and finding a politically astute husband willing to support her, she doesn't really do that much in this book. What she does do is interesting, but not really enough for a whole book. The fact that Ms Gregory has to tell the final section of the story in third person away from Lady Margaret kind of suggests that even she was struggling at that stage. She didn't even bother to have her recount the story as if she'd heard it afterwards or a messenger tell her what happened.
Really, I feel that I would've enjoyed this book and its predecessor a lot more if they'd been written like 'The Other Queen', with multiple narrators, each contributing their perspective on the story to create a whole picture. I also think I might've liked it more if I'd not read it straight after 'The White Queen' as I may have forgotten some events and needed the reminder, but then again I didn't know that there was going to be so much overlap. Afterall, I loved 'The Lady of the Rivers', the first book in the series, and there was hardly any duplication between that and 'The White Queen'.
The one thing I would recommend this book for, and which shows Gregory at her best, is the birth of Henry Tudor. The incident is so shocking and awful that it could put you off having children for life. Then you remember that this was the suffering of a 13 year old girl and it all feels a lot worse. Ms Gregory is known for her skill in creating a sense of time and place through her characters and this is the only point at which I really felt it in this whole book.
I don't really want to be negative about the work of such a fantastic writer, but I didn't enjoy this book as much as I have books from the Tudor series and doubt that I'll bother reading the new novel, 'The White Princess'. What I will probably do, however, is look up some non-fiction books about the key characters portrayed. When I've got a few more titles off the shelves of course!
Now for something a bit different. Science fiction anyone?
30 July 2013
The Bland Queen
I have finally finished 'The White Queen' by Philippa Gregory, the second in the 'Cousins at War' series of books (chronologically anyway!).
'The White Queen' picks up where 'The Lady of the Rivers' finished, with Jaquetta's (Lady Rivers') daughter Elizabeth Woodville heading out to meet King Edward IV at the roadside. Elizabeth is a noted beauty and Edward a notorious womaniser, so it's not surprising that romance (or lust depending on how you look at it) follows. The couple marry in secret, an act which has terrible repercussions, bringing war back to the country once more. Whether married for love or political ambition, Elizabeth, now the White Queen of York, finds herself on a journey that sees her become by turns first lady of the land and outlaw in sanctuary fearing for her life and the lives of her children. So where will the White Queen's Wheel of Fortune stop turning?
I'm sorry to say that I didn't really begin to get into this book until about two thirds of the way through. The first part is basically historical fiction romance porn, full of lust and illicit love affairs, the second part sees Elizabeth a long way from the action (at this point I wanted to follow her husband's narrative, not hers) and finally, in the third part, the White Queen starts to get fleshed out a bit and become a real, interesting character.
The final chapters see her hiding in sanctuary with her children, at which point conflict begins to develop between her and her eldest daughter, all based around Elizabeth's 'ambition'. To be honest, I hadn't noticed that she was ambitious until this point, just that she was a pawn of her mother (who has changed a lot since 'The Lady of the Rivers'). But once she'd been told she is ambitious, Elizabeth seemed keen to make up for lost time. As well as being ambitious, Elizabeth is also shown to be hopelessly politically naive, which makes it much easier to see her as a human being and even begin to relate to her. Before that, I couldn't get any sort of grip on her motivations and it made it hard to like/dislike/care about her.
There also seems to be a lot of padding in this book, a lot of phrases and ideas repeated within pages just in different words. I got absolutely sick of hearing about Elizabeth's hat coming off and her hair being unpinned and falling down. Also, the habit of modern language slipping through which I first noticed in 'The Other Queen' has reared its ugly head again. Note to editors: If a sentence ends with 'here' and when you delete it the meaning stays the same, then delete it.
Sadly, this book feels like a first draft. There is a really great story in here and it's an OK read if you've got the time to spend on it, but I know Ms Gregory can do better and it's really disappointing to read something that just doesn't hit the usual mark. Then again, it's often things going wrong that make you appreciate it when they go right. So bring on the Red Queen!
