HNS Reviews - May 2009
THE CONQUEROR
by Georgette Heyer (Sourcebooks, 9781402213557)
Georgette Heyer's classic 1931 novel tells the story of William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, and his rise to power alongside his wife Matilda and his first knight Raoul. Through painstaking research and masterful storytelling the legendary tyrant, the infamous Wolf of Normandy, becomes a charismatic and complex man, full of human flaws but still a leader ahead of his time. He shows friendship, loyalty, even tenderness and passion, all while remaining an enigma even to his closest inner circle.
More than a straightforward romance between Duke and Duchess, THE CONQUEROR is packed with co-plots and subplots combining to form an epic saga of adventure, violence, politics, passion, even a little philosophy. The friendship between Norman Raoul and Saxon Edgar, each as devoted to their respective lords as they are to each other, is just as compelling and heart-wrenching as the fierce passion between William and Matilda. The repartee between William and Matilda is wonderful, from their shocking first encounter to their ruthless lifelong partnership. The portrayal of the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England is even-handed and factual. The attention to detail is astounding; the sense of place and time soaks every page. In short, this book has it all.
The 2008 reissue comes with reader's club questions and summaries of Heyer's other historical fiction works. THE CONQUEROR well deserves its reputation as a classic. Recommended.
THOSE WHO DREAM BY DAY
by Linda & Gary Cargill (Cheops Books, 9780979890444)
May, 1915: a young woman named Dora Benley is traveling on the Lusitania with her parents. She unwittingly becomes caught up in bizarre and frightening events in the days before the ship meets its doom, events her parents dismiss as teenage shenanigans. After the tragedy and her family's rescue, Dora just wants to put the whole ordeal behind her--but a letter changes her mind, confirming her suspicions and setting her on the path to solving the mystery of the Lusitania's destruction. Her journey takes her across the length and breadth of the Great War, from Ireland to Arabia, the sea to the desert, finding adventure, danger, and love along the way.
The authors demonstrate a vast knowledge of time and setting; from the Lusitania's decor to the Bedouins of T.E. Lawrence, no detail is left out. The prose suffers a bit from showing instead of telling, and the pace moves so quickly that it can leave the reader wanting more exploration of Dora's motivations; however, one can't help but get swept up in the mystery and excitement, wondering what will happen next. Those Who Dream By Day is the first in a series of Dora Benley adventures.
THE TRAITOR'S WIFE
by Susan Higginbotham (Ballatine, 9780345453235)
Read the full-length interview/review article here. (The short version: I loved it.)
THE WILD KNIGHT
by Geoffrey Humphrys (Blenheim Press, 9781906301092)
Previously published in the UK and now reissued independently, The Wild Knight tells the story of James VI, successful but ill-fated King of Scotland. Beginning with his acension to the throne at the age of sixteen after the murder of his father, the novel follows James through the entire span of his reign, from a hot-blooded teenager anxious to prove himself to a more mature but no less passionate warrior king; through sexual conquests and romantic liaisons, marriage to a Tudor princess, children and family, battle and treaties, court intrigues and political maneuvering, all the way to the events that culminated in the doomed Battle of Flodden Field in 1513.
The pace moves swiftly throughout this action-packed story, despite phrasing that can weigh down the prose at times. The author's knowledge of the history, culture, and politics of Stewart Scotland is put to impressive use; James comes across as a fiery, determined young man, subject to flaws and foibles, but with a fervent drive to see his country succeed. Anyone interested in James VI and his era will enjoy the adventure and historical detail of this well-researched and tightly-constructed novel.
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