The White Queen

I am a big fan of Philippa Gregory's historical novels, and this one did not disappoint. In The White Queen Gregory tells the story of Elizabeth Woodville, a commoner who became Queen of England when she married Edward Plantagenet. Elizabeth is an intriguing character - smart, strong-willed, ambitious, and possibly a witch.

This is Gregory's first book in a series about the Wars of the Roses, the period that pre-dates the Tudors. There is plenty of intrigue and excitement to spare, with courtiers switching sides as often as they take a bath (smile). Elizabeth plays a central role in many of these intrigues, as Edward is seemingly always leading an army somewhere.

Gregory notes at the end of the novel that she fictionalized very little of it, though obviously records were not as readily available for events in the 15th century, and because winners could (and did) quickly become losers, many records were likely lost. But she does include one of the greatest British mysteries of all time, that of the princes in the Tower. The boys were Edward's and Elizabeth's legitimate heirs to the throne, who mysteriously disappeared but whose bodies were never recovered. Whether one of those boys was a changeling is entirely Gregory's imagination, but she presents a compelling argument for it.

This was a really good book, and I'm looking forward to reading more of the series. But I'm thinking I'm going to leave ancient history for a bit and come into the present (or possibly future) for at least one book. I just need a little palate cleanser.

The White Queen: A Novel (Hardcover)

Secrets of the Tudor Court: The Pleasure Palace

This was a great historical romance, and I liked that it was more historical than romantic. I'm a fan of the Tudor period and enjoy reading about Henry VIII when he was young, handsome, and vibrant. In this novel Kate Emerson gives us the fictionalized story of Jane Popyncourt, a real person who was basically raised in the courts of Henry VII and VIII, and who was a close friend to Henry's sister Mary.

What makes this novel a bit different from other historical romances is that the plot doesn't center on romance - it centers on mystery and intrigue. Some of the intrigue is part of the regular goings-on in a royal court, but much of it comes from Jane's lack of knowledge about her family background. When she grows to adulthood and tries to unravel that mystery, what she learns is very interesting!

Emerson provides charts at the beginning of the novel, and a note at the end of the novel about what's history and what's fiction. Even without those helpful markers, this was just a really good read. I'll definitely look for the next book in the series.

Secrets of the Tudor Court: The Pleasure Palace

The Independence of Miss Mary Bennet

This is not your mother's Colleen McCullough novel, though it is a far cry from The First Man in Rome. But I just ate up the very clever novel that takes us 20 years into the future after the end of Pride and Prejudice. Darcy, proud as ever, is a Member of Parliament, Elizabeth is his unhappy wife, Lydia is a drunken sleeze, Kitty is a wealthy widow, and Jane is a baby factory. Mary, a spinster, is an independent woman now that her mother has died, and she wants to do something "useful."

Yes, there are parts that stretch the imagination - Father Dominus and his Children of Jesus were hard for me to believe - but I think McCullough does an excellent job of capturing the personalities of Austen's very interesting characters.

The title belies the action of most of the book - let's just say that Mary isn't entirely "independent" for a large section of the novel - but that doesn't detract from this being a really great story. And McCullough is nothing if not a great storyteller.

Now I'm either going to reread some of my Austen favorites, or I'm going to reread some of my McCullough favorites... or both.

The Independence of Miss Mary Bennet: A Novel

Days of Gold

This was a great summer read - I read it in two days. The author, Jude Deveraux, has been around a long time, so I was glad to see this new book of hers in the library. I would have enjoyed it more only if I had been at the beach while reading it.

No, it's not a deep book, and it doesn't require a lot of concentration. But it's a great historical romance with very likable characters. Edilean and Angus, the main protagonists, have great chemistry and have the sort of typical historical romance relationship (love/hate/misunderstanding/passion/etc.), and they seem to be thwarted by circumstances at every turn. I found the supporting characters to be more interesting, particularly Harriet and Malcolm. Sure, it was a little predictable, but I still enjoyed the story.

I have to admit, I like Deveraux's time-travel stuff better (A Knight in Shining Armor is a favorite) but this is a nice, light, read.

Days of Gold: A Novel (Edilean)