'The White Queen' picks up where 'The Lady of the Rivers' finished, with Jaquetta's (Lady Rivers') daughter Elizabeth Woodville heading out to meet King Edward IV at the roadside. Elizabeth is a noted beauty and Edward a notorious womaniser, so it's not surprising that romance (or lust depending on how you look at it) follows. The couple marry in secret, an act which has terrible repercussions, bringing war back to the country once more. Whether married for love or political ambition, Elizabeth, now the White Queen of York, finds herself on a journey that sees her become by turns first lady of the land and outlaw in sanctuary fearing for her life and the lives of her children. So where will the White Queen's Wheel of Fortune stop turning?
 |
| 'The White Queen' by Philippa Gregory (Simon & Schuster UK Ltd, 2009) |
The final chapters see her hiding in sanctuary with her children, at which point conflict begins to develop between her and her eldest daughter, all based around Elizabeth's 'ambition'. To be honest, I hadn't noticed that she was ambitious until this point, just that she was a pawn of her mother (who has changed a lot since 'The Lady of the Rivers'). But once she'd been told she is ambitious, Elizabeth seemed keen to make up for lost time. As well as being ambitious, Elizabeth is also shown to be hopelessly politically naive, which makes it much easier to see her as a human being and even begin to relate to her. Before that, I couldn't get any sort of grip on her motivations and it made it hard to like/dislike/care about her.
There also seems to be a lot of padding in this book, a lot of phrases and ideas repeated within pages just in different words. I got absolutely sick of hearing about Elizabeth's hat coming off and her hair being unpinned and falling down. Also, the habit of modern language slipping through which I first noticed in 'The Other Queen' has reared its ugly head again. Note to editors: If a sentence ends with 'here' and when you delete it the meaning stays the same, then delete it.
Sadly, this book feels like a first draft. There is a really great story in here and it's an OK read if you've got the time to spend on it, but I know Ms Gregory can do better and it's really disappointing to read something that just doesn't hit the usual mark. Then again, it's often things going wrong that make you appreciate it when they go right. So bring on the Red Queen!
08 July 2013
Rivers Run Through It
See what happens when I get a bit determined? A 497 page book read in nine days flat. Result!
I've just finished reading 'The Lady of the Rivers', chronologically the first in Philippa Gregory's 'Cousins at War' series. I was getting a bit washed out by the flood of promotion around the BBC series based on the books, so thought I'd better get started on the novels so I could watch it!
The lady of the title is Jacquetta, a daughter of the House of Luxembourg, a family which traces its source to a union between a man and the water sprite Melusina. These unusual origins are said to give the Luxembourg women the gift of foresight, bringing Jacquetta to the attention of the Duke of Bedford, King Henry VI of England's commander in France. Bedford marries Jacquetta to use her in his alchemical experiments and no more, leaving her feeling unhappy and confused. The waters are muddied further when she begins to have feelings for one of the Duke's retinue, Richard Woodville. When the tide of war turns and the Duke and his household return to England, they find a king whose direction changes with his advisor and an increasingly disgruntled ruling class. Will Bedford convince the King to fund the fight in France? Can Jacquetta find love and retain her honour? Could disagreement between royal cousins really lead to war?
You have no idea how hard it was for me not to say more in that paragraph. This is really only the very start of a book which took me on an unexpected journey through the early years of the Wars of the Roses, as we call them today. All I really know about them is that Henry VII brought them to an end through battle and marriage. As such, even though this is clearly historical fiction, 'The Lady of the Rivers' gave me a taste of the era and an overview of the key events that has made me want to read more. This is just as well as there are another three books in the series already and at least one more on the way.
Which leads me onto a bit of a niggle I have. As readers can see from the family tree at the front of the paperback edition, Jacquetta is rather 'productive', giving birth to 14 children by the end of the novel. Somehow she carries these babies successfully while riding horses, getting caught up with the boisterous London mob and stressing about her husband, children and Queen. Clearly, she was made of stern stuff!
As I say, though, this really was just a drop in the ocean, much like the alchemy near the start of the book. There was a point at which I thought "Where on Earth is this going?" because I was a bit worried that the themes of magic and alchemy were going to drain the book's feel of realism. Talk to any Philippa Gregory fan and they'll tell you that they love the way she evokes the past and makes it feel realistic, so it worried me a bit that the novel might be slipping into 'Lord of the Rings' territory!
I needn't have worried on either count, though, as 'The Lady of the Rivers' is an absorbing book introducing fascinating historical figures and a time period I really would like to know more about. Not only am I hoping that the other books in the series will help to start bridging the gap in my knowledge, I hope that the people they introduce will be equally intriguing and I'll get so swept up in the flow of the story that I'll read them just as quickly!
Now, to 'The White Queen'!
I've just finished reading 'The Lady of the Rivers', chronologically the first in Philippa Gregory's 'Cousins at War' series. I was getting a bit washed out by the flood of promotion around the BBC series based on the books, so thought I'd better get started on the novels so I could watch it!
 |
| 'The Lady of the Rivers' by Philppa Gregory (Simon & Schuster UK, 2012) |
You have no idea how hard it was for me not to say more in that paragraph. This is really only the very start of a book which took me on an unexpected journey through the early years of the Wars of the Roses, as we call them today. All I really know about them is that Henry VII brought them to an end through battle and marriage. As such, even though this is clearly historical fiction, 'The Lady of the Rivers' gave me a taste of the era and an overview of the key events that has made me want to read more. This is just as well as there are another three books in the series already and at least one more on the way.
Which leads me onto a bit of a niggle I have. As readers can see from the family tree at the front of the paperback edition, Jacquetta is rather 'productive', giving birth to 14 children by the end of the novel. Somehow she carries these babies successfully while riding horses, getting caught up with the boisterous London mob and stressing about her husband, children and Queen. Clearly, she was made of stern stuff!
As I say, though, this really was just a drop in the ocean, much like the alchemy near the start of the book. There was a point at which I thought "Where on Earth is this going?" because I was a bit worried that the themes of magic and alchemy were going to drain the book's feel of realism. Talk to any Philippa Gregory fan and they'll tell you that they love the way she evokes the past and makes it feel realistic, so it worried me a bit that the novel might be slipping into 'Lord of the Rings' territory!
I needn't have worried on either count, though, as 'The Lady of the Rivers' is an absorbing book introducing fascinating historical figures and a time period I really would like to know more about. Not only am I hoping that the other books in the series will help to start bridging the gap in my knowledge, I hope that the people they introduce will be equally intriguing and I'll get so swept up in the flow of the story that I'll read them just as quickly!
Now, to 'The White Queen'!
13 June 2013
Previously from The Girl Who Loves Books II
Hello everybody! You may have noticed that I'm letting the side down again and am taking a while finishing 'The Unknown Ajax' by Georgette Heyer. By way of an apology. here are a few notes on some books I read before starting this blog. I hope you enjoy them and perhaps find something you'd like to read while you wait for a new post!
'Ross Poldark' by Winston Graham
This is the first novel in the famous `Poldark' series by Winston Graham. The books are probably better know via the popular seventies television series starring Robin Ellis, but don't let that make you think that they have nothing left to offer.
Ross Poldark, the son of a minor branch of the gentrified Poldark family, returns to his Cornish home after two years serving in the army in America wars. He left a headstrong and restless teenager, but returns older, wiser and ready to settle down. Unfortunately, the world has irrevocably changed in his absence. Ross' father has died and his drunkard servants have allowed his smallholding, Nampara, to fall into disrepair. Meanwhile, believing him dead, his sweetheart, Elizabeth, has become engaged to his cousin, Francis. The book follows Ross has he endures the despair of hopes dashed, begins to rebuilds his fortune and finds something to live for.
I had quite a job getting hold of this book, but it was worth the effort. I absolutely, completely and utterly fell in love with it. The story is dramatic, romantic, funny, tense, illuminating, atmospheric and engrossing - in short a must read for any lover of historical fiction. The characters are complex, realistic and rounded and the skilful use of humour adds colour to a story which could otherwise have slipped into doom and gloom. I just hope that the other eleven books in the series are as good!
'The Poison Tree' by Erin Kelly
I must admit that I am a bit of a coward when it comes to trying new authors. Unless a writer or book is recommended to me, I tend to stick to the same, small pool of big names who consistently tell interesting stories in the same sort of way. Having dipped my toe in the wider sea with Erin Kelly, however, may have changed my ways forever.
‘The Poison Tree’ tells the story of Karen, Biba and Rex and the summer that will change their lives forever. Although Karen is a straight A language student in her final year at a good university, everything has come easy to her and her life is cold and passionless. As the sweltering summer of 1997 begins, she meets the tempestuous and exciting Biba and gets drawn into the exotic life that she leads in tumbledown Highgate mansion with her brother, Rex, and an every-changing collection of wondering friends and lovers. As the summer wears on and uncomfortable truths emerge, the three twenty-somethings find themselves caught up in a sequence of events which will change their lives drastically forever.
I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. It was suspenseful and intriguing and I found it very hard to put down. Ms Kelly successfully managed to challenge the reader to work out the truth while drip-feeding information at just the right pace so the final chapters remained a surprise. This is a very difficult thing to do and I’ve become frustrated with other books which don’t get this balance right. ‘The Poison Tree’ may not be high literature, but it’s a cleverly crafted, entertaining novel and an excellent summer read. I can’t wait to recommend it to friends and family.
'Hey Yeah Right Get a Life' by Helen Simpson
This is Helen Simpson's fourth collection of short stories. This book contains nine interlinking stories which examine the role of the modern wife/mother from different perspectives. We meet tough go-getters, feckless teenagers, alienated stay-at-home mums and men who just don't get it. Over the course of the stories we see how different women deal with being a wife and mother and see the extremes of experience they find.
In the beginning, I didn't enjoy this book. I found it difficult to sympathise with the characters and reading about women who sacrificed their autonomy and ambitions to look after ostensibly mollycoddled children grated on my sense of justice. However, I persevered and by the end I felt I had a much better grasp of the choices these women faced and the inner conflicts which plagued them. It was far from a comfortable read but felt like a very real reflection of how some women feel every day of their lives and made me a far less judgmental.
Although this is definitely not holiday reading, I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in women's issues and, specifically, the changing role of wives and mothers. You might surprise yourself and learn something new. I certainly did.
'The Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency' by Alexander McCall Smith
Weirdly, I was quite nervous about reading this book. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency' series has been phenomenally successful and there's nothing worse than feeling like you might be the one who throws a spanner in the works of the popularity juggernaut.
`The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency' is the tale of Precious Ramotswe who, upon the death of her father Obed, uses her inheritance to set up the first female-run detective agency in Botswana. Although business is slow to start, the determined Mma Ramotswe's reputation for logical thought, common sense and discretion steadily grow. The people of Botswana quickly learn that whether it's alleged fraud, missing persons or suspected infidelity, Mma Romotswe's there to help.
Considering this is supposed to be detective fiction, I was very surprised how easy a read it was. The style used keeps things plain and simplistic and in the hands of another author, this may have made the book seem stereotypical and patronising to the people of Botswana and Africa generally. However, its simplicity and matter-of-factness seem right for some of the more harrowing aspects of the book, such as the story of Mma Ramotswe's unsuccessful marriage. Throughout, I could clearly hear Mma Ramotswe's voice and was moved at times by the things she and other characters had experienced.
The book also has a very episodic pattern to it. This is really useful if you read during your commute or can only dip into a book for a few pages at a time.
Unfortunately, this bitesize simplicity also made it almost instantly forgettable, which is a shame for an interesting and original book.
Although this book has more in common with a holiday read than a gritty crime novel, overall, I did enjoy it and may read some of the others in the series. Afterall, it's hard work reading complex books all the time!
'Ross Poldark' by Winston Graham
This is the first novel in the famous `Poldark' series by Winston Graham. The books are probably better know via the popular seventies television series starring Robin Ellis, but don't let that make you think that they have nothing left to offer.
Ross Poldark, the son of a minor branch of the gentrified Poldark family, returns to his Cornish home after two years serving in the army in America wars. He left a headstrong and restless teenager, but returns older, wiser and ready to settle down. Unfortunately, the world has irrevocably changed in his absence. Ross' father has died and his drunkard servants have allowed his smallholding, Nampara, to fall into disrepair. Meanwhile, believing him dead, his sweetheart, Elizabeth, has become engaged to his cousin, Francis. The book follows Ross has he endures the despair of hopes dashed, begins to rebuilds his fortune and finds something to live for.
I had quite a job getting hold of this book, but it was worth the effort. I absolutely, completely and utterly fell in love with it. The story is dramatic, romantic, funny, tense, illuminating, atmospheric and engrossing - in short a must read for any lover of historical fiction. The characters are complex, realistic and rounded and the skilful use of humour adds colour to a story which could otherwise have slipped into doom and gloom. I just hope that the other eleven books in the series are as good!
'The Poison Tree' by Erin Kelly
I must admit that I am a bit of a coward when it comes to trying new authors. Unless a writer or book is recommended to me, I tend to stick to the same, small pool of big names who consistently tell interesting stories in the same sort of way. Having dipped my toe in the wider sea with Erin Kelly, however, may have changed my ways forever.
‘The Poison Tree’ tells the story of Karen, Biba and Rex and the summer that will change their lives forever. Although Karen is a straight A language student in her final year at a good university, everything has come easy to her and her life is cold and passionless. As the sweltering summer of 1997 begins, she meets the tempestuous and exciting Biba and gets drawn into the exotic life that she leads in tumbledown Highgate mansion with her brother, Rex, and an every-changing collection of wondering friends and lovers. As the summer wears on and uncomfortable truths emerge, the three twenty-somethings find themselves caught up in a sequence of events which will change their lives drastically forever.
I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. It was suspenseful and intriguing and I found it very hard to put down. Ms Kelly successfully managed to challenge the reader to work out the truth while drip-feeding information at just the right pace so the final chapters remained a surprise. This is a very difficult thing to do and I’ve become frustrated with other books which don’t get this balance right. ‘The Poison Tree’ may not be high literature, but it’s a cleverly crafted, entertaining novel and an excellent summer read. I can’t wait to recommend it to friends and family.
'Hey Yeah Right Get a Life' by Helen Simpson
This is Helen Simpson's fourth collection of short stories. This book contains nine interlinking stories which examine the role of the modern wife/mother from different perspectives. We meet tough go-getters, feckless teenagers, alienated stay-at-home mums and men who just don't get it. Over the course of the stories we see how different women deal with being a wife and mother and see the extremes of experience they find.
In the beginning, I didn't enjoy this book. I found it difficult to sympathise with the characters and reading about women who sacrificed their autonomy and ambitions to look after ostensibly mollycoddled children grated on my sense of justice. However, I persevered and by the end I felt I had a much better grasp of the choices these women faced and the inner conflicts which plagued them. It was far from a comfortable read but felt like a very real reflection of how some women feel every day of their lives and made me a far less judgmental.
Although this is definitely not holiday reading, I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in women's issues and, specifically, the changing role of wives and mothers. You might surprise yourself and learn something new. I certainly did.
'The Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency' by Alexander McCall Smith
Weirdly, I was quite nervous about reading this book. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency' series has been phenomenally successful and there's nothing worse than feeling like you might be the one who throws a spanner in the works of the popularity juggernaut.
`The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency' is the tale of Precious Ramotswe who, upon the death of her father Obed, uses her inheritance to set up the first female-run detective agency in Botswana. Although business is slow to start, the determined Mma Ramotswe's reputation for logical thought, common sense and discretion steadily grow. The people of Botswana quickly learn that whether it's alleged fraud, missing persons or suspected infidelity, Mma Romotswe's there to help.
Considering this is supposed to be detective fiction, I was very surprised how easy a read it was. The style used keeps things plain and simplistic and in the hands of another author, this may have made the book seem stereotypical and patronising to the people of Botswana and Africa generally. However, its simplicity and matter-of-factness seem right for some of the more harrowing aspects of the book, such as the story of Mma Ramotswe's unsuccessful marriage. Throughout, I could clearly hear Mma Ramotswe's voice and was moved at times by the things she and other characters had experienced.
The book also has a very episodic pattern to it. This is really useful if you read during your commute or can only dip into a book for a few pages at a time.
Unfortunately, this bitesize simplicity also made it almost instantly forgettable, which is a shame for an interesting and original book.
Although this book has more in common with a holiday read than a gritty crime novel, overall, I did enjoy it and may read some of the others in the series. Afterall, it's hard work reading complex books all the time!
17 April 2013
Mary, Mary Quite Contrary
As many of you may have noticed, I'm rather fond of historical fiction. It's not possible to talk about historical fiction without mentioning Philippa Gregory, author of the absorbing 'The Other Queen', which I have just finished.
'The Other Queen' tells the story of the early years of Mary Queen of Scots' imprisonment. I say imprisonment, in reality it's more like house arrest for her and a financial trap for her 'jailers', the Earl and Countess of Shrewsbury, better known as George Talbot and the legendary Bess of Hardwick. The book explores the destructive force of a ruler in exile, the damage caused by hearts and minds in conflict and the curse in disguise of a royal houseguest. From the moment Queen Mary enters the lives of Bess and George, she changes them forever and in ways naively unanticipated by the key players.
Regular readers of this blog will know that I read Ms Gregory's 'The Virgin's Lover' about a year ago and was a bit disappointed by it. 'Historical fiction' is actually quite a broad category and, although I love books which bring historical figures to life and capture the politics and sense of place of an age, I can't bear the romances, which do us all a disservice by eroticizing history rather than helping our understanding of it. Although there is an element of romance to 'The Other Queen', it is not the whole driving force behind the story, so I found it more enjoyable.
'The Other Queen' has three narrators, Mary, Bess and George, and their voices and stories are brilliantly woven together by the author to give us insight into the internal and external conflicts and contradictions they're each experiencing. Like a portent, the arrival of Queen Mary seems a catalyst for a series of events that may have been brewing for a long time, such as the Northern Uprising, George's honour being tested and Queen Elizabeth's great spymaster William Cecil tightening his grip on the country's upper classes.
My only (very small) criticism of this book is that there are a few points when the writing seems to slip into a modern style. For example, at one point George says that he's "fighting for his life here." which jarred with me as a reader and broke the spell. I'm no expert of Tudor English, but it was hard not to hear George suddenly become a modern American when reading that line.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It's three narrators make the story dynamic and tense, while trying to keep up with who is lying to who about what is challenging. A great introduction to a number of controversial characters that I hope to read more about in future (and probably will due to the fantastic bibliography at the end of the book!).
Now, what next?
'The Other Queen' tells the story of the early years of Mary Queen of Scots' imprisonment. I say imprisonment, in reality it's more like house arrest for her and a financial trap for her 'jailers', the Earl and Countess of Shrewsbury, better known as George Talbot and the legendary Bess of Hardwick. The book explores the destructive force of a ruler in exile, the damage caused by hearts and minds in conflict and the curse in disguise of a royal houseguest. From the moment Queen Mary enters the lives of Bess and George, she changes them forever and in ways naively unanticipated by the key players.
Regular readers of this blog will know that I read Ms Gregory's 'The Virgin's Lover' about a year ago and was a bit disappointed by it. 'Historical fiction' is actually quite a broad category and, although I love books which bring historical figures to life and capture the politics and sense of place of an age, I can't bear the romances, which do us all a disservice by eroticizing history rather than helping our understanding of it. Although there is an element of romance to 'The Other Queen', it is not the whole driving force behind the story, so I found it more enjoyable.
 |
| 'The Other Queen' by Philippa Gregory (Harper Collins, 2009) |
My only (very small) criticism of this book is that there are a few points when the writing seems to slip into a modern style. For example, at one point George says that he's "fighting for his life here." which jarred with me as a reader and broke the spell. I'm no expert of Tudor English, but it was hard not to hear George suddenly become a modern American when reading that line.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It's three narrators make the story dynamic and tense, while trying to keep up with who is lying to who about what is challenging. A great introduction to a number of controversial characters that I hope to read more about in future (and probably will due to the fantastic bibliography at the end of the book!).
Now, what next?
29 October 2012
Thwacks Lyrical
I've just finished 'Sword Song' by top, pop historical fiction writer Bernard Cornwell. 'Sword Song' is the fourth of Mr Cornwell's Saxon Stories, all set during the reign of King Alfred the Great and narrated by Lord Uhtred of Bebbanburg.
 |
| 'Sword Song' by Bernard Cornwell (HarperCollins, 2007) |
The last book in this series, 'The Lords of the North', seemed to go a bit odd at the end (there was a character communicating with dogs for goodness sake), but Mr Cornwell is definitely back on form with 'Sword Song'. It's classic Cornwell, full of bloodthirsty battles, duplicitous warlords and impossible challenges.
I absolutely love Bernard Cornwell books (except, weirdly, his best known work, the Sharpe novels. Go figure!), but they aren't music to everyone's ears. They are incredibly violent, the characters are usually uncomplex and having to translate old place names into their modern day equivalents is enough to make your head spin. But I find I get completely lost in them. I love the way England in the Dark Ages is recreated and places that I know now are given echos of the past. I love imagining the heat and fervour of shieldwall battles and fearing for the lives of the characters at war. And I love the character-driven politics of it all, the network of oaths and allegiances, the blood feuds and promises of vengeance, the friendships and family ties. His books are tales of heroes and villains and it's hard not to get a buzz from it.
'Sword Song' and its siblings are certainly not to everyone's taste, but if you're a fan of Cornwell or love a good adventure, it may be worth you tuning into the first in this series, 'The Last Kingdom' or 'The Winter King', the first of the equally superlative Warlord Trilogy based on the legend of a post-Roman King Arthur.
Let's hope the next in this series is also a hit!
08 March 2012
Knight takes Queen, Queen takes Pawn...
Who would've thought it, finishing two books in one week!
I've just finished 'The Virgin's Lover' by popular historical novelist Philippa Gregory. This is the fourth book of hers I've read, the others being 'A Respectable Trade', 'The Queen's Fool' and (the one she'll probably always be remembered for) 'The Other Boleyn Girl'.
'The Virgin's Lover' tells the story of the illicit love affair between Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley in the early years of her reign. Caught in the middle are Dudley's unfortunate wife, Amy, and the arch-politician William Cecil.
Normally, I find Gregory's books hard to get into, but once I'm a few chapters in, I can't put them down. On this occasion, however, I got into the book straight away... but got a bit bored in the middle. I really don't like pure historical romance and what felt like chapter after chapter of secret assignations became a bit tiresome after a while. Gregory's books are at their best when they balance personal and political plots and this is quite a narrow story without a lot of politics in it. When the court intrigue began to develop towards the end of the book, I began to enjoy it much more.
Elizabeth and Robert are quite hard to get to grips with. Elizabeth I's story has been told so many times and in so many ways, it's quite difficult to deal with her as a bit of a sap who puts her lust before her belief in her right to rule. It seems a bit out of character considering how hard she fought for the throne in the first place for her to risk handing it all over to an obvious prat like Dudley. Then again, maybe once she was finally in power, she almost frightened herself and began to doubt her ability, perhaps regressing until she came to terms with it and regained her confidence. Or maybe I just find it hard to see what she saw in him!
Now, I'm not a violent person, but I did spend most of the book hoping someone would slap Dudley. Preferably Elizabeth. And preferably with a spade. In fact, the more I think about it, this story wasn't really helped by the fact that the two leads were terribly aggravating for the most part! Amy was arguably also quite annoying, but on the whole I found I had a lot of sympathy for her and, although I knew things couldn't turn out well for her, I somehow hoped she would find some sort of happiness.
As always, Gregory's great strength is her ability to create an incredible sense of time and place. It's wonderful to be able to immerse yourself in a different context at the end of a hard day and forget all about the real world for a while. Thank you, Ms Gregory!
On the whole, I think this was a good book, if a slightly thin story, and well told. In the hands of a lesser writer, the three leads could have become intolerable, so it's a credit to Gregory that they don't. But because there isn't a very meaty story here, I think this is perhaps more of a holiday read than her other stories.
I have a copy of Jean Plaidy's 'Lord Robert' on my shelf as well, so I will be interested to see how the two books compare. I think that will be for a later date, though, time for a change now I think!
I've just finished 'The Virgin's Lover' by popular historical novelist Philippa Gregory. This is the fourth book of hers I've read, the others being 'A Respectable Trade', 'The Queen's Fool' and (the one she'll probably always be remembered for) 'The Other Boleyn Girl'.
'The Virgin's Lover' tells the story of the illicit love affair between Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley in the early years of her reign. Caught in the middle are Dudley's unfortunate wife, Amy, and the arch-politician William Cecil.
 |
| 'The Virgin's Lover' by Philippa Gregory (HarperCollins, 2005) |
Elizabeth and Robert are quite hard to get to grips with. Elizabeth I's story has been told so many times and in so many ways, it's quite difficult to deal with her as a bit of a sap who puts her lust before her belief in her right to rule. It seems a bit out of character considering how hard she fought for the throne in the first place for her to risk handing it all over to an obvious prat like Dudley. Then again, maybe once she was finally in power, she almost frightened herself and began to doubt her ability, perhaps regressing until she came to terms with it and regained her confidence. Or maybe I just find it hard to see what she saw in him!
Now, I'm not a violent person, but I did spend most of the book hoping someone would slap Dudley. Preferably Elizabeth. And preferably with a spade. In fact, the more I think about it, this story wasn't really helped by the fact that the two leads were terribly aggravating for the most part! Amy was arguably also quite annoying, but on the whole I found I had a lot of sympathy for her and, although I knew things couldn't turn out well for her, I somehow hoped she would find some sort of happiness.
As always, Gregory's great strength is her ability to create an incredible sense of time and place. It's wonderful to be able to immerse yourself in a different context at the end of a hard day and forget all about the real world for a while. Thank you, Ms Gregory!
On the whole, I think this was a good book, if a slightly thin story, and well told. In the hands of a lesser writer, the three leads could have become intolerable, so it's a credit to Gregory that they don't. But because there isn't a very meaty story here, I think this is perhaps more of a holiday read than her other stories.
I have a copy of Jean Plaidy's 'Lord Robert' on my shelf as well, so I will be interested to see how the two books compare. I think that will be for a later date, though, time for a change now I think!
29 May 2011
Top of the Blocks...
At last! Finally finished the 646 page epic 'Murder Most Royal' by Jean Plaidy! OK, that makes it sound like a chore, but the only real chore was holding up long enough to read it and having to carry it round with me (see earlier post!). Glad to say no further injuries have been incurred, but I'm being careful not to drop it on my foot or anything now that I've finished it.
As always, Plaidy created a great sense of time and place in this retelling of the story of Henry VIII's second and fifth wives, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, cousins who were both sent to the block for infidelity, a treasonable offence in a queen. The story also includes Jane Seymour (wife number three) and Anne of Cleves (wife number four), though they were hardly touched on. This was very much Anne Boleyn's show and, even if Henry didn't love her as much as the book suggests, you get the feeling that Plaidy certainly did! The majority of the book is focussed so much on Anne, it feels like Plaidy completely forgot about his other wives and suddenly realised she needed to talk about them too about two thirds of the way through. By comparison, their stories feel incredibly rushed and I almost wished she'd written three books rather than one. From what I understand from other books and documentaries, these wives were actually quite interesting in their own right and I almost feel sad that they've been overlooked once again in favour of the more glamorous queens.
The thing I normally like about Plaidy's books is that she often talks about the bigger picture, including politics and the stories of people I know less about. A good example is hearing about Katherine of Aragon's family in 'Katherine the Virgin Widow' (great book). Unfortunately, the focus on Anne Boleyn got in the way of this a bit here, so it didn't feel so much of a rounded picture of the time.
I know it's a real nit pick, but sometimes Plaidy's tendency to use old language winds me up a bit too. It can feel like she's learnt something new and is determined to use it at every opportunity! Yes, it's probably intended to add to the sense of time and place, but I don't want it to feel like I'm translating every time I read a piece of dialogue. I had enough of that with the Yorkshire brogue used by Emily Bronte in 'Wuthering Heights'!
Anyway, on the whole I enjoyed this book, certainly enough to want to see it through to the end, even though I knew what happened. Not one of Plaidy's best and certainly not the one I'd recommend people to start with, but she wrote so many books, it's hard to get too upset about one that's not quite as good as some of the others. It's not like I'm going to send her to the Tower over it or anything!
 |
| 'Murder Most Royal' by Jean Plaidy (Published by Arrow Books, 2006) |
The thing I normally like about Plaidy's books is that she often talks about the bigger picture, including politics and the stories of people I know less about. A good example is hearing about Katherine of Aragon's family in 'Katherine the Virgin Widow' (great book). Unfortunately, the focus on Anne Boleyn got in the way of this a bit here, so it didn't feel so much of a rounded picture of the time.
I know it's a real nit pick, but sometimes Plaidy's tendency to use old language winds me up a bit too. It can feel like she's learnt something new and is determined to use it at every opportunity! Yes, it's probably intended to add to the sense of time and place, but I don't want it to feel like I'm translating every time I read a piece of dialogue. I had enough of that with the Yorkshire brogue used by Emily Bronte in 'Wuthering Heights'!
Anyway, on the whole I enjoyed this book, certainly enough to want to see it through to the end, even though I knew what happened. Not one of Plaidy's best and certainly not the one I'd recommend people to start with, but she wrote so many books, it's hard to get too upset about one that's not quite as good as some of the others. It's not like I'm going to send her to the Tower over it or anything!
03 May 2011
First Impressions (or Pride and Prejudice)
Now, I like to believe that I'm not a typical girly girl, that I'm pretty level-headed and interested in most books regardless of whether they're aimed at men or women. I'm happy reading the odd bit of chick lit or a blood thirsty adventure story and that is reflected in the 479. I've been known to sneer at a anything that looks a bit soppy and have told myself that I'm reading historical fiction because it's a way of learning about the past. Looking at my shelves though it's pretty clear that I've been both proud and prejudiced and am really just a sucker for big, fat historical romances with posh frocks on the cover.
 |
| 'Murder Most Royal' by Jean Plaidy Published by Arrow Books (an imprint of Random House) in 2006. RRP. £8.99 |
One such book is the gargantuan 'Murder Most Royal' by Jean Plaidy, one of the three books I'm currently reading. It's so massive, I'm sure that I've strained my hand trying to hold it up. I've been working my way through the book's 646 pages for a few weeks now and, like the other Plaidy novels I've read, it's completely absorbed me without my noticing. I love it when you get so engulfed in a book that it takes you a few moments to realise where you are when you finally look up from it. 'Murder Most Royal' tells the story of Henry VIII's second and fifth wives, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, their rise and downfall. I'll let you know if I manage to finish it without further personal injury!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)